How the 2020-21 NHL season would look under the normal alignment

Atlantic Division

The Atlantic reunites teams that are spread out over three divisions in the 2020-21 NHL season. Only two of those divisions, however, would send teams to the postseason. The Toronto Maple Leafs would top the standings although the Tampa Bay Lightning would have a couple of games in hand, and this division would house 2021’s three worst teams, all of which are basement dwellers in their respective divisions.

1. Toronto Maple Leafs ( 19-7-2, 40 points)

2. Tampa Bay Lightning (18-5-2, 38 points)

3. Florida Panthers (17-5-4, 38 points)

4. Montreal Canadiens (12-7-7, 31 points)

5. Boston Bruins (14-7-4, 32 points)

6. Ottawa Senators (9-20-1, 19 points)

7. Detroit Red Wings (8-16-4, 20 points)

8. Buffalo Sabres (6-15-4, 16 points)

The Bolts would be joined by the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers as Playoff teams if the regular-season wrapped up today, while the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins would be wild card candidates. Again, this is based on points, so the B’s wouldn’t totally be in danger of missing the postseason, but based on the Metro standings, they would miss out at this moment. The Pens and Habs would qualify as wild card teams.

My major takeaway here is how loaded this division would be in 2020-21. This season, only six teams own a point percentage above .700, and three of them would be in the Atlantic Division. If these teams were playing one another on a nightly basis, the star power would be incredible to watch, whether going head to head or standing out against the lowly bottom three teams. Having guaranteed playoff matchups between these teams this year would have been incredible.