Since both Atlanta teams moved to Canada, if we want the Nordiques back we should all be lobbying for a 3rd Atlanta team. Seems like the best way to get more Canadian teams.

I am old enough to remember Atlanta Thrashers being a "new team". Now, they feel like ancient history.

I hope they get a third expansion team. I would really like to see hockey return to Quebec in 10 years

I was a season ticket holder in Atlanta. Your coverage is extremely accurate. I've read the secret lawsuit verdict between the owners. Their plan was to pump money in the two seasons after the lockout and then sell off the Thrashers. The owners never wanted to own a NHL team, they just wanted the NBA team. And then they fell to bickering with each and neglecting the team.

The owners conned the city of Atlanta into building Philips Arena because it wanted more than one sports team in the building in order to ditch the old Omni. After they did, they couldn't care less about the Thrashers. It was an abandoned child for them. I will always resent the NHL for trying to save Arizona a thousand times, but packing up the Thrashers in two minutes.

The Atlanta Thrashers had some of the worst ownership of any team in north american pro sports history. If they weren't left totally derelict by their own owners, they'd definitely still be alive and kicking today.

Flames Jets outdoor game in both their Atlanta jerseys

Hockey fan from Atlanta here. We do exist. Let's go Isles.

I know it would be controversial in WPG but I would have loved a thrashers reverse retro or if they start wearing thrashers throwbacks occasionally. There’s just something about their jerseys that is instantly nostalgic to me about the early 2000’s

The third time around can work. The Washington Nationals won a World Series after two Senators teams left in the 60's and 70's.

I think that Heatley car accident really put a dark cloud over the Thrashers franchise trajectory, they seemed to really be on the up swing before then and just seemed to be one hard luck situation after another after that incident.

I remember talking to Don Waddell in a season ticket holder meeting toward the end, and someone asked why they don’t spend more, and he said “I like employment”. The inept Atlanta Spirit Group never wanted the team, and it was a real life Major League situation. Atlanta deserves a third shot, but they arena needs to be near the battery or somewhere north.

it’s one of those us markets the nhl cannot ignore. seattle (who finally got one) and houston fit into that too.

I went to dozens of Thrasher games when I lived there. A lot of the attendance numbers were transplants from NY, PHI, BOS and other large cities. It was common to hear louder cheers for Rangers goals than it was Thrasher goals. I still have a lot of Thrasher memorabilia and I think 4 or 5 jerseys, including 2 of the Blue Atlanta ones. I enjoyed the games a lot and saw a lot of great players come through, including Tkachuk and Chelios. The crowd would always scream “Knights” during the National Anthem for the former IHL Atlanta Knights. Fun times.

RIP Atlanta Thrashers 1999 2011 F in the chat for the Thrashers the logo was lit

That Thrashers jersey is incredible.

I always thought the Thrashers had decent fans…but man their ownership was so bad! Had the franchise not been sold to their current ownership in Winnipeg, who knows if they would’ve ever gotten the success we’ve seen

With the current expansion draft rules, Atlanta would be successful.

I liked Trashers, decent looking jerseys. Looked kinda promising for a while with Heater, Kovy, Lehtonen etc. Totally forgot Chelios played in Atl. Sad to see them move.

The Thrashers last year in the NHL was my senior year of high school

basically what bill wirtz did to my hawks, nearly killed the franchise, the only difference was being in chicago with so much history or they would have left

In a regard of Flames' attendance numbers, it should be mentioned that back in the '70s the capacities of NHL arenas were, on average, smaller than they are today. Heck, one example for all, the Bruins played in Boston Garden until 1995 and that arena could hold LESS than 15,000 (!!) spectators for ice hockey games. So Flames' averaging over 14,000 per game during some of their seasons in Atlanta was totally and utterly great in the wider picture.

I miss the thrashers so much just imagine about the blue thrashers jersey In adidas if only Winnipeg jets bought the rights now that would be good cause they finally accept their past not saying all Winnipeg jets fans don’t expect it also the jerseys would be great.

Houston makes the most sense !

