What if the Thrashers jet to Winnipeg?

(Disclaimer: We are not predicting nor rooting for the Atlanta Thrashers to relocate. This is simply a ‘what if’ conversational piece.)

With the Phoenix Coyotes staying in Arizona for at least another year, the attention has instantly turned to the Atlanta Thrashers as a team that could potentially be moving as soon as this off-season. Nobody knows what is going to happen in the coming weeks and months; but if they do end up leaving Atlanta, what are some dominoes that would fall in the NHL?

There are some troubling signs about the Thrashers’ future (which have seemingly been overshadowed by the never-ending situation in Phoenix), including the city mayor not showing much optimism and stating that the team “may leave.”

The National Hockey League, which has fought tooth and nail for the Coyotes to stay in the desert, has mostly stayed silent in this matter. However, commissioner Gary Bettman spoke out recently, sending mixed signals.

“So people just make this stuff up, right?” said Bettman. “Where's the accountability from all the people who a month ago were saying that Phoenix was definitely going? Whatever is being written [about Atlanta] is being made up.”
…
“You know my position on franchise relocation,” he said. “But you also know that in the instances where we've moved, it's resulted in instances where nobody wanted to own a club there anymore.”

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly also chimed in:

Q: Can you guarantee the team will be in Atlanta next season?
A: “Nope. I can’t guarantee that.”

Part-owner Bruce Levenson and the Thrashers have failed in numerous attempts to find a new local owner over the years. If that continues, True North Sports and Entertainment from Winnipeg is expected to pounce; True North is the same group that was pursuing the Coyotes.

In short; there is no timetable on this to be sorted out, but time is running out on the Thrashers if they want to stay in Atlanta.

So with this looking like a possibility, what if the Thrashers end up moving to Winnipeg? I am never one to get ahead of myself, but let's do just that.

What would realignment look like? First of all, the Thrashers would be moving to the Western Conference – specifically the Northwest Division – which would cause a team from the West to head to the East. Obvious candidates are Detroit, Columbus and Nashville.

Detroit will not be the team switching conferences; the NHL would want to keep the two major tenants in the West (Detroit and Chicago) together.

Then it becomes a debate between Columbus and Nashville. Geographically, the Predators make sense. They’d fit right in with the Southeast Division. But the Preds have established and are developing some rivalries in the West.

On the contrary, Columbus being in the Eastern Time Zone aids their cause in possibly moving to the East. They are almost cut from the same cloth as the Thrashers (similar franchise histories, timelines and tendencies) and may benefit from getting out of the Central Division. If I had to put money on one of these teams heading east in this ordeal, I would put it on Columbus.

If the Thrashers move to the West and the Blue Jackets head to the East, here is a possible scenario for realignment (changes in bold):

Atlantic and Northeast Divisions remain the same
Southeast Division: Carolina, Columbus, Florida, Tampa Bay, Washington
Central Division: Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Nashville, St. Louis
Northwest Division: Calgary, Edmonton, Minnesota, Vancouver, Winnipeg
Pacific Division: Anaheim, Colorado, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Jose

Here is another scenario:

Atlantic, Northeast and Pacific Divisions remain the same
Southeast Division: Carolina, Columbus, Florida, Tampa Bay, Washington
Central Division: Chicago, Detroit, Minnesota, Nashville, St. Louis
Northwest Division: Calgary, Colorado, Edmonton, Vancouver, Winnipeg

Obviously, it would not make sense for the NHL to keep Winnipeg in the Southeast for more than one season. The NHL has not had any realignment since expansion in the 2000-01 season.

The state bird of Georgia is the thrasher… so any move to Winnipeg move likely result in a name change. I believe the Jets would be out of the equation, but would they become the Moose?

Also, what would happen to the Manitoba Moose? It is safe to assume they would be forced to move elsewhere. The Moose, Vancouver’s AHL affiliate, play at MTS Centre in Winnipeg, which would be the home of any NHL team that moves to the city. It would be an interesting domino effect for sure.

If the Thrashers do go to Winnipeg, what would this do to hockey in Atlanta? Who knows. As much as the attendance has lacked over the last couple years, the ownership and front office has been equally as bad.

Once again, we are not predicting nor rooting for the Thrashers to move out of Atlanta. A lot has to happen for any move to even take place. This is pure speculation.

If the Thrashers find a local owner to keep them in town, it’ll be great for hockey in the south’s biggest city. If not, we could see the first franchise relocation in the NHL since 1997, when Hartford packed up and moved to Raleigh.

The way the league handles this stuff, expect the matter to be resolved later rather than sooner.

Photo credit: Getty Images