For hockey fans in Atlanta, Georgia, the question comes up again and again: “What team did the Atlanta Thrashers become?”
The short answer: the Atlanta Thrashers became the Winnipeg Jets.
When the Thrashers relocated in 2011, the franchise moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and was renamed the Winnipeg Jets, which is the same NHL franchise that used to play in Atlanta.
Below is a clear breakdown of how that happened, what it means for Atlanta sports fans, and how you can still stay connected to hockey in and around the city.
Here’s the basic story of the team’s transformation, laid out simply:
| Year | City | Team Name | League | What Changed? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Atlanta, GA | Atlanta Thrashers | NHL | Expansion team begins play at Philips Arena |
| 2007 | Atlanta, GA | Atlanta Thrashers | NHL | Reaches the Stanley Cup Playoffs |
| 2011 | Winnipeg, MB | Winnipeg Jets | NHL | Franchise relocates and rebrands |
Key point:
The same franchise license that once belonged to the Atlanta Thrashers is now the current Winnipeg Jets in the NHL.
So if you’re in Atlanta and wondering, “Where did our NHL team go?” — the official continuation of that team plays its home games in Canada, not Georgia.
People in Atlanta often remember the Thrashers with a mix of nostalgia and frustration. While individual opinions differ, some common factors are often discussed:
From a local perspective, the move felt abrupt, especially if you lived in Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, or the northern suburbs and had built the Thrashers into part of your sports routine.
Legally and historically, yes:
However, fans sometimes see it differently:
But for your FAQ purposes:
The Atlanta Thrashers became the current Winnipeg Jets.
If you live in Atlanta and miss the Thrashers, you’re not alone. While the city doesn’t have an NHL team right now, there are several ways local fans engage with hockey:
Some Atlanta fans chose to stay loyal to the franchise and now follow the Winnipeg Jets as “their” team. Others picked a new favorite NHL team, often based on:
If you were a Thrashers fan and want to keep that historical link, supporting the Winnipeg Jets is the most direct continuation.
Even without the NHL, Atlanta still has options for live, in-person hockey:
The Atlanta Gladiators are the main professional hockey presence in the metro area. The level of play is solid, and for many Atlanta residents, Gladiators games fill the live-hockey gap left by the Thrashers.
For someone living in Intown Atlanta, expect roughly a 30–45+ minute drive to Duluth depending on traffic on I‑85.
If the Thrashers got you interested in playing hockey — or you just want to get on the ice — there are several rinks in and around Atlanta where local residents skate, play pickup hockey, and join adult leagues. Common hubs include:
Many of these rinks offer:
These facilities serve residents from neighborhoods all over metro Atlanta: Brookhaven, Sandy Springs, Roswell, Alpharetta, Duluth, Lawrenceville, and more.
Even though the franchise is gone, traces of the Thrashers are still visible if you know where to look:
For newer residents who moved to Atlanta after 2011, the Thrashers can feel like a “lost chapter” of the city’s sports story — but for many locals, that chapter still matters.
Q: What team did the Atlanta Thrashers become?
A: The Atlanta Thrashers relocated in 2011 and became the Winnipeg Jets of the NHL.
Q: Is there still an NHL team in Atlanta?
A: No. Atlanta does not currently have an NHL team. The city’s former NHL franchises (the Flames and the Thrashers) both relocated.
Q: If I was a Thrashers fan, who should I follow now?
A: Many former Thrashers fans in Atlanta either:
Q: Where can I watch live hockey near Atlanta?
A: The Atlanta Gladiators in Duluth are the main professional team in the region. You can also watch local league games at rinks like Center Ice Arena, The Cooler, and IceForum.
Q: Is there any chance NHL hockey could return to Atlanta?
A: Conversations about NHL expansion or relocation come up from time to time, and Atlanta is sometimes mentioned as a possibility. However, there is no active NHL team in Atlanta right now, and any future movement would depend on league decisions and ownership groups.
For anyone in Atlanta, Georgia trying to understand the Thrashers’ story: the franchise you once cheered for at Philips Arena is now skating as the Winnipeg Jets. While the NHL left town, the hockey culture it helped build is still very much alive across rinks and arenas throughout metro Atlanta.