I've commented on THG videos on Atlanta in the past so forgive comment redundancies... 1) 0:33 How can anyone hate the powder blue Thrashers jerseys? It's the only good jersey they had! (Esp. the original jerseys.....bleeeccch, what a monstrosity). *But* "Blueland" was the stupidest marketing concept in the world (Hello! The team *literally played* in the Thrasherville area!). 2) 1:53 This was one big problem with the history of major league hockey in Atlanta: The NHL going there for reasons other than grassroots interest. First they go there to keep the WHA out (despite absolutely no minor league history there) and then go there again to suckle at the Time Warner teat (despite a competing bid in Atlanta from people that actually knew something about hockey). 3) 4:31 That sounds bad but the Hawks were doing worse in terms of bodies in the stands. But there were other circumstances that made a NBA team less desirable to transport (namely that a NBA team is a better TV property just about anywhere in America (then and now)). 4) 6:02 I've said it many times: with as many teams as the NHL created and relocated in the 1990s, it's a minor miracle that only one team has relocated in the last 21 years. 5) 7:45 It wasn't so much that Don Waddell was the problem as what the reluctance to fire him represented: ownership that didn't care and wasn't paying attention. Good GMs get fired all the time because it just isn't working out with that franchise. Fans got discouraged because the longer Waddell was there, the more it demonstrated that ownership didn't care that much if the Thrashers won or lost. There's such a thing as too much pressure and definitely such a thing as too *little* pressure. 6) Not only was talent picked over, but the Thrashers came in during one of the worst drafts in NHL history (1999). If they could have procured the Sedins somehow (instead of Vancouver), we're having an entirely different conversation. 7) 10:56 Not only did the housing crash hit, but the team got off to a terrible start and fired Bob Hartley (the only really good coach they ever had) in the process. I maintain that it wasn't one over the other: the playoff flameout *combined* with the shitty start really took a hit on the fanbase. 8 ) 12:31 Never mind attendance: the TV ratings weren't good. The whole reason you put a team in Atlanta is because it's a major media market. But no one was watching the Thrashers on TV either. So they weren't getting that major media push. 9) 13:37 What also bears mentioning is that the Spirit openly courted an exclusive negotiation for the Hawks and arena rights *without* the Thrashers (the John Moore negotiations). It was a poison pill. It was openly telling everyone: You can't buy the Thrashers unless you want to move them to another arena because you won't get parking money, concession money, or any leases. The only way the Thrashers could have been profitable in Atlanta at that point, IMO, is if Liberty Media had developed their Cobb mallpark plan three years earlier. *They* could have bought the team with the auspices of building a new arena for them. Gwinnett's arena wasn't big enough and didn't have a corporation with enough torque to take on expanding the arena + paying the money to get the team. 10) 14:29 Marc Savard's departure was the worst on-ice personnel decision in the history of the franchise. I was at that '08 All Star Game and every Thrashers fan I ran into there was lamenting they'd let him go. In fact, that game was highly symbolic of the Thrashers' run: The fans were desperate for Kovy to get a goal (he didn't) and instead they saw the guy that got away score the game winner. 11) 17:23 The ECHL Glads are OK but I think an AHL farm team for the Preds would do very well by AHL standards (think Lake Erie Swamp Monsters profile). But the Preds' affiliation with Milwaukee is so so solid. 12) As a transplant living here, it really bears mentioning: it's hard to convert transplant fans into regular ticket buyers for a new team (I was fuming when the Thrashers moved because it literally coincided with me *finally* having the household income to afford season tickets). But you look at Atlanta United: how many transplants grew up die-hard fans of their hometown/home state's MLS team? Barely any. United became the hot new Atlanta brand to rally around. That said... 13) It also goes undermentioned how "unsexy" a brand the Thrashers brand was. United's appeal here really has underscored that for me: People love the logo, the banners all across town, etc. I don't think any of the Thrashers or Flames branding was nearly as appealing ("You know what we should do to appeal to locals? Remind them of when the city burned down! That's the ticket!"). If the NHL *did* return a third time (though I highly doubt they ever will), and knowing they can't be the Knights (which would have worked great), I'd suggest Atlanta Resurgens. 14) The biggest missed opportunity for Atlanta hockey in general was Ted Turner not taking a short-term loss and buying the Flames in 1980. He would have taken a bath for a few years *but* he could have used TBS (and its national outreach) to establish the Flames as the southeastern brand of hockey, a decade or more before the league really expanded there in earnest. As the Braves were branded "America's Team," so too the Flames could have been "Dixie's hockey team" or something similar. 15) If the NHL wants to expand beyond a white audience, a market like Atlanta (maybe not Atlanta itself but a market like it) is crucial. There's a stereotype that black people won't watch hockey. I don't buy that for a second. I've worked with many black students that have gone into sports journalism. Most of them love hockey. But every single one of them will tell you the sport suffers from a branding problem (AKA the perception is "black people don't like hockey therefore hockey must not want black people watching it").

