The last two former Atlanta Thrashers players still active in the NHL

The Atlanta Thrashers may have relocated to Winnipeg more than 14 years ago, but a handful of players who once donned the franchise’s blue, red, and gold still skate in the NHL today. As the league continues to evolve and younger generations take over, these veterans represent the final living connection to a franchise that called Atlanta home from 1999 to 2011. With Blake Wheeler’s retirement in July 2025 and Bryan Little’s official departure from the game, the number of former Atlanta Thrashers players still active in the NHL has dwindled to just two remarkable individuals who have managed to extend their careers well into their thirties.

The story of these remaining Thrashers is one of perseverance, reinvention, and longevity in a league that constantly seeks fresh talent. Both players were high draft picks who showed immediate promise, though their paths through the NHL have been vastly different. From Stanley Cup victories to personal controversies, from career-threatening injuries to successful team transitions, these two players have experienced the full spectrum of what professional hockey can offer.

The last two former Atlanta Thrashers players still active in the NHL

As of the 2025-26 season, only Zach Bogosian and Evander Kane remain as active NHL players with Atlanta Thrashers experience on their resumes. This represents a dramatic decline from just a few years ago when several former Thrashers were still contributing across the league. The extinction of this group serves as a reminder of how quickly time passes in professional sports and how rare it is for players to maintain NHL-caliber performance into their mid-thirties.

Both players began their professional careers with the Thrashers as highly touted prospects selected in the top five of their respective NHL drafts. Bogosian was chosen third overall in 2008, while Kane went fourth overall in 2009. The franchise had high hopes that these young talents would form part of a core that could finally bring sustained success to hockey in Atlanta, but the team’s relocation to Winnipeg in 2011 cut those plans short.

The transition from Atlanta to Winnipeg proved challenging for both players in different ways. While they enjoyed some early success with the relocated franchise, neither became the franchise cornerstone the organization had envisioned. Instead, both eventually found themselves traded away and embarked on journeys that would take them to multiple teams across the league.

Zach Bogosian’s journey as a former Atlanta Thrashers player still active in the NHL

Zach Bogosian’s career has been defined by his physical style of play, his mobility for a big defenseman, and unfortunately, a series of injuries that prevented him from reaching his full potential. Standing 6-foot-3, Bogosian brought size and skating ability that made him an attractive prospect, and the Thrashers wasted no time getting him into NHL action. He appeared in 199 games over three seasons in Atlanta, recording 24 goals and 39 assists while averaging significant ice time and learning to handle the rigors of professional hockey.

After the move to Winnipeg, Bogosian continued to play a prominent role in the early years of the Jets’ existence. He averaged nearly 23 minutes per game and posted a career-high 30 points during the franchise’s inaugural season in Manitoba. However, injuries began to mount, and he never played more than 65 games in any single season with the Jets. This pattern of missed time due to various ailments would become a recurring theme throughout his career.

The defenseman’s career took a significant turn when he was traded to the Buffalo Sabres in 2015 alongside Kane. His time in Buffalo proved frustrating for all parties involved, as he managed just 67 points in 243 games while posting a minus-49 rating over six injury-plagued seasons. The relationship deteriorated so badly that in February 2020, the Sabres placed him on waivers, and when he cleared but refused to report to the AHL’s Rochester Americans, the team suspended him and eventually terminated his contract.

What could have been a career-ending situation instead became a redemption story. Just days before the 2020 trade deadline, Bogosian signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning and helped the team win the Stanley Cup in the bubble playoffs. His defensive depth and playoff experience proved valuable, and he recorded four assists in 20 postseason games as the Lightning defeated the Dallas Stars to capture the championship.

Following his Cup victory, Bogosian signed a one-year deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs for the 2020-21 season before returning to Tampa Bay on a three-year contract. He appeared in 94 games over two seasons with the Lightning during his second stint before being traded to the Minnesota Wild in November 2023. The Wild signed him to a two-year extension in March 2024, and according to The Hockey Writers, he has found a comfortable role as a veteran presence on Minnesota’s third defensive pairing.

Evander Kane’s controversial path among former Atlanta Thrashers players still active in the NHL

If Bogosian’s story is one of perseverance through injury, Evander Kane’s tale is far more complicated, filled with spectacular on-ice performances overshadowed by off-ice controversies that have defined his public image. Kane arrived in the NHL with elite speed, goal-scoring instincts, and a fearless playing style that made him a dangerous offensive weapon. He recorded 33 goals and 36 assists in 139 games across two seasons with the Thrashers, immediately establishing himself as a legitimate scoring threat.

