Not like the frequent chook itself, former Atlanta Thrashers are a fading breed.
Now greater than a decade faraway from the Thrashers’ transfer to Winnipeg in 2011, the variety of former Thrashers left within the NHL has dwindled to a few after Bryan Little formally retired 5 years faraway from a career-ending harm. Solely two are actively enjoying in 2024-25. Right here’s a have a look at every of them, and what they’ve executed since leaving the Peach State.
Zach Bogosian
Performed 199 video games for the Thrashers between 2008-09 and 2010-11
The Thrashers chosen the large and cell Zach Bogosian third general in 2008 and he instantly joined the large membership. He appeared in 199 video games for the Thrashers within the three seasons earlier than they relocated to Winnipeg, recording 24 targets and 39 assists for 59 factors, however was additionally a minus-34.
Within the Jets’ early days, the still-young Bogosian performed a top-four function, skating a mean of twenty-two:56, posting 16 targets and 52 assists for 68 factors — together with a career-high 30 within the Jets’ inaugural marketing campaign — and recording middling-to-fair superior numbers.
He was regular sufficient when he was within the lineup, however sadly, was dogged by accidents and by no means performed greater than 65 video games in a season.
Bogosian was traded to the Buffalo Sabres together with Evander Kane in 2015. He was by no means notably efficient there over six injury-filled campaigns, dressing for 243 video games and recording 13 targets and 54 assists for 67 factors and going minus-49.
Bogosian’s time in Buffalo ended relatively ceremoniously. In Dec. 2019, he requested a commerce, and in February, the staff waived him. He cleared waivers however refused to report back to the AHL’s Rochester People, so the Sabres suspended him and later terminated his contract.
The 6-foot-3 d-man then signed as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Lightning a couple of days earlier than the commerce deadline and skated in eight video games, recording two assists, earlier than the NHL season pause in mid-March.
Within the 2020 bubble playoffs, Bogosian performed 20 video games, recorded 4 assists, and hoisted the Stanley Cup because the Lightning beat the Dallas Stars in six video games to seize hockey’s prime prize.
In Oct. 2020, Bogosian signed a one-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs and performed 45 video games in a shortened 2020-21 season, recording 4 assists. He then returned to the Lightning for his second stint with the staff, signing a three-year contract with a $850,000 AAV previous to the 2021-22 season. He appeared in 48 video games that season and 46 video games in 2022-23.
In Nov. 2023, the Lightning traded him to the Minnesota Wild. He appeared in 65 video games between the 2 golf equipment and signed a two-year extension with the Wild on March 6, 2024.
Evander Kane
Performed 139 video games for the Thrashers between 2009-10 and 2010-11
One other excessive decide, the Thrashers took the sniper fourth general in 2009 after he put up 48 targets and 48 assists for the Vancouver Giants in his second full Western Hockey League season.
Like Bogosian, the Thrashers introduced Kane to the NHL instantly and he recorded 33 targets and 36 assists for 69 factors in 133 video games over two seasons, dazzling along with his pace, goal-scoring instincts, and fearlessness.
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Within the Jets’ inaugural season, Kane recorded a career-high 30 targets. Nonetheless, between then and 2015, he proved to be a high-maintenance participant who was a nightmare to take care of; he engaged in a wide range of immature antics — from the Twitter submit he made flashing fats stacks on a Las Vegas balcony to allegedly eating and dashing at fancy eating places — that overshadowed his on-ice contributions.
After Kane confirmed as much as a staff assembly in a tracksuit and Dustin Byfuglien threw it within the bathe, the Jets traded the problematic ahead to the Sabres together with the aforementioned Zach Bogosian in change for Joel Armia, Brenden Lemieux, Tyler Myers, Drew Stafford, and a 2015 first-round decide they used to pick out Jack Roslovic.
Kane spent three seasons with the Sabres and by no means recorded greater than 43 factors in a season.
He was traded to the San Jose Sharks in February 2018, and recorded 87 targets and 79 assists for 166 factors as a Shark. He wasn’t, nonetheless, good for the staff as he continued to dominate the headlines for all of the incorrect causes.
In late 2019, it was introduced {that a} Las Vegas on line casino was suing the ahead for $500,000 in playing credit. A 12 months prior, a girl alleged Kane supplied her $3 million to abort three totally different pregnancies between 2016 and 2018 however then didn’t pay her after she did.
Kane’s life took an excellent darker flip in 2021. In September, his estranged spouse Anna Kane accused him of sexual assault and battery, alleging she was compelled to have nonconsensual intercourse with him on multiple event. She additionally accused him of betting on NHL video games, together with ones he performed in.
The Sharks introduced he wouldn’t be attending the 2021-22 coaching camp because of the allegations, which had been later discovered couldn’t be substantiated. Nonetheless, on the identical time, extra dangerous behaviour got here to mild and Kane was suspended for the primary 21 video games of the season for submitting a faux COVID-19 vaccination card.
