RealGM

Heres the new realignment plan with 4 conferences.

http://aol.sportingnews.com/nhl/story/2013-02-23/nhl-realignment-plan-red-wings-eastern-conference-seattle-hockey-team

I: Carolina, Columbus, New Jersey, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington

II: Boston, Buffalo, Detroit, Florida, Montreal, Ottawa, Tampa Bay, Toronto

III: Chicago, Colorado, Dallas, Minnesota, Nashville, St. Louis, Winnipeg

IV: Anaheim, Calgary, Edmonton, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Jose, Vancouver

I think re-newing rivalries with 3 of the original 6 out weighs losing the Blackhawks as a rival.

Poor Columbus.

We are a huge winner here. Doesn't look like a super hard conference and we get to stay in the eastern time zone. Picking up Boston, Toronto and Montreal is fabulous, though I do love to hate the Blackhawks

Columbus draws a tougher set of teams but also goes east and gets to bring in fans by offering up teams like Pittsburgh and Philly.