The NHL has reached the limit of an unprecedented NHL season of 56 games, 2020-21, which will feature realigned divisions, a new schedule format and adjustments in the playoffs.
The four new divisions are made up of a fully Canadian Division and three divisions geographically dividing the 24 US teams. All regular season games and the first two rounds of the playoffs will be played within those divisions, so if familiarity really breeds contempt, this will be a season of extreme contempt when all is said and done.
As we do every season at The Athletic, we interview our hockey writers about how we see the coming weeks and months unfolding, all winners, losers, pleasant surprises and explosive performances to come. Appreciate.
Best of the NHL divisions
Our choices for the division’s four winners reflect the geographic concentration of talent in the East, the lack of such talent in the West and the uncertainty about what will happen in the north of the 49th …