Atlanta Thrashers Set to Move to Winnipeg, As Reports Indicate Deal In Place
The Atlanta Thrashers are moving to Winnipeg, according to a report from The Globe and Mail today. The Thrashers have been negotiating with potential owners in the Canadian city as they seek to save their sinking ship of a franchise from a fate worse than death: irrelevance.
According to the report:
Sources confirmed Thursday night that preparations are being made for an announcement Tuesday, confirming the sale and transfer of the Thrashers to True North Sports and Entertainment, which owns and operates the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League and the MTS Centre arena, which would become the NHL team?s new home.
The Thrashers seemed doomed to fail in Atlanta almost from the instant they landed in the city. They've struggled to make much impact on the ice, making the postseason all of once; and off it, as they've frequently played in front of nearly empty arenas.
NHL comissioner Gary Bettman is expected to fly to Winnipeg to announce the official move at some point in the near future.
The move helps to right a wrong that took place in 1997, when the league moved the Winnipeg Jets to Phoenix, making the team the Coyotes. Now, the Thrashers will be playing in front of a rabid fan base desperate to see hockey return to their city, in a nice arena, and could actually have a solid chance of being competitive.
However, there has been no official word from either the potential buyers (the True North group, which also owns the arena the team will play in), or the NHL, so there is a chance the deal isn't actually done yet.
Hopefully, the team will make an announcement soon, so they can begin their new lot on life in a city that will actually care about them going forward. Atlanta's had two chances to show they care about hockey, and have forced two different teams to jump ship with flagging attendance and low interest.
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