Atlanta expansion team part 3: The Flaming Thrashers!

I’d love to see Winnipeg do a jersey tribute to Atlanta while keeping the current identity. I’m in the minority when I say I hated the powder blue jersey, but the navy one with the red sleeves they had was absolutely spectacular. If the jets took that jersey design, threw on a jet logo in the style of Atlanta’s abstract logo, and then colour matched it to their current identity (navy jersey with powder blue sleeves and silver trim, I think it would be a sharp look.

Bring back the Atlanta Thrashers! Imagine if the NHL gave the Thrashers the same love they gave Vegas and Seattle.

Off topic but I love how he still has the Cleveland Barons logo as his channel logo lol

Even when the Braves were dominating the National League in the 90s there were tons of empty seats. Most people down south care more about college sports and or have teams from other states.

You mentioned about Cliff Fletcher to be the only eventual Hall of Famer who was involved with the Flames while they were in Atlanta. I guess that's technically correct. Their first head coach, Bernie "Boom Boom" Geoffrion, was inducted as a player only a short time before starting his first season with the organization.

i think the jets should do a jersey with ‘winnipeg’ down the arm like that for a throwback or something

Someone once said There are no bad cities(ability to support a team) only bad franchises(management and overall operations) so many of these teams could have thrived in these cities if given the time and if they had good management.

Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result, Isn't that a definition of insanity?

This was sad to watch as a Lightning fan. Losing the Thrashers was like losing an old friend since they played each other like every other weekend. Plus when the Lightning and Thrashers were both bad for a good while, Atlanta was that opponent where you could go to the game for cheap and think, "well, we can at least compete in and possibly win this one!"

Hard to believe it's been 10 years since they left. I do miss having an NHL team here but also moved on to support Nashville when Atlanta left.

Love that Thrashers logo, sucks when teams have to move

Atlanta: "We failed twice totalling 19 years" Arizona: "Hold my beer" THG keeps asking why the NHL would have it's officials help Vegas be successful. Well THG it sure would help sell Seattle a $650M franchise now wouldn't it? YES. Yes it would. Like I've said many times. Bettman is a BRILLIANT salesman. Just because I hate the guy doesn't mean I don't respect his genius.

The joke would be to have a third team in Atlanta and then eventually move it to Quebec City.

Thrashers never had the ownership support. Never had a proper team building plan that wasn't fighting each other for stakeholding. The dirty secret of "having good fans" is if you're good or not. We sure as hell didn't think of Chicago as a bad hockey city this decade, even though they were garbage for 20 years with no fans.

With the way Atlanta has started to embrace its teams more and more in recent years, I absolutely think a hockey team would, and could, survive here. The biggest hurdle would be getting a team here, which at this point would have to be at the expense of another team relocating. As far as I can tell, that’s quite the long shot, considering the Canadian markets that would be fighting to get a team.

He didn’t cover that I heard at least what about the ownership change from Time Warner to the Spirit Group? The NHL thought they were getting deep pocketed solid ownership and wound up w an ugly fiasco if I’ve read correctly

Hey I'm early! Just wanna say thank you Shanman. I've been subscribed since 4k and I love watching the channel grow. Thank you for the hours of entertainment you have produced for me and 200,000 others!

