I agree that an East team will win, but travel isn't the reason. The Kings for example will have roughly 32 of their 48 games either at home, or a 1 hour flight (at most) to PHX, SJ, or a bus ride to ANA away.
The availability of arenas comes into play too. Who knows how crazy the schedule may be. And other than Winnipeg, every eastern team, especially in the NE and Atlantic divisions, barely have any travel at all.
Plus you have to add in the playoffs. It'll be a normal playoff schedule, but when added to what amounts to a playoff schedule in the regular season for an additional 3 months, it's going to take its toll.
I'm not saying an Eastern team
will win. I'm just saying it'll be impressive if one doesn't. If the Kings were to win another one this year, and had to go through San Jose, Vancouver, and Phoenix, that's not too bad with the travel. But if the Kings had to go through Chicago, Detroit, and Nashville, plus an Eastern team, on top of the condensed regular season schedule in the West, that would be damn impressive. Same goes for the Blues, or Sharks, or Canucks, or whoever comes out of the West.