Could the return of the Atlanta Thrashers happen sooner than we think?
With uncertainty looming around the organization of the Arizona Coyotes, many experts are wondering if the NHL should simply sell the franchise to relocate it to a market that is genuinely ready to host an NHL team. Several cities such as Houston and Salt Lake City have notably been mentioned as potential destinations.
However, on his podcast 32 Thoughts, the excellent Elliotte Friedman stated that rumors about the return of the Atlanta Thrashers are quietly gaining momentum. Whether it's through the sale of an organization or when the National Hockey League conducts a new expansion, Atlanta could be an interesting city to establish an NHL team.
Although some factors led to the loss of the team in the early 2010s, there seem to be discussions to avoid repeating the same mistakes made in the past. According to what Gary Bettman mentioned at the leaders' meeting last March, groups interested in bringing an NHL team back to Atlanta are currently evaluating different options to build an arena in a better location, which was notably a big problem during the team's first stint in the league.
Of course, a team that performs well on the ice greatly helps to sell tickets and we can believe that if an expansion team sets up in Atlanta, they would be able to achieve success quickly. As we have seen with the Las Vegas Golden Knights and the Seattle Kraken, the expansion draft process allows new teams to quickly build a winning lineup.
Would you like to see the Atlanta Thrashers make a return to the NHL?
Sources : The New York Times
| POLL | ||
Would you like to see the Atlanta Thrashers make a return to the NHL? | ||
| Yes | 17 | 12.3 % |
| No | 121 | 87.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
