Coyotes will move to Central Division to accommodate Seattle expansion
Bruce Kluckhohn / National Hockey League / Getty
Get ready for a Western Conference shakeup.
The Arizona Coyotes will move from the Pacific Division to the Central Division beginning with the 2021-22 season to accommodate the arrival of Seattle as the NHL's 32nd franchise. Seattle, naturally, will join the Pacific.
The new alignment, announced Tuesday, will give the league 16 teams in each conference and eight in each division.
Geographically, Arizona was the most eastern team in the Pacific Division. Commissioner Gary Bettman said Tuesday that the Coyotes attract more fans when they play Central Division teams, according to theScore's John Matisz.