Don't be fooled by the breathless reports out of Canada that the NHL is about to realign and change the way it conducts the playoffs. According to some people who should know, things are a lot farther away from happening than it would appear. That said, it certainly is fun to think about what a realigned NHL would look like.

The Thrashers in the West? Sounds too strange. Can you imagine the road trips? I think that would be addressed again if the Penguins move west.

I particularly liked the proposed playoff format with the top two teams in each division being guaranteed the top four seeds with the rest of the eight-team field in each conference rounded out by points regardless of where a team stands in its division.

The proposed format also would really change the dynamic of Tampa Bay's season with many more games against teams from the Northeast.

So, good plan? Bad? Doesn't matter?