Editing Atlanta Thrashers (section)

===Sale and relocation===
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|Kansas City]], [[Quebec City]], [[Hamilton, Ontario|Hamilton]], or [[Winnipeg]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.torontosun.com/sports/hockey/2010/02/17/12922046-qmi.html|title=Thrashers to Winnipeg rumour wishful thinking|newspaper=Toronto Sun |date=2010-02-17|access-date=2011-02-28}}</ref><ref name="thestar.com">{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/article/631715|title=Group wants to move Atlanta Thrashers to Hamilton|date=2009-05-09|access-date=2011-02-28|location=Toronto|work=The Star|archive-date=2010-11-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101130122941/http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/article/631715|url-status=dead}}</ref> On January 22, 2011, the team's ownership group claimed it had lost US$130 million in the last six years, partially as a result of an ongoing lawsuit with former partner Steve Belkin.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=350451|title=LAWSUIT CLAIMS THRASHERS HAVE LOST US$130 MILLION SINCE '05|date=2011-01-22|access-date=2011-01-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110125070737/http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=350451|archive-date=2011-01-25|url-status=dead}}</ref> In February 2011, majority owner Michael Gearon stated that the team would be seeking new investors.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportingnews.com/nhl/story/sense-of-urgency-faces-atlanta-thrashers-ownership-group |title=Sense of urgency faces Atlanta Thrashers ownership group |date=2011-02-16 |access-date=2011-01-24}}{{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> Various local groups announced their intent to purchase the franchise and keep it in Atlanta.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=553188|title=Filmmaker Stephen Rollins interested in Thrashers|date=2011-02-17|access-date=2011-01-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Atlanta Thrashers Will Likely Be Sold For $110 Million|url=https://blogs.forbes.com/mikeozanian/2011/05/02/atlanta-thrashers-will-likely-be-sold-for-110-million/|work=Forbes|first=Mike|last=Ozanian|date=2011-05-02}}</ref>

On May 16, the ''Atlanta Journal-Constitution'' reported that talks for a sale to the Winnipeg-based [[True North Sports & Entertainment]] were underway.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-thrashers/atlanta-spirit-true-north-947628.html|title=Atlanta Spirit, True North in negotiations about Thrashers sale, relocation|accessdate=4 April 2023}}</ref> According to ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', a deal was finalized on May 20, 2011, to relocate the team to Winnipeg.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/atlanta-thrashers-moving-to-winnipeg/article2029179/|title=Atlanta Thrashers moving to Winnipeg|work=[[The Globe and Mail]]|access-date=2011-05-19|author=Brunt, Stephen|date=2011-05-22|author-link=Stephen Brunt|location=Toronto|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520015341/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/atlanta-thrashers-moving-to-winnipeg/article2029179/|archive-date=20 May 2011|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The League later denied the report, but acknowledged that advanced negotiations between the two teams were underway and that [[NHL Commissioner]] [[Gary Bettman]] supported the move.<ref name=star520>{{cite web |last1=Zwolinski |first1=Mark |last2=McGran |first2=Kevin |title=Atlanta Thrashers' move to Winnipeg not complete, parties insist |url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/article/994421--atlanta-thrashers-move-to-winnipeg-not-complete-parties-insist |website=Toronto Star |access-date=December 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111019112437/https://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/article/994421--atlanta-thrashers-move-to-winnipeg-not-complete-parties-insist |archive-date=October 19, 2011 |date=May 20, 2011}}</ref> Draft schedules were prepared that accommodated for the team's move to Winnipeg,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lawless |first1=Gary |title=Few hurdles to potential Thrashers sale to Winnipeg |url=https://montrealgazette.com/sports/hurdles%2Bpotential%2BThrashers%2Bsale%2BWinnipeg/4795756/story.html |website=Montreal Gazette |access-date=December 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522205059/https://montrealgazette.com/sports/hurdles+potential+Thrashers+sale+Winnipeg/4795756/story.html |archive-date=May 22, 2011 |date=May 17, 2011}}</ref> as True North sought to move the [[Manitoba Moose]] of the [[American Hockey League]] (AHL), eventually moving the team to [[St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador]], in [[Atlantic Canada]], playing as the [[St. John's IceCaps]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Short |first1=Robin |title=AHL return waiting on first 'Peg |url=http://www.thetelegram.com/Sports/2011-05-24/article-2529832/AHL-return-waiting-on-first-%26rsquo%3BPeg/1 |website=SaltWire |access-date=December 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110601005258/http://www.thetelegram.com/Sports/2011-05-24/article-2529832/AHL-return-waiting-on-first-%26rsquo%3BPeg/1 |archive-date=June 1, 2011 |date=May 24, 2011}}</ref> However, the IceCaps were eventually moved back to Winnipeg in 2015.<ref name="newmoose">{{cite news|last=Campbell|first=Tim|date=May 4, 2015|title=Welcome (back) to the Manitoba Moose|work=[[Winnipeg Free Press]]|url=http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/hockey/ahl/stjohns/302435751.html|access-date=May 6, 2015}}</ref>

On May 31, True North Sports & Entertainment and the NHL held a press conference in Winnipeg to announce the completion of a deal to purchase the Thrashers. True North intended to relocate the team to the [[MTS Centre]] in Winnipeg on June 21, 2011 to become the new [[Winnipeg Jets]]. Both the sale and relocation of the team were formally approved by the NHL's [[National Hockey League#Organizational structure|Board of Governors]]. The Atlanta Spirit Group, however, retained the rights of the name and logos for the Thrashers, which are expected to be used by any [[Potential National Hockey League expansion#Atlanta|future Atlanta NHL franchise]] that may be established or move there.<ref>{{cite web |title=Thrashers' move to Winnipeg approved |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=6688299 |website=ESPN.com |access-date=December 24, 2023 |date=June 21, 2011}}</ref>

As of the [[2024–25 NHL season]], only two former Thrashers are active in the NHL – [[Zach Bogosian]] of the [[Minnesota Wild]] and [[Evander Kane]] of the [[Edmonton Oilers]]. [[Ben Chiarot]] of the [[Detroit Red Wings]] is the only other player drafted by the Thrashers still active in the NHL, although he did not enter the league until after the Thrashers relocated to Winnipeg.

Atlanta was not without professional ice hockey for long. In 2015, the Gwinnett Gladiators of the [[ECHL]] changed their name to the [[Atlanta Gladiators]] to include the Atlanta metropolitan area. The team plays in [[Duluth, Georgia]], located northeast of Atlanta and the Gladiators honored the Thrashers legacy on December 16, 2022, by wearing the original blue jerseys first worn in 1999 against the [[Greenville Swamp Rabbits]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=Nivison |first1=Austin |title=ECHL team bringing back Atlanta Thrashers jerseys, branding for one game |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/news/echl-team-bringing-back-atlanta-thrashers-jerseys-branding-for-one-game/ |website=CBSSports.com |access-date=November 13, 2023 |date=November 10, 2022}}</ref> in which Greenville won 5–4 in overtime.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gladiators, branded as Thrashers for special night, fall to Swamp Rabbits in overtime |url=https://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/sports/gladiators-branded-as-thrashers-for-special-night-fall-to-swamp-rabbits-in-overtime/article_fa04f2a0-7dd3-11ed-aafb-cbf2de12b02e.html |website=Gwinnett Daily Post |access-date=November 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221217111247/https://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/sports/gladiators-branded-as-thrashers-for-special-night-fall-to-swamp-rabbits-in-overtime/article_fa04f2a0-7dd3-11ed-aafb-cbf2de12b02e.html |archive-date=December 17, 2022 |date=December 16, 2022}}</ref>