The NHL Board of Governors decided to change the league’s two-conference format to a four-conference alignment, which will start next season.

The decision was influenced by the concerns of teams from the United States and Canada, which complained about grueling travel schedules.

Instead of having the Western and Eastern conferences, the NHL will now have four conferences.

Each time will square off against its co-conference members five to six times, and they will play against other conference teams at least twice.

Here are the conference divisions:

-- Anaheim, Calgary, Colorado, Edmonton, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Jose and Vancouver;

-- Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, Minnesota, Nashville, St. Louis and Winnipeg;

-- Boston, Buffalo, Florida, Montreal, Ottawa, Tampa Bay and Toronto;

-- Carolina, New Jersey, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Washington.