NHL Realignment: Capitals, Penguins, Flyers, Rangers grouped in one of four new conferences

The NHL approved a conference realignment plan that would reunite the Washington Capitals with former Patrick Division rivals Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, New Jersey and the New York Rangers and New York Islanders.

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There's no love lost between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals who could see a lot more of each other if the NHL's realignment proposal passes. The Capitals and Penguins would be joined by Philadelphia, New Jersey, the New York Rangers and Islanders and the Carolina Hurricanes in one of four new conferences based on the proposal. (Photo: Pittsburgh's Arron Asham and Washington's John Erskine drop the gloves during a Dec. 1 game at Verizon Center.)

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

Pittsburgh Penguin Ron Francis (top) and Washington Capital Peter Bondra mix it up during a physical 1995 playoff game. The NHL's realignment plan would reunite the former rivals in one of four new conferences.

Dan Levine / Reuters

Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby, two of the NHL's bright young stars, would face off more frequently based on the NHL's proposed realignment plan. The Capitals and Penguins would play in the same division (conference, in this case) for the first time since 1998.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

Alex Ovechkin tries to spark his teammates by scrapping with Brandon Dubinsky of the New York Rangers on Dec. 12, 2010. The long-time rival Capitals and Rangers would be grouped in the same conference in the NHL's newly approved realignment plan.

Jim McIsaac / Getty Images

Ilya Kovalchuk and the New Jersey Devils would stick with Kyle Okposo (21) and their Atlantic Division rival New York Islanders, based on the NHL's new realignment plan. The Islanders and Devils would be joined by the New York Rangers, Washington Capitals, Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers and Carolina Hurricanes in one of four conferences.

Al Bello / Getty Images

Washington Capitals' Marcus Johansson (90) skates against Carolina Hurricanes' Joni Pitkanen (25) during a Nov. 4 game in Raleigh, N.C. The 'Canes and Caps would split from their current Southeast Division foes to join a new conference with the Penguins, Flyers, Rangers, Islanders and Devils based on the NHL's new realignment plan.

Gerry Broome / AP

Philadelphia Flyers' Wayne Simmonds, right, fights with New York Rangers' Brandon Prust during the first period of a Nov. 26 game. The Flyers and Rangers would be grouped with Pittsburgh, Washington, Carolina, New Jersey and the New York Islanders based on the NHL's new realignment plan.

Bill Kostroun / AP

The Capitals could see a lot more of star goalie Martin Brodeur and the New Jersey Devils.

Jack Dempsey / AP

Sidney Crosby and the Penguins would maintain their heated rivalry with Henrik Lundqvist and the New York Rangers in the NHL's newly realigned four-conference plan.

Ray Stubblebine / Reuters

Capitals fans could soon have more opportunities to taunt Sean Avery and the Rangers.

John Mcdonnell / The Washington Post

Philadelphia's Danny Briere (48) has hurt the Capitals in the past. His Flyers would match up with Washington more frequently following the NHL's newly proposed conference realignment.

Christian Petersen / Getty Images

New York Islanders' Matt Martin (17) and Mike Mottau (10) watch as New Jersey Devils' Cam Janssen (25) and Islanders' Micheal Haley (18) fight during a Nov. 25 game in New York. The Islanders, Devils, Capitals, Rangers, Flyers, Penguins and Hurricanes would be grouped in one of the East's two new conferences based on NHL realignment plans.

Kathy Kmonicek / AP

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