How the NHL realignment should work.

Very simple.  No division.  15 teams in the east, 15 teams in the west.  Top 8 make the playoffs (as is the case now)

In your conference you play each team 4 times (twice on the road, twice at home).  That accounts for 56 games in a season.  Then you play 2 inter-league games, one at home, one on the road.  That accounts for 30 games.

So we now have an 86 game season.  This could make less rivalry games, but also makes rivalries games a little more special.

It evens the playing field.  Divisions are irrelevant when it comes to who makes the playoffs and where you get seeded, so why even have them?  Why does Washington get to play Florida more than the Flyers do, if those two teams are fighting it out for the last spot in the playoffs?

As for the Conferences, simple east and west, similar to how it is now.

East.
Boston, New York, New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Washington, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Columbus, Carolina, Tampa Bay, Florida.

West.
Nashville, Detroit, Chicago, St. Louis, Minnesota, Dallas, Colorado, Phoenix, Anaheim, LA, San Jose, Calgary, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Edmonton.

Zero rocket science here.