Edited Oct. 5, 2021 at 12:47 p.m.
divisions should be
Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Detroit
Buffalo, Boston, NYR, NYI
NJD, PIttsburgh, Philadelphia and Washington
Carolina, Tampa, Florida and Columbus
Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Seattle
SJS, LAK, Anahiem and Vegas
Colorado, Arizona, Dallas and Nashville
Winnipeg, SLB, Minnesota and Chicago
Top 8 teams make the playoffs
84 game schedule breakdown as follows
Divisional teams play each other 4 times each and next closest geographic division plays 4 games eash, remaining conference teams play 3 games each and opposite conference teams play 2 games each.
Example:
Montreal plays:
Toronto, Ottawa, Detroit, Buffalo, Boston, New York Rangers and New York islanders = 4 games = 28
Carolina, Tampa, Florida, Columbus, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, New Jersey and Washington = 3 games = 24
Western Conference teams 2 = 2 games = 32
This way only 4 teams swap from original alignment Tampa and Florida go from Atlantic to Metro and NYR and NYI go from Metro to Atlantic essentially