from Ansar Khan of Mlive,
One proposed playoff format would see the top four teams in each division qualify and play each other in the first two rounds, which would reduce travel and result in no border crossing until the conference finals.
But reality for the Red Wings is it doesn’t matter what the divisions look like, they are not going to compete for a playoff spot in 2021. They figure to be better, following a slew of offseason changes that should improve them in all areas and some internal growth. But they were 42 points out of the final playoff spot when the season paused on March 11 and that margin probably would have widened had the schedule been completed.