[Mattman]

Two formats. Two different playoff stories. You tell me which playoffs you would rather see.

Old Format
West
1 - San Jose Sharks
8 - Arizona Coyotes

2 - Calgary Flames
7 - Dallas Stars

3 - Winnipeg Jets
6 - St. Louis Blues

4 - Nashville Predators
5 - Vegas Golden Knights

East
1 - Tampa Bay Lightning
8 - Columbus Blue Jackets

2 - Boston Bruins
7 - Carolina Huricanes

3 - Toronto Maple Leafs
6 - Pittsburgh Penguins

4 - Washington Capitals
5 - New York Islanders


Current Format
West
3 - Winnipeg Jets
7 - Dallas Stars

5 - Nashville Predators
6 - St. Louis Blues

1 - San Jose Sharks
8 - Arizona Coyotes

2 - Calgary Flames
5 - Vegas Golden Knights

East
1 - Tampa Bay Lightning
8 - Columbus Blue Jackets

2 - Boston Bruins
3 - Toronto Maple Leafs

4 - Washington Capitals
7 - Carolina Hurricanes

5 - New York Islanders
6 - Pittsburgh Penguins


In my opinion, you get better storylines with the Old Format.
- The NHL's top 4 teams still get their easy 1st round matchups, what they worked for all year.
- Teams 3 to 6 are forced to play tough 1st round matchups, but it those are the series that will be evenly matched up and probably go 7 games.
- The current format is just confusing when you match them up standings-wise. Uneven matchups, and then forces the some of best teams out at the start.