The Western Conference began after the 1993 realignment. It was originally known as the Campbell Conference, in honor of Clarence Campbell. Campbell was the NHL President from 1946 through 1977 and oversaw the league expansion that began in 1967. There are fifteen teams in the Western Conference in three divisions. The Central Division contains the Red Wings, Blackhawks, Blue Jackets, Blues, and Predators. The Northwest Division has the Flames, Avalanche, Canucks, Wild, and Oilers. The Pacific division features the Sharks, Ducks, Stars, Coyotes, and Kings. Each West team plays their divisional opponents six times during the season, as well as four games each against teams from the other two divisions. They also play eighteen games against Eastern Conference teams to complete their schedule.

The Western Conference teams vie for the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl. The Bowl was first awarded to the Philadelphia Flyers after the NHL first expanded in 1967. Since the Western Conference began in the 1993-94 season, the Detroit Red Wings have won the Campbell Bowl six times. The most recent winners are the Chicago Blackhawks. The Bowl is awarded to the Western Conference champion in a ceremony following the deciding game in the Western Conference Finals. The team captain has the choice to pick up the trophy and share it with his team, but many choose not to do this as they feel it could jinx them in the Stanley Cup Finals. The three Western Conference division winners earn the top three seeds in the playoffs, with the next five best teams also earning spots. In each round, the highest remaining seed faces the lowest remaining seed in a best-of-seven series.

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