Huge rumor: a return of the Atlanta Thrashers?
A Twitter account named NHLtoAtlanta is reporting that a well-known name in the hockey world is reportedly seeking investors in hopes of bringing the Atlanta Thrashers back to the NHL. The name involved is former player and longtime hockey broadcaster Anson Carter.
The news comes from a podcast featuring Jerry James, president of the Atlanta Gladiators, who are currently the ECHL affiliate of the Arizona Coyotes. It was also mentioned that Carter tried to keep the original Thrashers in Atlanta before the team was eventually sold and relocated to Winnipeg.
If there is a concerted effort to bring a team back to Atlanta, this could be the third time an NHL franchise has been in the city. The Atlanta Flames started in the league in 1972, but bought and moved to Calgary in 1980. While two previous failures are not a positive for a future relocation to the city, it has often been noted that both Atlanta franchises failed, due to poor management, not because hockey failed to take hold there.
The Thrashers entered the league in 1999 before folding after the 2010-2011 season. The team had some big names on their roster throughout their short tenure, including Ilya Kovalchuk, Marian Hossa, Dany Heatley, Dustin Byfuglien, Evander Kane, Marc Savard, Vyacheslav Kozlov and many others.
If this rumor is true, it is very bad news for Quebec City fans who have long wanted an NHL team to return to their city. Atlanta will now be in direct competition with the National Capital, in addition to cities such as Hartford, Houston, Milwaukee and Kansas City, which are also very attractive to the NHL.
| POLL | ||
Which city do you think will have the next NHL team? | ||
| Atlanta | 54 | 18 % |
| Quebec | 129 | 43 % |
| Kansas City | 41 | 13.7 % |
| Houston | 76 | 25.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
