Sports' Forgotten Heroes

The NHL expanded to Atlanta for the 1972-73 season with the Flames. The team quickly became a perennial playoff team qualifying for the post-season in just its second season. In fact, in the eight years that the Flames called Atlanta home, they made the playoffs six times (although they never advanced past the first round). After the 1979-80 season, the Flames packed up and left the south for Calgary where they have enjoyed sellouts and a Stanley Cup Championship in 1988-89; and made it to the Finals in two other seasons. The NHL, however, was not done in Atlanta. The expansion Thrashers took the ice for the 1999-2000 season. But they never experienced the on-ice successes as their predecessors did. In fact, in 11 seasons, the Thrashers only made the playoffs once (2006-07) when they won the Southeast Division and lost in the first round to the New York Rangers. After the 2010-11 season, the Thrashers relocated to Winnipeg where they have enjoyed sellout crowds and a modicum of success in the playoffs. So, wh