Atlanta doesn't currently have a team, but their non-existent 3rd iteration still probably wins a Cup before Buffalo...

Thank you for the Atlanta tribute! Nice to hear some positive vibes about my favourite team! Happy our failure helps other fans franchises survive.

I grew up a Thrashers fan, they were 1 of only 2 Atlanta teams I considered my favorites. I’m a VGK fan now.

Atlanta At The HAC (Hockey Association of Charlanta)

As much as I'd like to see Atlanta get a third shot at it...not gonna happen.

The Thrashers were a fun team to watch and I loved that jersey.

thank you shannon

I needed this topic, thanks for the video 👍👍

I'm stuck in Atlanta and have been for years 😭 lol Thanks again man!!

Nothing but fond memories of going to thrashers games. We took my little brother to one when I was in town and I’ve never seen more pure joy on his face than when the thrasher heads breathed fire after goals.

One thing I didn't hear mentioned is when Dany Heatly gets traded because he killed a teammate driving drunk and requested a trade because he couldn't look his team in the face. Never good to have to trade a former Calder winner

Bring back memories of watching them. Less than an hour from Atlanta. Still have the white jersey. Always wanted the light blue jersey.

Hey there Shannon; love your “historical” videos-really great perspective & always informative 👏🏻👏🏻

I've tried to explain this whole point of view to everyone. Thanks Shannon for taking the time to explain to the common folk who doesn't understand Hockey. Two thumbs up 👍👍

Yeah… about that “Don Waddell doing well in Carolina” thing 😂😂🤣🤣

Got to go to a thrashers game in 07. As a kid from rural south Georgia it changed my life. I had never seen hockey before and I fell in love. I miss blue land. Been a lightning fan since they left.

You mention really bad Thrashers trades…I’m immediately reminded of that Alexei Zhitnik for Braydon Coburn deadline deal. The Flyers are still reaping the rewards of that deal, a decade-plus later

Thank you for the Don Waddell comments, he has a chance to FINALLY show what he can do , now, fingers crossed he can take the Canes deeper into the playoffs!!

I watches this video multiple times. I like your videos a lot, but rarely need to watch them multiple times. I think about all of the management mistakes made in Atlanta, relate them to the current things happening in Philly, and worry.

Love these random but often thought about history lessons that tie directly into. Jeremy hockey events. Great job man.

Great video as always! I'm one of those Atlanta based fans. I got into the Thrashers mere months before they relocated... great timing lol... everyone I know who had been a Thrashers fan chose to change over to liking a team with a deep and storied history. Probably we just didn't want to get hurt again. At the time right after relocation, it was so hard to try to tell people it was the bad ownership because they just blamed it on the fans. But now I hope they watch this video and understand the truth of the matter! Also you're 100% correct, that jersey design is fire 🔥 and give your cats a pet for me, I love watching them move around during your videos 🤣

Quebec and Atlanta arent Happening Now Arizona moving to Houston is a huge possiblity

The Thrashers literally carried me through my parents divorce lmao I literally moved to Phoenix for another team that reminds me of my childhood heros

I always think of the Calgary-Winnipeg matchups as the battle of Atlanta. Odd that the only teams who relocated north to Canada were both from Atlanta.

The last NHLBC convention (2019) was held in Georgia which means there are definitely still hockey fans in the area. The 2020 convention is postponed until 2022 because of the pandemic.

Bought that same jersey last week, still with tags for £50, I love it!

Atlanta must be a beloved city in Canada. They have provided two NHL teams after all!

I want another team down here so bad, looking at what ATL UTD did as an expansion team gives me hope

0:36 My hometown team at the time used a Jersey based off the Atlanta Jersey just a different logo and obviously different city name...that was the first hockey team I cheered for and wore a Jersey for so I still have a soft spot for that Atlanta Jersey as it is so similar

Ah yes the Atlanta sports curse

I'd love you to do a video on the chances of Quebec getting a team. I think they won't, because of the planned ownership, but you might have a good take on this. Love your channel. Discovered it recently and I think you're doing great work.

