Alternate Standings

Another day, anotehr attack on the Bettman charity point (via Dave Perkins of the Toronto Star), but here's the part that caught my eye (bold part mine):

Ties were part of the scenery when this fan was growing up. They were considered an honourable result and still should be, in this opinion. (Does anyone think a shootout decision, exciting as some may be, is a more honourable result?) But that horse has long since left the barn; the NHL chose a generation ago to eliminate ties. Fine, but in that case, why not go all the way?

So let's go all the way. This means that the format goes to a straight win/loss. Let's look at how leat year would end if the win/loss format was used.

2 things to keep in mind:

1. The division leaders still get the top three spots in the conference.
2. Any tiebreakers are broken by using how the NHL would determine it. 

Here's what the East would look like:

Some shuffling at the top of the standings. Pittsburgh gets the top spot, Washington gets bumped to second, and Philadelphia falls to fourth. Other changes are the Rangers jumping the Sabres, and the Devils and Leafs switching spots.

Here's the West:

Not as much changing as in the East. Los Angeles switches with Nashville, and Chicago swap spots with Phoenix. Outside the playoffs, Minnesota jumps ahead of St. Louis.

The conclusion: There isn't significant changes, but it does seem to do a better job highlighting how close the top of the East is and how close the playoff race in the West is.