NHL Realignment, In One Handy Graphic

Thanks to NHL.com for putting this one together. It becomes super-easy to visualize the new format, which was approved by the NHL's Board of Governors today and will go into effect next season. Four divisions, two conferences. It'll mean more rivalry games, every team playing in every arena every season, and, aside from the Florida teams, geographically contiguous divisions.

The downside? It's seven percent harder to make the playoffs in the East than in the West.

The format will be in place for two years before being re-evaluated.

[ NHL.com]