Congrats on 200 000 subscribers!

Atlanta also has a very large African American population, a market which the NHL has yet to fully break into.

I would love to see you do some more videos on the SPHL. Florida has 2 cup winning teams this year.

Agreed Shan - they did have a cool color scheme that still holds up. I actually have an argyle Thrashers ball cap that I wear for golf, got it for $5 like 7-8 years ago 😁 Met someone from ATL who went to games via free tix. Said it got him into hockey, and he wondered why there weren't more fans. A playoff run could have ignited a fan base, they had plenty of talent but just couldn't put it together like they needed to.

I’m a New England born and raised hockey fan who lived in Atlanta for 15 years. Hockey would/will be fine there with solid ownership, something that was sorely lacking with the Thrashers. I’d love to see the city get another shot and if it doesn’t work out send em to Hartford.

Congrats on 201k!

the thrashers were poorly managed. Atlanta spirit are hugely into basketball, but don't know anything about hockey.

Imagine if this was a Quebec Bulldogs situation, and the Tharshers won 1 or more cups, but got cut cause mone

Didn't know I wanted this video, but here we are

For some reason, I'm only getting half of your videos in my notifications. Almost missed a couple of videos if I didn't check your channel while listening to a video I did get notified of.

Grew up a Thrashers fan in Atlanta. This year I picked up hockey again and have been rooting for Minnesota. Hopefully the ATL gets a hockey team again before I die.

Atlanta hockey fan here. There’s lots of us and we really miss our team. This video is spot on. The thrashers didn’t leave because we didn’t like them, they left because they were handed to the worst ownership group in professional sports. The group also owned the Atlanta hawks NBA team as well. The Atlanta Spirit ownership group only cared about NBA and arena rights so it was only a matter of time before they destroyed the Thrashers. It’s really a shame because there is a hockey culture here and we have some really nice hockey rinks around town but the morons who owned the Thrashers ruined NHL for not just Atlanta, but the whole state of Georgia and even some of our neighboring states that follow the Atlanta sports market too.

Atlanta hockey fan here. I know we'll never get another team, but I sure do miss having an NHL team.

The only reason why I want Atlanta to come back, is I want to cheer for the Ducks when they show up. I don’t have the income to travel to Nashville or Sunrise to watch them as much as I want

That's 1 place you'd go see a game only to see the visiting team. I loved watching some players but they got moved.

Each year, some team in either the echl or ahl takes on the identity of the Atlanta thrashers for one period of one game. The legend lives on

If they put a new team in Atlanta they would have to build a new arena. The former thrashers arena just got completely remodeled for Hawks basketball only.

I'm glad you agreed with me. Atlanta got shyt picking

As someone who plans to move to Northern Georgia in the next 5 years, I REALLY feel like I was born at the wrong time. I would love to go down there and attend a bunch of thrashers games.

You should do a video on the problem of having a franchise located too close to another. Teams like the Senators, Ducks and Islanders come to mind.

I practice and play at the old thrashers practice facility, it is pretty neat.

Reminds me of the St. Louis Rams. Terrible ownership who had no care, team ends up relocating, the old city gets blamed for a lack of fan support despite having better support than most othet teams

I still remember the Atlanta Flames great goaltender - Daniel Bouchard. He was a solid goalie on some not-so-good teams. Hey, it could have been much worse; they could have been the California Golden Seals.

The growth of the area makes me feel like it could work this time. They REALLY need to coddle them this time. Don’t screw them over like the last time and grow the game

Let’s also not forget that the Hawks basically renovated the arena to make it more basketball-friendly, so it’s not as good of an NHL arena. An owner would probably have to build their own facility, like maybe an arena next to the Barves’ (sic) park in the burbs.

Loved and miss the thrashers still one of the better logos and jerseys ever! Went to a game there in their last season Phillips arena was highly outdated overall compared to others !