Okay, so the new alignment and the wild-card playoffs have been accepted. But I just want to hear what other fans think of a "different" proposal, one that I think would make the playoffs more exciting without divisional rounds.

Qualifying-wise, same rules apply; top 3 from each division plus the next 2 in the conference standings. But the match ups change. Based on conference position, let the top teams choose who they face off against. If the #1 team would rather play a #6 they had no trouble with in the season instead of a hot #8, let them choose to. Besides, isn't everything more personal when someone calls you out? And also, imagine the 3rd seed picking the 4th so the 5th and 6th (for this demonstration, lets call them the Penguins and the Flyers) are set to rip each other apart.

Odd idea, just floating it.