NHL Board of Governors approved a four-Conference format

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (Dec. 5, 2011) -- The NHL Board of Governors approved a four-Conference format and gave Gary Bettman the go ahead to implement it, pending input from the NHLPA. The new format would consist of two eight-team Conferences and two seven-team Conferences.

As for the schedule, teams would play every other team outside its conference twice, once at home and once away. In the seven-team Conferences, teams will play six times, splitting them home and away. In the eight-team Conferences, teams will play either five or six times in a season, alternating each season.

The top four teams in each Conference will qualify for the Stanley playoffs, where the first-place team will play the fourth-place team and the second-place team would play the third-place team. The four Conference champions would then meet in the semi-finals to decide the Stanley Cup.

The Conference format:

CONF. A CONF. B CONF. C CONF. D

Anaheim Chicago Boston Carolina

Calgary Columbus Buffalo NJ Devils

Colorado Dallas Florida NY Islanders

Edmonton Detroit Montreal NY Rangers

Los Angeles Minnesota Ottawa Philadelphia

Phoenix Nashville Tampa Bay Pittsburgh

San Jose St. Louis Toronto Washington

Vancouver Winnipeg