Apr 7, 2009; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Thrashers left wing Ilya Kovalchuk (17) and Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) follow the flight of Ovechkin's shot at the net in the third period at Philips Arena. The Capitals defeated the Thrashers 4-2. Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Atlanta Approves Potential Ownership Group to Apply for NHL Expansion

Originally posted on Breakaway on SI | By Scott Salomon | Last updated Jun 12, 2025 7:00 AM ET

Despite the fact the Stanley Cup Final is monopolizing hockey news cycles, there is an interesting footnote coming out of Atlanta regarding potential NHL expansion to the Peach state.

The NHL has recently added new franchises like the Vegas Golden Knights and Seattle Kraken. They also approved the relocation of the Arizona Coyotes to Utah, thus giving birth to the Mammoth.

Gary Bettman has been seeking cities to expand to. Atlanta happens to be one of those cities, despite the fact two teams failed in Atlanta previously. The Atlanta Flames died out and relocated to Calgary and the Atlanta Thrashers were alive from 1999 through 2011 before being sold and relocated to Winnipeg.

When the NHL first discussed expansion, Bettman said at a press conference that the prior failures in Atlanta would not deter the league from going back.

"I don't think the prior two visits have any bearing on whether or not we would go back — if all the other pieces that are referred to were put together," Bettman said.

BREAKING: Forsyth County votes to approve the final documentation that would allow the Krause group to formally propose NHL expansion into metro Atlanta. The group is now expected to present its complete proposal to the NHL in the coming weeks.The vote, which passed this evening,… pic.twitter.com/g8AyEbDa9Q
— NHL to Atlanta (@NHLtoAtlanta) June 11, 2025

Bettman thinks the environment is different, or at least that is what he said last month.

“It’s a different place than when the Flames and the Thrashers left, in terms of how big the city is, how robust it is, the sporting interest,” Bettman said,per Sportsnet. “I don't think the prior two visits have any bearing on whether or not we would go back — if all the other pieces that are referred to were put together.”

Quebec City, Houston, New Orleans and Atlanta have all been listed as potential sites. On Wednesday evening, Atlanta made a significant move in its effort to bring a franchise back to the area.

According to ESPN NHL insider Kevin Weekes, Forsyth County, a county located within the Atlanta metropolitan area "just signed off on definitive documents for the Gathering at S Forsyth."

Weekes posted the following on social media.

"Forsyth county just signed off on definitive documents for the Gathering at S Forsyth. Vernon Krause plans to sit down w Commissioner Bettman. Big step in process here. #HockeyX."

This article first appeared on Breakaway on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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