To Qualify for NHLP Playoffs

10 - Divisional Standings for Playoffs, Deductions for Non-Playoff Players – NHLP Divisions Next Season

(New – 2025/26) At the conclusion of the NHLP regular season and to determine the NHLP playoff seeding in each division, conference, and the league's official final standings for next year’s division seeding the NHLP will set the final standings using the following formulae:

a) (New – 2025/26) The standings (1^st to 6^th seeding) in each division are first set based on the highest scoring 8-player playoff teams, seeded 1 to 6^th, if all teams have full 8-player playoff rosters. Next, the highest scoring of the 7-player playoff teams gets the highest remaining seed with all non-playoff players being 100% point penalties. If the standings are still not set, next the highest scoring 6 man teams, then 5 man teams, etc.  will determine the final standings. 

In short, regardless of point totals, teams are seeded as follows: all 8 playoff player teams first, then all 7 playoff player teams, etc.

b) To determine the Division in each Conference for next season the 5^th place teams and the two teams that win the first round stay in their current Division for the next season.  The team finishing 6^th and two first round losing teams move to the same Conferences other Division for the next season.  This allows the NHLP GMs to all be in the same Divisions, or different Divisions annually.