With the 2015 World Junior Championship completed as of yesterday, we once again found ourselves readjusting to the IIHF point system. This point system differs from the NHL’s system in that it rewards a regulation win with 3 points, an overtime or shootout win with 2 points, an overtime or shootout loss with 1 point and a regulation loss with 0 points. This often makes one wonder, how would this point system affect the NHL standings? So, today we’ve adapted the current NHL standings from its regular point system, to the IIHF system to find out how greatly it would affect teams.
Using NHL Point System:
Eastern Conference: Team: Wins-Losses-OT/SO Losses
- Tampa Bay Lightning: 26-12-4 – 56 points
- Montreal Canadiens: 26-12-2 – 54 points
- Pittsburgh Penguins: 24-10-5 – 53 points
- New York Islanders: 26-13-1 – 53 points
- Detroit Red Wings: 21-10-9 – 51 points
- Washington Capitals: 20-11-7 – 47 points
- New York Rangers: 21-11-4 – 46 points
- Toronto Maple Leafs: 21-16-3 – 45 points
- Boston Bruins: 19-15-6 – 44 points
- Florida Panthers: 17-11-9 – 43 points
- Ottawa Senators: 16-15-8 – 40 points
- Columbus Blue Jackets: 18-17-3 – 39 points
- Philadelphia Flyers: 15-18-7 – 37 points
- New Jersey Devils: 15-20-7 – 37 points
- Buffalo Sabres: 14-24-3 – 31 points
- Carolina Hurricanes: 12-24-4 – 28 points
Western Conference: Team: Wins-Losses-OT/SO Losses
- Anaheim Ducks: 26-9-6 – 58 points
- Nashville Predators: 26-9-4 – 56 points
- Chicago Blackhawks: 26-12-2 – 54 points
- St. Louis Blues: 24-13-3 – 51 points
- Vancouver Canucks: 23-12-3 – 49 points
- San Jose Sharks: 22-14-5 – 49 points
- Los Angeles Kings: 19-12-9 – 47 points
- Winnipeg Jets: 20-13-7 – 47 points
- Calgary Flames: 21-16-3 – 45 points
- Dallas Stars: 18-15-6 – 42 points
- Minnesota Wild: 18-15-5 – 41 points
- Colorado Avalanche: 16-16-8 – 40 points
- Arizona Coyotes: 15-20-4 – 34 points
- Edmonton Oilers: 9-23-9 – 27 points
Using IIHF Point System:
Eastern Conference: Team: Regulation Wins-OT/SO Wins-OT/SO Losses-Regulation Losses
- Tampa Bay Lightning: 23-3-4-12 – 79 points
- Montreal Canadiens: 20-6-2-12 – 74 points
- Pittsburgh Penguins: 19-5-5-10 – 71 points
- New York Islanders: 16-10-1-13 – 69 points
- Detroit Red Wings: 17-4-9-10 – 68 points
- Washington Capitals: 16-4-7-11 – 63 points
- New York Rangers: 16-5-4-11 – 62 points
- Toronto Maple Leafs: 17-4-3-16 – 62 points
- Boston Bruins: 12-7-6-15 – 56 points
- Florida Panthers: 11-6-9-11 – 54 points
- Ottawa Senators: 10-6-8-15 – 50 points
- Columbus Blue Jackets: 12-6-3-17 – 51 points
- New Jersey Devils: 12-3-7-20 – 49 points
- Philadelphia Flyers: 11-4-7-18 – 48 points
- Buffalo Sabres: 7-7-3-24 – 38 points
- Carolina Hurricanes: 9-3-4-24 – 37 points
Using IIHF Point System:
Eastern Conference: Team: Regulation Wins-OT/SO Wins-OT/SO Losses-Regulation Losses
- Nashville Predators: 19-7-4-9 – 75 points
- Anaheim Ducks: 17-9-6-9 – 75 points
- Chicago Blackhawks: 19-7-2-12 – 73 points
- St. Louis Blues: 18-6-3-13 – 69 points
- Vancouver Canucks: 18-5-3-12 – 67 points
- San Jose Sharks: 18-4-5-14 – 67 points
- Los Angeles Kings: 17-2-9-12 – 64 points
- Winnipeg Jets: 16-4-7-13 – 63 points
- Dallas Stars: 16-2-6-15 – 58 points
- Calgary Flames: 13-8-3-16 – 58 points
- Minnesota Wild: 14-4-5-15 – 55 points
- Colorado Avalanche: 9-7-8-16 – 49 points
- Arizona Coyotes: 9-6-4-20 – 43 points
- Edmonton Oilers: 8-1-9-23 – 35 points
So, as is clearly shown in the adjusted standings above, the IIHF points system would definitely cause some minor adjustments in teams placements in their respective conferences, but in the end, all the playoff teams would remain the same as with the NHL system. In my opinion, the IIHF system seems to make a little more sense, in that each and every game is worth a total of three points, instead of some being worth two and others worth three points with the system that is in place right now. And as shown, it wouldn’t have drastic impacts on the results of the league, other than every team having more points of course.
Stop with points for the loser, drop the shootout, extend OT to 10 minutes, and go back to ties. 2 points if you win. No points for anything else. Enough of this nonsense.
Can you imagine if in baseball you got a half a win if you lose in extra innings
A win is a win, and a loss is a loss.
I would have to disagree with this point system. As they will play 82 games; the new system would increase points by teams that as of now through history; point records would fall.
Either go with the IIHF which makes a lot of sense but would add to total season team pt records.
Or change the current system to 2 pts for regulation or overtime win, Zero for the loser. I vote for no shootout but a longer ot pd anywhere between 7 – 10 min of 4vs4 . Scoring 2pts for the win, 0 for a loss, and 1 ea for a tie. I think the longer time would cause teams to use more players leading to more goals.
If they stay with a shootout then the IIHF system has to be used.
It’s simple. You either win or you lose. No team should ever receive a point for losing game. Just because it takes longer to lose, doesn’t mean you earn a point. If people don’t feel comfortable with deciding games with a shootout, then get rid of it. There is no need for loser points.
Yes, they’re using the point system of the IIHF, and the AHL, and the ECHL etc. but unlike these conferences etc. the NHL does not acknowledge the OT/L and SO as being separate entities.
Always 3 points for each game makes more sense, so maybe that’s why the NHL goes the other way…
3 points is the way to go, glad to see others feel the same way, why doesn’t the NHL get with the program already and realize all games should be worth the same amount of points regardless of regulation or OT status?
I agree, the last 3 minutes of a tied game is sometimes played too cautiously to guarantee one point. This should have been the original point system
I agree that it is absurd to have some games worth 2 points and some worth 3.
However, maybe an overtime win should be 3-0 and the 2-1 should be used only for shootout wins.
If a team wins in overtime in the payoffs, it is a whole win, not 2/3rds of one.
3 points for each game should have been added the day they added the overtime loss….. Long time coming
have the shoot out before the game to make the players work in the 3rd and overtime since they will already know who won the shoot out
Brad, there is always 3 points awarded in every game using the IIHF system, just depends how they are divided. It actually makes more sense because if you watch the last 5 minutes of a tied game, it is generally very defensive and teams just want that point.
this is awesome, i totally agree the nhl system makes no sense awarding more points for different games! bettman changes the rules every summer anyway, this is a change thats gotta be made!!