from Chris Johnston of Sportsnet,

The one thing that stands out about the NHL return-to-play format currently being discussed is it doesn’t include a meaningless game.

That’s because the top-four teams in each conference will still be jockeying for seeding even while receiving a “bye” directly into the playoffs. The proposed format would see Boston, Tampa, Washington and Philadelphia play each other in the East while St. Louis, Colorado, Vegas and Dallas do so in the West, with the outcomes helping determine how those teams are seeded No. 1 through No. 4 to start the first round.

It also ensures those NHL heavyweights are given something to play for while the other 16 teams contest best-of five play-in series to determine their playoff opponents.

Now, before we go any further, it’s important to stress that this format hasn’t yet been finalized or approved. The NHLPA’s Executive Board will discuss the proposed framework during a call on Thursday night and ultimately has to sign off on any plan put into action. And of course nothing happens without the league’s blessing, too.

However, both sides are represented on the Return To Play Committee that has been hammering away at what the NHL should look like if it’s able to finish the season amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

They’ve ended up on a 24-team, two-conference format that could produce great theatre while still requiring the eventual Stanley Cup champion to win at least 16 playoff games.

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