[DeluxeMoustache]

Here is what I would prefer to see
Cutoff for a bye, and cutoff for qualifying

I initially thought about 7 games above .500 was reasonable for a qualifying cutoff. But that adds 3 teams in the east, and 2 in the west, and there is a huge logjam

East: it actually works really well, as there is a clear drop off after Pittsburgh in the standings
Bye cutoff: ~.587
Cutoff for qualifying: ~4 games above .500, or around .528
5 teams get byes, 6 teams are involved in 3 qualifying rounds

West: Similar. Only Arizona gets in at 4 games above .500

It is tough to go to .550 in the West and exclude Arizona because of the logjam of teams in the 78-80 point range with 69-71 GP

This approach, while not perfect, doesn’t introduce .500 teams like Montreal just to satisfy a count of teams that provides symmetry.

Teams like Toronto still had work to do to secure a spot, but Montreal is not a real threat.