clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

15 Years with No Playoff Joy for the NHL in Atlanta

New, 5 comments
I was doing some research this season on playoff wins by franchise and market and I was surprised to learn that the Atlanta Flames never advanced past the preliminary round of the playoffs in their years in this city. (Back then the 1st round was very short best of three series while the top clubs received byes.)

The Thrashers are clearly going to miss the playoffs and thus add yet another year of no playoff series won to that streak. So if you combine the 7 Atlanta Flames seasons with the 8 Atlanta Thrashers seasons the steak will reach 15 combined springs that fans in Atlanta have gone with just 2 playoff games won all time and 0 playoff series won all time.

People over at HFboards rag on Atlanta as a hockey market all the time but the truth is we don't know what this market is capable of because so far--because the product just hasn't been very good most years. In all the years the NHL has had a team in this city NOT ONCE have the fans be able to feel a glimmer of excitement that comes with advancing further in the battle for Lord Stanley's Cup.

This is year another reason why I despise the Colorado Avalanche and fans who go on about how great their market is. I have a feeling that if the Avalanche had relocated to Atlanta instead of Denver and won the Cup in their first year the NHL would have no problem selling tickets down here.

NHL Playoff Record in Atlanta
1972-1973: no playoffs
1973-1974: swept 4-0 by Flyers
1974-1975: no playoffs
1975-1976: swept 2-0 by Kings
1976-1977: beat 2-1 by Kings
1977-1978: swept 2-0 by Red Wings
1978-1979: swept 2-0 by Leafs
1979-1980: beat 3-1 by Rangers

1999-2000: no playoffs
2000-2001: no playoffs
2001-2002: no playoffs
2002-2003: no playoffs
2003-2004: no playoffs
2005-2006: no playoffs
2006-2007: swept 4-0 by Rangers
2007-2008: no playoffs

Summary of 15 NHL season in Atlanta: 9 springs with no playoff games, 7 1st round defeats, 5 times being swept out. Combined NHL playoff record is 2-19...holy cow that is bad!

Let's see what a quality hockey product can do for this market!