Established
1999
City
Atlanta – Winnipeg
League History
1999 – Present / National Hockey League
Team History
2011 – Present / Winnipeg Jets
1999 – 2011 / Atlanta Thrashers
Nickname
Thrashers – The Atlanta Thrashers are among the most beloved teams in the NHL, and their nickname has a unique origin. “Thrasher” is derived from Georgia's state bird, the Brown Thrasher. This tiny songbird is known for its loud and melodic call that can be heard throughout Georgia's forests and fields.
The team was named after this native species to honor its home state of Georgia when it joined the league in 1999 as an expansion team alongside Nashville Predators, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Minnesota Wilds. Since then, they have become one of hockey’s most recognizable franchises, with over 20 years of history!
From winning division championships to making multiple playoff appearances during their short tenure in Atlanta (1999-2011), fans still remember fondly what could have been had they stayed around longer than just 12 seasons before relocating to Winnipeg, Canada, in 2011, where they became known as "the Jets."
Even though they may no longer play at Philips Arena or wear those classic black & red jerseys anymore, we will never forget them by their name: The Atlanta Thrashers - inspired by our beloved Brown Thrush!
Championship
Stanley Cup 0
Arena
2018 - Present / Bell MTS Place
2011 – 2017 / MTS Centre
*Atlanta*
1999 – 2011 / Philips Arena
Owner
2011 – Present / True North Sports and Entertainment
2003 – 2011 / Atlanta Spirit, LLC
1999 – 2003 / Time Warner
- 1999
- 2003
- 2011
-
Atlanta Thrashers Team Formation
After the departure of the IHL’s Atlanta Knights from 1992 to 1996 to become the Quebec Rafales, the city was awarded an NHL franchise on June 25, 1997, as part of a four-team tiered expansion. This also included teams in Nashville, Columbus, and St. Paul, in which each new franchise would begin play as its respective new arena was completed. ... -
New Ownership Atlanta Spirit
On September 21, 2003, Time Warner, the owners of both the Thrashers and the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks, sold both teams to Atlanta Spirit, LLC, a group consisting of businessmen based both in Atlanta and elsewhere. -
Heading to Winnipeg
Due to financial losses and ownership struggles, the team was frequently a target of relocation rumors. In later years, reports saw the team courted by suitors intending to relocate to Kansas City, Missouri; Quebec City, Quebec; Hamilton, Ontario or Winnipeg, Manitoba. On January 22, 2011, the team’s ownership group claimed it had lost the US $130 million in the last ...
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
History of the Atlanta Thrashers
The Atlanta Thrashers were an NHL team that began playing in the 1999-2000 season. The team was originally owned by Time Warner, and they played their home games at Philips Arena in downtown Atlanta. They had a short but eventful history, making two playoff appearances and developing a rivalry with the Nashville Predators before being relocated to Winnipeg after the 2010-11 season, where they became known as the Winnipeg Jets.
The Thrashers’ first few years were marked by struggles on the ice as well as off it; they finished last or second-last in their division for five consecutive seasons from 2000 to 2005. Despite this poor start, things started looking up for them when Don Waddell took over as general manager prior to the 2006–07 season.
He brought with him a new head coach—Bob Hartley—and several key players such as Marian Hossa and Ilya Kovalchuk who helped turn around both the team's fortunes on ice and its attendance figures off it.
In 2007–08, under Hartley's leadership, Atlanta made its first-ever post-season appearance after finishing third overall in points earned during regular play; however, they lost 4–2 against eventual Stanley Cup champions Pittsburgh Penguins despite putting up an impressive fight throughout all six games of that series - something which many attributed largely due to Kovalchuk’s heroics (he scored 11 points).
Unfortunately this success was not sustained beyond 2008/09 when another round of player departures saw them miss out on playoffs yet again before finally having no choice but relocate themselves northwards into Canada following the 2010/11 campaign whereupon they became known simply as “Winnipeg Jets."
Sports Fan Products
Retired Number
99 / Wayne Gretzky
*Blue is this team’s history