Other,
I posted this recently but ill change it up to reflect current standings.
Id like to see 4 place holders and 4 wild cards per conference.
So for example here's how it would play out in the east for arguments sake, right now the 3rd place teams have more pts than the 2 predicted WC teams but if a WC had more than a 3rd they would get a higher seed.
DC #1 (Boston) vs WC #4 (Pittsburgh)
DC#2 (Carolina) vs WC #3 (NYI)
RU #1 (NJ) vs WC#2 (Tampa)
RU#2(Toronto) vs WC#1 (Rangers)
So we have a crossover here sort of. But instead of the bracket we have, we do a re-seed after round 1 based solely on pts. Just for arguments sake lets go by season series leaders so far for the winners of above.
So our winners are
Boston
Carolina
Tampa
And ill go Rangers based on pts vs the Leafs (series tied at 1 Rangers 1 w,1 otl, Leafs 1L,1 otw Rangers 3 pts Leafs 2 pts)
So we have with a reseed
Boston
Carolina
Rangers
Tampa
So that gives us for the Eastern Semi Finals
Boston vs Tampa
Carolina vs Rangers
And then after its the same as is now, winners play for the ecf. Ecf and finals home ice is based on higher pt total.
West would be
DC #1 (VGK) vs WC# 4 (Winnipeg)
DC#2 (Minnesota) vs WC# 3 (Seattle)
RU#1 (LA) vs WC#2 (Colorado)
RU # 2 (Dallas) vs WC#1 (Edmonton)
But instead of the bracket we have, we do a re-seed after round 1. Just for arguments sake lets go by season series leaders so far for the winners of above.
VGK
Minnesota
LA
Edmonton
So that gives us for the Western Semi Finals
VGK vs Edmonton
Minnesota vs LA
So we have 3 Pacific teams and 1 central team in the semis
And then after its the same as is now, winners play for the wcf. Wcf and finals home ice is based on higher pt total.
BTW( 1 quick disclaimer and it obviously didn't happen here but if a WC team has more pts than a division winner or runner up and both move on after round 1 than the WC team would gain a higher seed. Same principle for a RU having more pts vs a division winner, if the RU and division winner both move on than the RU would gain a higher seed based on more pts)