Former NHL forward Anson Carter is leading the charge to bring an NHL expansion team to Atlanta. According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, Carter is leading the Alpharetta Sports & Entertainment Group that is attempting to bring an NHL expansion franchise to the city.
“I’ve lived in Atlanta since 2009, and I have no doubt that the best league in the world will thrive in its return to Metro Atlanta,” Carter said in a statement. “I have been in dialogue with Commissioner Bettman since 2019 about an expansion team returning to the Fulton County Metro Atlanta market, knowing that the NHL franchise decisions are exclusively decided by the NHL Board of Governors.”
The group’s announcement also stated that the ASE Group is partnering with New York Life to work on putting an arena in Alpharetta, which is just north of downtown Atlanta.
The announcement also called Alpharetta “the largest hockey-playing community in Metro Atlanta” and the arena would be part of a “visionary development at the North Point Mall site” that would also feature an outdoor stadium for soccer or lacrosse.
The NHL currently is comprised of 32 teams with eight teams being in each of the four divisions. The two most recent NHL expansion franchises were the Seattle Kraken (2021-22) and the Vegas Golden Knights (2017-18).
Of course, Atlanta has had NHL teams in the past.
The Calgary Flames were originally the Atlanta Flames from 1972 until 1980 when the franchise moved to Calgary. The Winnipeg Jets were previously known as the Atlanta Thrashers from 1999 until 2011 before the team relocated.
Carter played 10 NHL seasons from 1996-2007 for the Washington Capitals, Boston Bruins, Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings, Vancouver Canucks, Columbus Blue Jackets and Carolina Hurricanes. The veteran forward spent four of those campaigns with the Bruins, and racked up 202 goals and 219 assists in 674 career games.
Former NHL player Anson Carter is making headlines once again, but this time it’s not for his on-ice skills. Carter is spearheading efforts to bring an NHL expansion team to Atlanta, a city that has been without a professional hockey team since the Atlanta Thrashers relocated to Winnipeg in 2011.
Carter, who played for the Thrashers during the 2006-2007 season, has a personal connection to the city and believes that Atlanta is ready for another shot at having an NHL team. In a recent interview, Carter stated, “Atlanta is a great sports town with passionate fans, and I believe that there is a real opportunity to build a successful hockey franchise here.”
Carter has been working tirelessly behind the scenes to drum up support for the potential expansion team, meeting with local business leaders, politicians, and hockey fans to gauge interest and secure funding. He has also been in talks with the NHL commissioner’s office to discuss the logistics of bringing a team to Atlanta.
While there are still many hurdles to overcome, including securing an ownership group and finding a suitable arena for the team to play in, Carter remains optimistic about the prospects of bringing NHL hockey back to Atlanta. He believes that with the right support and resources, a new team in Atlanta could be successful both on and off the ice.
If Carter’s efforts are successful, Atlanta could once again become a hub for hockey fans in the Southeast, providing a new home for both die-hard supporters and casual fans looking to experience the excitement of NHL hockey. Only time will tell if Carter’s dream of bringing an NHL team to Atlanta will become a reality, but one thing is for certain – he is certainly giving it his all.
