Five Potential Names For Atlanta NHL Expansion Team
The National Hockey League is the latest of the four major professional sports leagues to expand in recent years adding the Las Vegas Golden Knights in 2017 and the Seattle Kraken in 2021.
These additions finally caught the NHL up to the NFL with 32 teams. But now the NHL and commissioner Gary Bettman are interested in expanding once again with a U.S professional record 33 teams and maybe more as well.
Atlanta Already Has History With The NHL
One of the most popular cities that the NHL is looking at is Atlanta, Georgia. The ATL has had two tries at expansion starting with the Atlanta Flames in 1972. The team relocated to Calgary in 1980 after rapidly declining attendance despite the team's success on the ice.
Atlanta was given another try in 1999 with the Atlanta Thrashers. After losing $130 million in its last six years, along with only three winning seasons in twelve years in the team's history, the Thrashers were sold and relocated to Winnipeg as the Jets.
NHL Is Looking Into Return To The ATL
Now the Alpharetta Sports & Entertainment Group is looking to bring the NHL back in Atlanta and build a new arena in Alpharetta, just north of Atlanta. So if the ASE Group gets their wish, the NHL could give the southern city a third try at professional hockey. So if Atlanta is given an expansion team, what should the team be called? Here are five potential names for an Atlanta NHL expansion team.
Atlanta Thrashers
The obvious name that could make a return is the Thrashers. A beloved name by many, the brown thrasher is the state bird of Georgia. It fits in well with the other bird-themed teams of Atlanta including the NFL's Atlanta Falcons and the NBA's Atlanta Hawks. If they keep this name, will the team revive its old jerseys or modernize it with a new set?
Atlanta Buzz/Sting
This name is a nod to the bee, the state insect of Georgia. I personally would be supportive of the name Atlanta Sting, but with both a local football and soccer team named Sting, I am not sure this would be approved. If they had to pivot, then choosing Atlanta Buzz could be a solid option, although I am not a huge fan personally.
Atlanta Gladiators
One of the reasons why the NHL is exploring ATL is because of the success of the ECHL's Atlanta Gladiators. So why not consider using that name and branding? The team can buy the ECHL Gladiators from Nashville or allow the Predators to relocate from Atlanta to a city closer to the region. A longshot? Sure but we can hope.
Important to note: The Thrashers and Gladiators did co-exist at one point, so the team might want to leave the Gladiators name with the ECHL.
Atlanta Whitetails
The Georgia state mammal is the white-tailed deer. There is so much potential with the team's color scheme, logo and jerseys and this name can have success like the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks, ECHL's Iowa Heartlanders, and the CFL's Edmonton Elks.
Atlanta Coyotes
While this one isn't for the expansion team, this is hypothetically if the Arizona Coyotes, who have been rumored for relocation for a while now, were to relocate to Atlanta. While Coyotes would not make too much sense for the team's name, sometimes teams decide to keep the current name. Examples include the Los Angeles Rams/Chargers and Utah Jazz.
What do you think the potential Atlanta expansion NHL team should be called? I personally would support the Thrashers coming back with some fresh new uniforms.
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