Tuesday, 26 February 2013 12:42

Written by Dave Molinari

NHL teams reportedly have been briefed on a realignment proposal that would put the Penguins into one of two eight-team divisions.

They would be grouped with Carolina, Columbus, New Jersey, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Philadelphia and Washington.

There would be another eight-team division featuring Boston, Buffalo, Detroit, Florida, Montreal, Ottawa, Tampa and Toronto and two seven-team divisions.

Those would consist of Chicago, Colorado, Dallas, Minnesota, Nashville, St. Louis and Winnipeg, along with Anaheim, Calgary, Edmonton, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Jose and Vancouver.

The plan has yet to be approved by the NHL Board of Governors or the NHL Players' Association.

Teams in the eight-team divisions likely would play home-and-away against teams from outside their division, and either five or six games against teams from inside their division.