The 2021-22 NHL season will feature 32 teams, with the Seattle Kraken playing their inaugural season. The NHL, which realigned last season because of travel complications brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, will go back to its previous four-division, two-conference format -- Metropolitan, Atlantic in the Eastern Conference, Central and Pacific in the Western Conference. The Kraken will play in the Pacific, and the Arizona Coyotes will move from the Pacific to the Central.
The top three teams in each division and two wild cards in each conference will qualify for the playoffs.
The top three teams in each division and two wild cards in each conference will qualify for the playoffs.