For no reason.
Campbell Conference
Pacific
Drop Dallas, nobody wants them around, Add Vancouver to give the Sharks an actual rival. Plus, no more 4 or 5 p.m. start times in Dallas, Huzzah. Four of these teams had 100+ points last year, and the other got lost at a Dunkin' Doughnuts.
1. Anaheim
2. Los Angeles
3. Phoenix
4. San Jose
5. Vancouver
Central Western
Puts everyone in the same-ish time zone, which has been the Stars' biggest complaint for a while. I know this essentially hands the Hawks the division for the next couple of years, but once Toews and Kane are off elc's that it's a toss up.
1. Chicago
2. Columbus
3. Dallas
4. Nashville
5. St. Louis
Mountain
Atlanta is the farthest west of all the teams I considered moving, all these teams travel a lot anyway, so it's not a big deal. With the level these teams are at I see it working out.
1. Atlanta
2. Calgary
3. Colorado
4. Edmonton
5. Minnesota
Wales Conference
Northeast
Detroit, Toronto, and Buffalo are all fairly close together, this works well. Boston and Montreal have a traditional rivalry, as do Toronto and Montreal. Three of these teams are the top three historical cup winners, so that gives NBC a reason to stop showing Penguins games.
1. Buffalo
2. Boston
3. Detroit
4. Montreal
5. Toronto
Central Eastern
Keep the two NY and Pennsylvania teams together. Make Ottawa play the Pens 6x a year, those games are entertaining.
1. New York
2. New York
3. Ottawa
4. Philadelphia
5. Pittsburgh
Atlantic
Offensively heavy Washington vs. Defensively minded New Jersey six times a season? Yes please. Carolina has a fierce (though spastic) rivalry with the Caps, the two Florida teams can suck each other off, whatever.
1. Carolina
2. Florida
3. New Jersey
4. Tampa Bay
5. Washington