I've found an article via the web about a possible potential realignment that was discussed by some NHL Board of Governors; with a new structure for the entire League that was about to be announced, consisting of 4 conferences based on geography (2 of those conferences have 7 teams, while the other 2 have 8 ). According to the meeting by the NHL Board of Governors, here's the list with the unnamed new conferences:

Conference A: Anaheim, Calgary, Colorado, Edmonton, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Jose, Vancouver
Conference B: Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, Minnesota, Nashville, St. Louis, Winnipeg
Conference C: Boston, Buffalo, Florida, Montreal, Ottawa, Tampa Bay, Toronto
Conference D: Carolina, New Jersey, N.Y. Islanders, N.Y. Rangers, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington

More info can be found at:

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=604852

Love the format, but needs some modifications, which I believe that the Quebec Nordiques and the Hartford Whalers should return, just like the Winnipeg Jets did after replacing the Atlanta Thrashers last season, with some game-scheduling boost:

1. – Eastern Conference:
1.1. – Patrick Division:
1.1.1. – Atlantic Section:

New Jersey
N.Y. Islanders
N.Y. Rangers
Philadelphia

1.1.2. – Southeast Section:

Carolina
Florida
Tampa Bay
Washington

1.2. – Adams Division:
1.2.1. – Northeast Section:

Boston
Buffalo
Hartford (return)
Pittsburgh

1.2.2. – Mideast Section:

Montreal
Ottawa
Quebec (return)
Toronto

2 – Western Conference:
2.1. – Norris Division:
2.1.1. – Central Section:

Chicago
Columbus
Detroit
St. Louis

2.1.2. – Midwest Section:

Dallas
Minnesota
Nashville
Winnipeg

2.2. – Smythe Division:
2.2.1. – Northwest Section:

Calgary
Colorado
Edmonton
Vancouver

2.2.2. – Pacific Section:

Anaheim
Los Angeles
Phoenix
San Jose

Schedule Format V-1.0 (84 total games):

Conference play; Division play; Intra-Section play: Each team will play four times – two home, two away – for a total of 12 Intra-Division Intra-Section games (3 * 4 = 12).
Conference play; Division play; Out-of-Section play: Each team will play all four teams four times – two home, two away – for a total of 16 Intra-Division Out-of-Section games (4 * 4 = 16).
Conference play; Out-of-Division play: Each team will play all eight teams three times for a total of 24 Out-of-Division games (8 * 3 =24).
Out-of-Conference play: Each team will play all 16 teams twice – one home, one away – for a total of 32 Out-of-Conference games (16 * 2 =32).

Sum that up for a total of 84 games in one season.

Schedule Format V-2.0 (82 total games):

Conference play; Division play; Intra-Section play: Each team will play six times – three home, three away – for a total of 18 Intra-Division Intra-Section games (3 * 6 = 18).
Conference play; Division play; Out-of-Section play: Each team will play all four teams four times – two home, two away – for a total of 16 Intra-Division Out-of-Section games (4 * 4 = 16).
Conference play; Out-of-Division play: Each team will play all eight teams twice – one home, one away – for a total of 16 Out-of-Division games (8 * 2 = 16).
Out-of-Conference play: Each team will play all 16 teams twice – one home, one away – for a total of 32 Out-of-Conference games (16 * 2 = 32).

Sum that up for a total of 82 games in one season.

Any thoughts and/or opinions about this? And hopefully the staff of the NHL can possibly see this and take this under consideration and advisement in the future.

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