A New Point System

In Larry Brooks' column in the New York Post on Sunday he argues that the NHL should go to a new point system where a regulation win gets 2 points a shootout win gets 1 (OT would be eliminated) and a loss of any type gets 0. His argument against the current system is the same as all the other complaints it inflates points, rewards losing, and punishing teams that win in 60. I have never seen his points proposal done so I decided to look at the standing using his format although slightly adjusted because overtime exist.

For the standings below a team gets 2 points for a regulation or OT win, 1 point for a shootout win, and 0 points for a loss of any kind.

UPDATED Through the end of the season

Atlantic	W	L	SW	P
New Jersey	39	33	10	88
Pittsburgh	37	35	10	84
NY Rangers	33	40	9	75
NY Islanders	33	42	7	72
Philadelphia	21	60	1	43

Northeast	W	L	SW	P
Buffalo	43	29	10	96
Ottawa	46	34	2	94
Montreal	36	40	6	78
Toronto	36	42	4	76
Boston	26	47	9	61

Southeast	W	L	SW	P
Carolina	40	42	0	80
Atlanta	36	39	7	79
Tampa	34	38	10	78
Florida	33	47	2	68
Washington	27	54	1	55

Central	W	L	SW	P
Detriot	48	32	2	98
Nashville	45	31	6	96
St. Louis	28	48	6	62
Columbus	28	49	5	61
Chicago	26	50	6	58

Northwest	W	L	SW	P
Vancouver	44	33	5	93
Minnesota	38	34	10	86
Calgary	40	39	3	83
Colorado	39	38	5	83
Edmonton	29	50	3	61

Pacific	W	L	SW	P
San Jose	49	31	2	100
Anaheim	44	34	4	92
Dallas	40	32	9	89
Phoenix	26	51	5	57
Los Angeles	23	55	4	50

Conference Standings:

East
Team	PTS
BUF	96
NJ	88
CAR	80
OTT	94
PITT	84
ATL	79
MON	78
TAM	78
TOR	76
NYR	75
NYI	72
FLA	68
BOS	61
WSH	55
PHI	43

West
Team	PTS
SJ	100
DET	98
VAN	93
NSH	96
ANA	92
DAL	89
MIN	86
CGY	83
COL	83
STL	62
EDM	61
CBJ	61
CHI	58
PHX	57
LA	50

To compare here is the current NHL standings

It's clear why the NHL will never adopt this, the point totals will plummet to lower to what they were before the 1999-2000 bonus point was introduced. There would be only 1 100 point team (San Jose) and only 12-13 (depending on the Colorado result tonight) would be above .500 point percentage wise which makes the league look mediocre. There would be also be a below .500 (with 0 shootout wins) division champion. The reason for the point drop to below the old 2 for a win 1 for a tie format is because you cutting out the tie points in half. If OT was eliminated as Brooks wants points would be even lower.

That said there are some big changes. For one San Jose who will start the playoffs on the road would be the Presidents Trophy winners as the only 100 point team. Carolina who will missed the playoffs would be the Southeast Division champs and would have home ice. Also last nights Montreal and Toronto game would have been meaningless as Montreal would have made it anyways. The Islanders would have finished far back and the Rangers who are the 6th seed would have missed as well.

This system is probably more fair but because of the illusion of more worse teams than there are this won't be adopted in the NHL.