Here is an intriguing idea for divisional realignment if/when the Atlanta-to-Winnipeg move takes place.

I like the idea of three conferences to more accurately split up the NHL, especially this bit:

In my proposal, the NHL would go from an 82 game schedule back to an 80 game schedule. Each team would play the other nine teams in its conference four times each (two games at home, two games on the road) for a total of 36 games. They would then play one additional game against the other four teams in their own division (alternating home games each year) for a total of four games. Then they would play each of the teams in the other conferences once at home and once away for a total of 40 more games. This gives you an even 80 games, 40 at home and 40 on the road, and something the NHL fails to have now: everyone playing everyone at least once home and away.

But I am not so sure about the playoff idea presented there. As long as the three conference winners get the automatic top three seeds throughout the playoffs, but we'd be more guaranteed the best matchup in the Finals instead of sometimes getting the best matchup in the conference finals and then having a heavily-favoured team matched up against a mediocre team. We could even have a Montreal-Boston finals for old-time's sake again!