I know that one of the reasons the NHL currently has the divisional playoff format we have seen since the 2013-14 Season was because of the Thrashers moving from Atlanta back to Winnipeg, since they moved to the Central Division of the Western Conference when that season had started.
However, let's say they the Thrashers stayed in Atlanta, would the NHL still be using playoff system where it was 1v8, 2v7, 3v6, and 4v5 in the first round?
I also know that the Red Wings and Blue Jackets also moved to the Eastern Conference when the Jets moved to the Western Conference and wanted to do that for a long time, so was this playoff format we currently see going to happen just based on that?