After he accomplished his suspension, the Sharks positioned Kane on waivers and was re-assigned to the American Hockey League for the primary time in his profession. In January, 2022, the Sharks introduced they’d positioned Kane on unconditional waivers for the aim of terminating his contract, because of violation of AHL COVID-19 protocols.
Just some weeks later, the Edmonton Oilers signed Kane to a one-year deal, however the signing was not with out its detractors because of his previous. Nonetheless, Kane look re-energized and loved immediate success with a deep Oilers’ squad, recording 22 targets and 17 assists in 43 regular-season video games, and 13 targets and 4 assists in 17 playoff video games.
Associated: Oilers Including Kane was NHL’s Finest Mid-Season Acquisition in 2021-22
He was in the course of controversy but once more through the Western Convention Last towards the Colorado Avalanche, boarding Nazem Kadri in Recreation 3 and receiving a one-game suspension.
In July 2022, Kane re-signed with the Oilers, inking a four-year, $20.5 million extension. In 2022-23, he had 28 factors in 41 video games however missed vital time because of a critical lower to the wrist that required surgical procedure. He adopted that up with 44 factors in 77 video games through the 2023-24 season.
In Sep. 2024, he underwent stomach surgical procedure to restore a wide range of points and was anticipated to want 5 to 6 months to recuperate, which means he would miss many of the 2024-25 season.
One can solely hope he can recuperate, maintain his private life straight, and give attention to serving to the Oilers win a Stanley Cup throughout their present window of competition, as a result of he’s an immensely proficient participant.
Blake Wheeler
Performed 23 video games for the Thrashers in 2010-11
Former Jets captain Blake Wheeler is the ultimate former Thrasher to have performed with the staff.
Wheeler, who came visiting to the Thrashers from the Boston Bruins in a commerce late of their closing season, has carved out a pleasant profession as a prolific playmaker and intensely exhausting employee. However at age 38, his greatest seasons are behind him.
A key determine whose veteran presence has helped many Jets’ children and draft picks blossom into bona fide tremendous stars, Wheeler took some time to return into his personal as a top-six ahead. He even referred to as himself “a kind of late bloomers” and “a kind of guys that it took some time to show into a person, bodily and mentally.” (from ‘Prime 10 scorer is the Wheel deal,’ Winnipeg Free Press, 01/04/2016.)
In 1,172 profession video games on the conclusion of the 2023-24 common season, the facility ahead has put up 321 targets and 622 assists for 943 factors. He recorded 74 factors or extra in five-straight seasons, had back-to-back 91-point seasons in 2017-18 and 2018-19, and was named an NHL All-Star seven instances.
Wheeler’s manufacturing dropped a bit in 2019-20 — 65 factors in 71 video games —however he was capable of seamlessly slide to centre and assist the Jets “keep within the battle” within the wake of Little’s harm. It was a selfless transfer as Wheeler could be the primary to confess he prefers to be the man on the wing, making issues occur from the wall for Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor.
Regardless of his numbers dip, the marketing campaign got here with private milestone — he grew to become the franchise’s all-time chief in factors that December, passing Ilya Kovalchuk in one of many Jets most fun video games of the season.
In 2020-21, Father Time caught up with Wheeler in an enormous method and he grew to become a legal responsibility at five-on-five. Though his level totals — 46 in 50 video games — had been nonetheless respectable, he seemed a shadow of his former self from defensive and energy standpoints. A part of the explanation for that was as a result of he was quietly enjoying with cracked ribs.
2021-22 was one other subpar season for each Wheeler personally and the Jets as a complete, and his questionable management qualities had been one of many causes for the misplaced season. Within the offseason, rumours circulated the Jets had been making an attempt to commerce him, and whereas a deal by no means materialized, he was stripped of his captaincy previous to the 2022-23 season by Rick Bowness, the incoming no-nonsense bench boss.
Associated: Jets’ Bowness Makes Gutsy & Essential Resolution With Wheeler
Wheeler had 55 factors in 71 video games in 2022-23 however previous to 2023 free company opening, the Jets purchased him out of the ultimate 12 months of his contract to rid themselves of his bloated wage and to forge a brand new and higher id with a brand new management core.
Wheeler then signed a one-year take care of the New York Rangers. He had 9 targets and 21 factors for the Blueshirts in a bottom-six function however suffered a critical leg harm in mid-February that knocked him out for the remainder of the season.
The Rangers opted to not re-sign Wheeler within the 2024 offseason, and he’s at present an unrestricted free agent.
General, at age 33, Kane is the youngest former Thrasher. Meaning earlier than later, the Atlanta Thrasher will probably be extinct for good.
