NHL Realignment?

So, a few days ago I wrote about the possibility of Major League Baseball realigning. We also knew that the NHL would have to realign with the Thrashers moving to Winnipeg and being renamed Jets. Gary Bettman, the weasel...er, Commissioner of the NHL, has stated that the league will realign, and not just in minor ways. Bettman wants to divisions per conference. Since there are 15 teams in each Conference, there would be a seven team division and an eight team division.

So I started thinking about how the NHL could properly realign without completely destroying existing rivalries and renewing some old rivalries. I tried to stay as geographically sensible as possible. I, for one, am completely understanding of Red Wings fans who have to watch their team play conference opponents three time zones away.

So, here's my proposed realignment for the NHL:

West:

Los Angeles, Anaheim, San Jose, Vancouver, Phoenix, Colorado, Edmonton, Calgary

Central:

Dallas, St. Louis, Nashville, Detroit, Minnesota, Winnipeg, Columbus

Atlantic:

Florida, Tampa Bay, Carolina, Washington, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Toronto

Northeast:

Philadelphia, New Jersey, New York (Rangers) New York (Islanders), Boston, Montreal, Ottawa

In this scenario the conferences go away. For the playoffs, the Division winners are seeded 1-4, and then seeds 5-16 can be filled out one of two ways:

1. The next best 12 teams get the spots.

2. The next 3 teams in each division get in.

The first round becomes a best of five, with each round after being best of seven.

What do you think?