I know how the divisions will line up but has it been floated how the playoffs are going to be structured? is it going to be canadian and atlantic, or canadian and pacific? It would make sense for atlantic and central as they are what is primarily the eastern conference now with 13 of 16 of the eastern teams combined between the 2 divisions. but has that actually been set in stone?

NOTHING has been set in stone. And how they do playoffs might depend a lot on what the border travel situation looks like by then, so even when they actually start announcing stuff it might be they have more than 1 playoff option in play.

It'll be the same as it was in 2018-19. The reason the play-ins happened because the season didn't finish as expected, and the NHL believed it was the best way to make up for the teams that could realistically make the playoffs but were on the outside when the season paused.

If the season finishes as intended this year, there won't be a need for any changes.

yeah but the playins still had conferences... what are the conferences going to be? or is the nhl gunna just do a full 1 year no conference. top 16 sorta deal.

I thought the plan was when the borders reopen, the conferences go back to their normal arrangements.

I'd be down for a top 16 though.