At the end of the 2013 lockout season, the NHL decided to make a couple of changes throughout the league. Among those were moving the Detroit Red Wings and Columbus Blue Jackets to the Eastern Conference, moving the Winnipeg Jets to the West, and completely realigning the divisions.
The NHL went from six divisions to four, and they became known as the Central, Pacific, Metropolitan, and Atlantic. The Dallas Stars, longtime members of the old Pacific Division with coastal teams that required 9:00 p.m. start times more often than not, were relocated to the Central.
To say it was a bit of a culture shock would be an understatement.