My thoughts....
2 Conferences - Campbell and Wales
2 Tiers per Conference - Campbell (Smythe and Norris) and Wales (Adams and Patrick)
2 Divisions per Tier based on geographic locations and/or timezones
Games played will be from a Calgary perspective.
Conference (Campbell Conference)
Tiers (Smythe and Norris)
Smythe North Division (CGY, EDM, VAN, SEA) - 6 games vs. own Division (6x3 = 18)
Smythe Pacific Division (ANA, LA, SJ, VGK) - 4 games vs. own Tier (4x4 = 16)
Norris South Division (ARI, COL, DAL, NSH) - 2 games vs. own Conference (2x4 = 8)
Norris Central Division (CHI, MIN, STL, WPG) - 2 games vs. own Conference (2x4 = 8)
Conference (Wales Conference)
Tiers (Adams and Patrick) - 2 games vs. other Conference (2x16 = 32)
Adams Central (DET, CBJ, PHI, PIT)
Adams North (BUF, MTL, OTT, TOR)
Patrick Atlantic (BOS, NJ, NYI, NYR)
Patrick South (CAR, FLA, TB, WAS)
Total will be 82 games still and promote divisional rivalry. Some might think the inter-divisional games might be too much.
Playoff format can be either:
A) Top two teams from each Division make the playoffs
B) Top team from each division make the playoffs and four wildcard spots
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