Atlanta Thrashers History.

Atlanta Thrashers, professional ice hockey team and one of five teams in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL).

The Thrashers play at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, and wear uniforms of blue, copper, red, and gold. The team’s name is taken from the brown thrasher, the state bird of Georgia.

On June 25, 1997, the NHL officially awarded expansion team franchises to Atlanta; Saint Paul, Minnesota; Columbus, Ohio; and Nashville, Tennessee. The company that owns the Thrashers, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., also owns the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Atlanta Braves of major league baseball.

Stan Kasten, who is also president of the Hawks and the Braves, is president of the Thrashers. Before the start of their inaugural 1999-2000 season, the Thrashers filled their roster with players selected in a series of drafts.