And erase the glorious history of the Atlanta Thrashers? Remember that one time they made the playoffs and got swept in the 1st round?
No need. Right now, the NHL history books read:
Winnipeg Jets (1972-1996)
Phoenix Coyotes (1996-2014)
Arizona Coyotes (2014-present)
Atlanta Thrashers (1999-2011)
Winnipeg Jets (2011-present)
Here's the way that it should read:
Winnipeg Jets (1972-1996)
(suspended operations, 1996-1999)
Atlanta Thrashers (1999-2011)
Winnipeg Jets (2011-present)
Phoenix Coyotes (1996-2014)
Arizona Coyotes (2014-present)
As an example of how to do this properly, this is how the NBA history books record the history of the Charlotte Hornets and New Orleans Pelicans:
Charlotte Hornets (1988-2002)
(suspended operations, 2002-2004)
Charlotte Bobcats, (2004-2014)
Charlotte Hornets (2014-present)
New Orleans Hornets (2002-2013)
New Orleans Pelicans (2013-present)
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To me, the worst part about losing a team is losing your history. As I've mentioned before, when I was a kid, I was originally an LA Rams fan; when the Rams moved to St. Louis in 1995, not only did the team move, but the Rams history moved with them. I'm also a Seattle Supersonics fan, and the fan experience after that move is completely different: I can still be a Sonics fan while despising the OKC Thunder, and I always have the hope that if/when Seattle gets another NBA team, the Sonics' history will be restored. If you were a fan of the the Kansas City Kings, the San Diego Chargers, or the Vancouver Grizzlies, you have no such hope.