I take it back, plenty of matchups would change, some better, some worse but like I said, at least shit would be fair based on record. Last year's playoffs if it was 2 Division winners and 3-8 seeding.
Code:
Should've been vs Reality
1 wsh v 8 det 1 wsh v 7 phi
2 fla v 7 phi 2 fla v 5 nyi
3 pit v 6 tb 3 pit v 4 nyr (both got fucked but yay for "rivalry"?)
4 nyr v 5 nyi 6 tb v 8 det (super fair)
1 dal v 8 min 1 dal v 8 min
2 ana v 7 nsh 2 ana v 7 nsh
3 stl v 6 sj 3 stl v 4 chi (both got fucked, especially CHI)
4 chi v 5 la 5 la v 6 sj (la gained CHI's 1st rd home ice)
Gained some "rivalries" like NYR/PIT, WSH/PHI, LA/SJ but CHI/LA and NYR/NYI rivalries could have been fun as well and wouldn't have been bullshit seeding. The Stanley Cup Playoffs are pretty amazing every year, no matter who plays who, so I just feel like the matchups should be fair, instead of trying to grab bullshit rivalries for headlines.