The NHL will announce around noon today that it has approved a realignment plan that will include moving the Blue Jackets to the Eastern Conference for the start of the 2013-14 season.

The Blue Jackets will join a division with Carolina, New Jersey, the New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Washington.

Voting by NHL clubs was due by 5 p.m. Wednesday. The NHLPA approved the plan last week.