The 2013/14 season in the NHL was one that featured some significant changes off the ice as the league realigned to four divisions instead of six.
The realignment was significant because the playoff format was forced to change with four divisions, and it changed for the worse in our opinion and the opinion of fans and players.
Via 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.
Last season, Daniel Winnik made his criticism of the current playoff format public, much to the delight of fans.
On Tuesday, James van Riemsdyk became the latest player to share his thought on the current playoff format and why he likes the old format better.
Aside from the old format creating more rivalries, it also allowed the first place team in the conference to avoid a potential second round series against the second best team in the conference thanks to reseeding.
As JVR said, though, it is what it is and if the playoffs started today, the Leafs would finish fourth in the conference, but they wouldn't have home ice advantage in their series against the Bruins.
