Nearly 20 years after the Flames left for Calgary, the NHL returned to the city of Atlanta with an expansion team owned by media mogul Ted Turner named Thrashers. The Thrashers played their first game before a sold-out crowd at Philips Arena on October 2nd, losing to the New Jersey Devils 4-1, as Kelly Buchberger scored the first goal in franchise history.

The Thrashers would get their first win nearly two weeks later when Damian Rhodes blanked the New York Islanders 2-0 on the road. The Thrashers would until October 23rd when they beat the Calgary Flames in their return to Atlanta 2-1.

However, wins would hardly come in bunches as Andrew Brunette led the team in scoring with a modest 50 points as the Thrashers finished last in the Southeast Division with an NHL worst record of 14-61-7-4.