NHL approves realignment plan

League to have four conferences, home-and-home series for all

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. - NHL officials approved a radical realignment plan on Monday that will give the league four conferences instead of six divisions and guarantee home-and-home series among all teams.

The Board of Governors authorized commissioner Gary Bettman to implement the proposal pending input from the NHL Players' Association. It could be put in place as early as next season.