Eastern Conference and Western Conference issue?

Same goes for the Detroit Red Wings (Western Conference) and Detroit Pistons (Eastern Conference)

It's just the way it worked out with the teams. Hopefully when Atlanta moves, the new team can be put in the West and either Chicago or Detroit come back East.

You can say the same thing for the Pistons and Red Wings along with Columbus and Cleavland. The NHL has Pittsburg, Montreal, Ottowa, Buffalo, and a third new york team so someones got to go

Because the NHL has fewer western teams than the NBA.

Simple the Majority of NHL Teams are in the Northeast, and the Majority of NBA Teams are in the southwest Depends upon where the sports are the most popular.

Same reason the Cubs and White Sox are both play in the Central and the Bears are in the North division..... sports geography is crazy

It's because of where other teams are. It sucks for the Wings and Hawks to be in the Western Conference but there is no other viable solution.

because in the nhl there are fewer teams out west than in the nba.

why are the dallas stars in the pacific division when they are in the middle of country and no part of it touches the ocean?

why is this an issue?