Anson Carter-Led Group Announces Request to Bring NHL Expansion Team to Atlanta

A former NHL player is leading a group looking to bring hockey back to Atlanta.

As Elliotte Friedman of TSN relayed Tuesday, Anson Carter is representing the Alpharetta Sports & Entertainment Group that is hoping to bring an expansion franchise to the city. In addition to being a former player, Carter is the co-chair of the NHL's Player Inclusion Coalition:

"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. "… 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 announcement also explained the ASE Group partnered with New York Life with an eye on putting an arena in Alpharetta, which is north of downtown Atlanta.

It explained Alpharetta has "the largest hockey-playing community in Metro Atlanta" and that the arena will be part of a "visionary development at the North Point Mall site" that will also include an outdoor stadium for soccer or lacrosse, as well as hotels, dining options and more.

Alpharetta mayor Jim Gilvin also expressed his support for the project.

The NHL currently has 32 teams split evenly into four divisions of eight. The most recent expansion franchise was the Seattle Kraken, which started play in the 2021-22 campaign. Prior to that, the Vegas Golden Knights became the league's 31st team and began play in the 2017-18 season.

This would not be the first time the NHL was in Atlanta.

The current-day Calgary Flames were the Atlanta Flames for their first eight seasons from 1972-80. More recently, the current-day Winnipeg Jets were the Atlanta Thrashers for 11 seasons from 1999-2011.

As for Carter, he played for 10 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.