These are some scenarios I thought the NHL could go for 2012-2013.

Plan A- Time Zone based

EAST

Atlantic- NYR, NYI, NJ, PIT, PHI

Northeast- BOS, MON, TOR, OTT, BUF

Southeast- FLA, TB, CAR, WAS, DET/CLM

WEST

Central- CHI, NAS, STL, DET/CLM, DAL

Northwest- WPG, CAL, EDM, COL, MIN

Pacific- LA, ANA, SJ, PHX, VAN

Plan B- Less Travel (mainly for West)

EAST

Atlantic- NYR, NYI, NJ, PIT, PHI

Northeast- BOS, MON, TOR, OTT, BUF

Southeast- FLA, TB, CAR, WAS, CLM

WEST

Central- CHI, NAS, STL, DET, DAL

Northwest- WPG, CAL, EDM, VAN, MIN

Pacific- LA, ANA, SJ, PHX, COL

Plan C- Expansion Adding 2 more teams and making 4 divisions in each conference

EAST

East Canada- MON, TOR, OTT, QBC

Mid-Atlantic- PIT, PHI, WAS, NJ

Northeast- BOS, BUF, NYR, NYI

Southeast- FLA, TB, CAR, NAS

WEST

Central- CHI, STL, DET, CLM

Mid-West- DAL, MIN, COL, PHX/New NHL City (Kansas City, Missouri; Houston, Texas; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)

West Canada- WPG, CAL, EDM, VAN

Pacific- LA, ANA, SJ, PHX/New NHL City (Portland, Oregon)

Plan D- Return of Wales and Campbell Conference to create a mix of all teams

WALES

East- FLA, WAS, NYI, NJ, PHI

Central- PIT, STL, NAS, CAR, OTT

West- LA, WPG, PHO, COL, CAL

CAMPBELL

East-TOR, NYR, BOS, MON, TB

Central-MIN, CHI, DET, BUF, CLM

West-ANA, EDM, SJ, DAL, VAN

Plan E- Northern and Southern Conferences

NORTHERN

East- MON, BOS, NYR, NYI, NJ

Central- CHI, DET, TOR, BUF, OTT

West- VAN, CAL, EDM, WPG, MIN

SOUTHERN

East- FLA, TB, CAR, WAS, PHI

Central- DAL, NAS, STL, CLM, PIT

West- ANA, LA, PHX, SJ, COL