The NHL proposes a league realignment that would have wild-cards and less divisions.

With the 30 teams in the NHL, five have represented each division, giving the Eastern and Western conferences 15 teams each.

This new format would have the Eastern Conference's divisions be compiled by eight teams, as the Western Conference would have seven in each division. That means some teams will be changing conferences.

Maybe the most important change would be on which teams make the playoffs.

The team that finishes first in their respective division will clinch a playoff berth. The wild-card teams are what will cause some different drama.

Three teams from each division make the playoffs. That equals to six out of the eight teams for each conference in the playoffs. The two next teams with the best records will get in as wild-cards. This means five teams can essentially make it from one division and three from the other. It also makes it more difficult for an Eastern Conference team to reach the playoffs because there are two more teams in it than the west.

Some tricky playoff seeding may take place.

The Detroit Red Wings have been one top teams in the league within the past twenty years. They won six Western Conference titles, winning four Stanley Cups.

Detroit will move from West to East, as they join the Central Division, which also includes the Boston Bruins, the Buffalo Sabres, Florida Panthers, Montreal Canadians, Ottowa Senators, Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs.

Geographically, it doesn't make the most sense, but it's change for a league that is trying to popularize itself.

The Atlantic Division will keep all five teams who are currently in it. This list includes the New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Islanders. Joining these five teams will be the Washington Capitals, which will move from within the division. Also, the Columbus Blue Jackets move from the west to the east, capping the seven teams in the division.

This keeps alive the rivalries of the north-east and joining the fun is a newer franchise of the league and one of the league's original six teams.  It also puts the NHL's top stars in Sidney Crosby of the Penguins and Alex Ovechkin of the Capitals in the same division, which can take their rivalry to a whole new level.

Over in the west, the two divisions break down into the Pacific and Mid-West. Playing in the Pacific will be the Anaheim Ducks, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, Phoenix Coyotes, San Jose Sharks and Vancouver Canucks.

In the Mid-West, the Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Starz, Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators, St. Louis Blues and Winnipeg Jets will be battling for the division.

The NHL owners all said yes to the change. Now it needs to be approved by the NHL Players' Association plus the NHL's Board of Governors.