NHL Rant

Because I was bored today:
A 5-division NHL, based on the date(s) when (the current rendition of) the franchise moved to its present location.

1st: DET/CHI/BOS/NYR/MTL/TOR

2nd: STL/DAL/PHI/PIT/LAK/BUF

3rd: VAN/NYI/CGY/WSH/NJD/EDM

4th: PHX/CAR/COL/SJS/OTT/TAM

5th: ANA/FLA/NSH/ATL/CLB/MIN

SEASON STRUCTURE (82 GAMES)

5 divisional opponents 6 times (30) 30

Divisional play will follow this format, and will amount to 30 games per team
1v4 / 2v5 / 3v6
1v5 / 2v6 / 3v4
1v6 / 2v4 / 3v5
1v3 / 5v6 / --
1v2 / 3v5 / 4v6
2v3 / 4v5 / --

25 other opponents 2 times (50) 80

The differing divisions will face each other in sequence, as follows:
Div. 1v2, Div. 3v4 (Div. 5 gets a break for a span of 5 games)
Div. 1v3, Div. 2v5 (4 off)
Div. 1v4, Div. 3v5 (2 off)
Div. 1v5, Div. 2v4 (3 off)
Div. 2v3, Div. 4v5 (1 off)

**One extra two game series** (2) 82

The 2 "extra" games, which would bring the total up to the NHL's current 82, will pit these opponents together:
(I tried to find as many rivalries as I could. Tell me what you think.)

1. Isles-Rangers 2. Pittsburgh-Philly
3. Toronto-Ottawa 4. Montreal-Boston
5. Atlanta-Carolina 6. Tampa-Florida
7. Chicago-Detroit 8. Columbus-Nashville
9. Calgary-Edmonton 10. Colorado-Minnesota
11. Anaheim-LA 12. San Jose-Phoenix
13. Dallas-New Jersey 14. St. Louis-Vancouver
15. Washington-Buffalo

I still think 82 games is a terrible number to base the schedule around, but this format works nicely.

As far as the playoffs are concerned?
The top 16 teams overall make it to the big dance.

This will alleviate complaints about teams making it into the playoffs with a low point total "just because they play in a weak division".
(cough, Washington, cough)

1 v 16 - 2 v 15 - 3 v 14 - 4 v 13
5 v 12 - 6 v 11 - 7 v 10 - 8 v 9

4 rounds of playoffs makes everything else stay the same.
Now why couldn't Gary Butthead think of this? ;)