“If everything stays the way it is, we’re probably going to have to have a Canadian division and realign in the U.S.,” Bettman said on The Maccabi USA Sports Show. “We’re trying to focus on dealing with all of those challenges.”
The U.S. realignments would see a configuration based primarily on geography as the Boston Bruins would slide into a more Northeast Division with the likes of the New York Rangers and Washington Capitals. Other moves would have the Pittsburgh Penguins move towards a Central Division with teams like the Columbus Blue Jackets and Chicago Blackhawks.