Playoffs will start today. So here comes mine
16. Carolina
15. Dallas
14. Colorado
13. Florida
12. New York Rangers
11. Edmonton
10. Nashville
9. Boston
8. Vegas
7. Los Angeles
6. Vancouver
5. Winnipeg
4. Tampa Bay
3. Toronto
2. New York Islanders
1. Washington
I do think current format what NHL use is bad. How many Toronto vs Boston series we have seen in first round? Or how many Edmonton vs LAK we have seen? I dont think its fair system, because some divisions are a lot stronger. Example in my mind Toronto had to beat a lot stronger teams than Edmonton. I did like 1vs8 (old) system more. But i think NHL should use Europe system. Where winning of regular season truly have impact. Now i dont think Dallas is happy to face Vegas in first round? In EU system winner would meet team who is at 16 position (last playoff position).
So now we would have
Rangers vs St. Louis Blues (Washington season would end in regular season)
Dallas vs New York Islanders
Carolina vs Vegas
Winnipeg vs Tampa
and so on...
I think those would be good series too.
Now NHL think that making bigger rivalries is right way. Yes that mean we see best hockey in first round. How many times we have seen series to go game seven in first round? Comparated to Stanley Cup finals or Conference finals, where we see 4-0 or 4-1 series. If you watch history and biggest rivalries, those did born when teams was playing in later rounds, those Toronto vs Boston series did happen in Stanley cup or Conference finals in past and those did born those rivalries, not playing in first round. Its not fair to fans or to players that you dropp out in first round, when you should dropp out in Conference finals or Stanley Cup finals. I think two best teams should see in Stanley Cup finals, but now its possible that best teams see in first or second round and winner of that serie often has win Cup in past years. I understand this system you can have "bigger underdog" to go Stanley Cup finals, but no matter what system, there always come those miracle stories and runs to Cup. To win Cup you have to win every team, and its no matter who you face, but to face biggest challange in Stanley Cup finals rather than first round is better for everyone. Thats how i believe. Example Toronto, i think in other system, they wouldn't dropp out in first round in so many years, probably in second or third round and some years in finals, and for fans, organisation and players, its better to have long runs and not dropp out in first round. And no i am not Toronto fan, i just use them example, because they division been very hard last 5-6 years. Imagine Stanley Cup finals between Rangers and Islanders or Calgary vs Edmonton, or Toronto vs Montreal or Pittsburgh vs Flyers. Now those cant happen. I understand that there might be travel issues, but those can be always solved.