Yesterday, ESPN+ released a column regarding the potential division realignments for the upcoming 2020-2021 NHL season. Much like everything else that has to do with the upcoming season, these realignments are speculative. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the NHL searches for new solutions during unique times. New obstacles due to travel restrictions mean that teams who usually would be division rivals may not be in 2020-2021. If these NHL divisional realignments are indeed accurate, it’ll be weird without a divisional rivalry between the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins.
Instead of featuring the Pittsburgh Penguins and Columbus Blue Jackets as division rivals, 2020-2021 could substitute them with the Boston Bruins and Buffalo Sabres.