Longtime readers know what that means: You’re getting a top 16 instead of a top five, with every playoff team ranked. We’ll also check in on what the Gold Plan standings would look like in the bottom five, and we’ll even make a few oddly specific predictions.

The Stanley Cup has been won by an 8-seed in the past. Top teams go out in the first round all the time. Even those who don’t love hockey have a hard time avoiding the NHL Playoffs, which is non-stop intensity for almost two months.

The NHL postseason certainly doesn't lack juicy storylines. The first round features two matchups of teams from the same state or province, one rivalry renewed for the fourth year in a row and a star player facing his former team.