NHL to Return to Winnipeg

By Justin Worsley,

Fifteen years after the Winnipeg Jets bolted south to become the Phoenix Coyotes, the heart of Canada will have a hockey franchise return to them.

Atlanta Thrashers majority owner Michael Gearon has sold the franchise to True North Sports and Entertainment for $170 million. True North will relocate the franchise to Winnipeg and the league will split a $60 million relocation fee.

Atlanta becomes the first city in NHL history to be lose two franchises due to relocation. The Flames relocated to Calgary in 1980.

The 11-year-old franchise only made one postseason appearance, which was in 2007 after winning the Southeast Division title. The were swept by the sixth-seeded New York Rangers in the opening round of the playoffs.

The deal is still pending league approval. The vote will take place on June 21 at the NHL Board of Governors meeting. In order for the sale to be accepted, it needs three-quarters of a majority vote while the vote for relocation simply requires a majority vote.

The team name will most likely change. Former owner Ted Turner named the Thrashers after Georgia's state bird. No name has been decided upon yet, but the Jets could be used.

The NHL will not re-align the divisions after the relocation, meaning that Winnipeg will still be forced to played in the Southeast division, traveling as much as 2,300 miles for an away game within their division.

The Thrashers finished their final season in Atlanta with a fourth-place finish in the division, going 34-36-12. Only the New York Islanders and the Coyotes had lower home game attendance than Atlanta this season.