The NHL general managers’ meetings concluded this week in Boca Raton, Fla. While no major rule changes were recommended, the points system was mulled over, which is promising news for fans unhappy with the status quo.
The current system allows for greater parity in the league—for tighter races down the stretch—but it has faced criticism for valuing regulation wins and overtime/shootout wins equally, and for rewarding teams that fall in overtime with a so-called “loser point.”
Toronto Maple Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello was emphatic about his distaste for the loser point in particular.
“I’m not in favour of getting a point if you don’t win,” Lamoriello said. “I’d rather see the game just be two [for a win] and zero [for a loss], or end up in a tie one and one.”
If Lamoriello had his way, the NHL would revert back to the old system, which means no more overtime. Another proposed alternative to the current format is the so-called “3-2-1.” In that system, teams would earn three points for a regulation win, two points for an overtime win, and one point for an overtime loss.
How would these changes affect the race for the Stanley Cup? Take a look at the tables below to see how the current NHL standings (as of today) would be affected. Select the points system of your choice—the current system, the “3-2-1,” or Lamoriello’s “No OT” option”—to see how the rankings would change. (To generate point totals in a league without overtime, we assumed all games that went to overtime would have ended in a tie.)
Eastern Conference
Now | 3–2–1 | No OT | |
---|---|---|---|
Washington Capitals | 95 | 131 | 87 |
Pittsburgh Penguins | 90 | 123 | 82 |
Columbus Blue Jackets | 90 | 122 | 80 |
New York Rangers | 88 | 123 | 80 |
Montréal Canadiens | 84 | 111 | 73 |
Ottawa Senators | 80 | 110 | 73 |
Boston Bruins | 76 | 105 | 70 |
New York Islanders | 73 | 100 | 69 |
Toronto Maple Leafs | 72 | 95 | 66 |
Philadelphia Flyers | 70 | 89 | 58 |
Florida Panthers | 69 | 87 | 58 |
Tampa Bay Lightning | 69 | 92 | 62 |
Buffalo Sabres | 66 | 86 | 59 |
Carolina Hurricanes | 62 | 82 | 56 |
New Jersey Devils | 62 | 79 | 54 |
Detroit Red Wings | 61 | 75 | 50 |
How do the rankings differ using these points-system alternatives? In some cases, the changes are subtle. While the Atlantic Division standings remain unchanged across all three systems, the “3-2-1” points system would see the New York Rangers and Columbus Blue Jackets swap places in the Metropolitan Division. That means Columbus would be the wild-card team and New York would take the third spot, by that system, if the season ended today.
Over in the West, both alternative points systems would see the Anaheim Ducks ahead of the Edmonton Oilers. The reason is simple: the Ducks have more regulation wins.
Both proposed systems would have the biggest impact on the wild-card races.
The Leafs, currently one point back of the second wild-card spot, would sit three points back in Lamoriello’s system, and five points back in the “3-2-1” system.
The team currently in the playoff picture that would suffer the most from the “3-2-1” system is the Florida Panthers, who sit four points back of the second wild-card as of today but would sit 13 points back under those proposed changes.
Western Conference
Now | 3–2–1 | No OT | |
---|---|---|---|
Minnesota Wild | 90 | 125 | 83 |
Chicago Blackhawks | 89 | 120 | 78 |
San Jose Sharks | 85 | 117 | 78 |
Edmonton Oilers | 78 | 104 | 69 |
Anaheim Ducks | 78 | 107 | 73 |
Calgary Flames | 76 | 101 | 65 |
Nashville Predators | 74 | 102 | 70 |
St. Louis Blues | 71 | 97 | 64 |
Los Angeles Kings | 68 | 87 | 56 |
Winnipeg Jets | 66 | 91 | 61 |
Vancouver Canucks | 64 | 82 | 54 |
Dallas Stars | 64 | 88 | 61 |
Arizona Coyotes | 53 | 67 | 44 |
Colorado Avalanche | 39 | 51 | 33 |
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