The 2013-14 season in the NHL was noteworthy due to the realignment into a four-division, two-conference system.
Not only did the realignment shake up the conferences with certain teams moving, but it also changed the playoff format, as per NHL.com:
The top three teams in each division will make up the first 12 teams in the playoffs. The remaining four spots will be filled by the next two highest-placed finishers in each conference, based on regular-season record and regardless of division. It is possible for one division in each conference to send five teams to the postseason while the other sends just three.
In the First Round, the division winner with the best record in each conference will be matched against the wild-card team with the lesser record; the wild card team with the better record will play the other division winner.
The teams finishing second and third in each division will meet in the First Round within the bracket headed by their respective division winners. First-round winners within each bracket play one another in the Second Round to determine the four participants in the Conference Finals.
The biggest thing to note about the current divisional playoff format is that the team that finishes in first in their conference doesn't necessarily get rewarded for that as they could end up playing the second best team in the conference in the second round.
This season, for example, the Washington Capitals could end up facing the Columbus Blue Jackets in the second round, and both could finish one and two in the East.
It's the same thing over in the West as Chicago and Minnesota could end up battling once again in the second round.
Daniel Winnik of the Capitals was asked about the current divisional playoff format on Monday and it's safe to say he's not a fan of it.
We imagine Winnik's not the only player or hockey fan that feels that way about the current playoff format.
In the old format, teams would be reseeded after the first round, so if the top two teams made it through, they wouldn't have to face each other until the Conference Finals.
We understand the rivalries that are created because of the divisional playoff format get fans more excited about the matchups, but we agree with Winnik when it comes to the entire system as a whole.
What do you think of the current format? Let us know by tweeting us @BarDown.
(H/T: /r/hockey)