During the Jets’ early years in Winnipeg, Kane continued to produce offensively, including a career-high 30-goal campaign. However, his time in Manitoba was marred by immature behavior and questionable decision-making off the ice. From controversial social media posts flashing large amounts of cash to allegations of dining and dashing at expensive restaurants, Kane became as well-known for his antics as his goal-scoring ability. The breaking point came when he reportedly showed up to a team meeting in a tracksuit, leading teammate Dustin Byfuglien to throw it in the shower. Shortly after, the Jets traded him to Buffalo alongside Bogosian.

Kane’s three seasons with the Sabres saw his production decline, never topping 43 points in a campaign. He was traded to the San Jose Sharks in February 2018, where he enjoyed a statistical resurgence with 87 goals and 79 assists for 166 points during his time with the franchise. Yet even as his on-ice performance improved, his personal life spiraled into increasingly serious territory.

The controversies multiplied in San Jose. A Las Vegas casino sued Kane for $500,000 in unpaid gambling debts. Serious allegations emerged from his estranged wife, including accusations of sexual assault, domestic violence, and betting on NHL games. While the league’s investigation could not substantiate the gambling allegations, Kane was suspended 21 games in 2021 for submitting a fake COVID-19 vaccination card. The Sharks eventually placed him on unconditional waivers and terminated his contract for violating AHL COVID-19 protocols.

Despite this troubled history, the Edmonton Oilers took a chance on Kane in January 2022, signing him to a one-year deal. The gamble paid off spectacularly in terms of on-ice production. Kane looked rejuvenated, recording 22 goals and 17 assists in 43 regular-season games, then adding 13 goals and four assists in 17 playoff games. His performance earned him a four-year, $20.5 million contract extension in July 2022.

Kane’s time in Edmonton continued to be productive when healthy, though injuries have limited his availability. A serious wrist laceration from a skate blade required surgery and cost him significant time in 2022-23. He followed with 44 points in 77 games during the 2023-24 season before undergoing abdominal surgery in September 2024 that caused him to miss the entire 2024-25 regular season. He returned for the playoffs and contributed 12 points in 21 games during the Oilers’ run to the Stanley Cup Final.

In June 2025, the Oilers traded Kane to his hometown Vancouver Canucks in a salary cap management move. At 34 years old, Kane now finds himself playing for the team he grew up watching, representing what could be the final chapter of his NHL career. According to NHL.com, he was acquired for a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, giving Vancouver a veteran presence with playoff experience.

The legacy of former Atlanta Thrashers players still active in the NHL

The dwindling number of former Atlanta Thrashers players still active in the NHL represents more than just the passage of time—it symbolizes the complete erasure of one of the NHL’s most troubled franchises. The Thrashers never won a playoff series in their 11-season existence, struggling with poor ownership, inconsistent management, and a challenging market that never fully embraced the team. When the franchise relocated to Winnipeg for the 2011-12 season, it left behind disappointed fans and questions about the NHL’s viability in non-traditional markets.

Bogosian and Kane represent the final threads connecting the present-day NHL to that Atlanta era. Both were supposed to be cornerstones of the franchise’s future, high draft picks who would lead the team into a new era of competitiveness. Instead, they became witnesses to the franchise’s final days before becoming part of the relocated Winnipeg Jets’ fresh start. Their careers have taken them far from those roots, with both players experiencing Cup runs, multiple teams, and the full spectrum of NHL experiences.

The contrasts between these two remaining players are striking. Bogosian has carved out a respected role as a steady veteran defenseman, someone who has overcome significant adversity to win a championship and establish himself as a reliable depth player. His journey from disgruntled Sabre to Cup champion to respected veteran represents a success story of perseverance and professional maturity.

Kane, meanwhile, remains one of hockey’s most polarizing figures. His undeniable talent and offensive production stand in stark contrast to the numerous off-ice issues that have followed him throughout his career. His ability to continue finding opportunities despite repeated controversies speaks both to his skill level and the willingness of teams to overlook character concerns when talent is involved.

What the future holds for the final former Atlanta Thrashers players still active in the NHL

As the 2025-26 season progresses, both Bogosian and Kane face uncertain futures. At 35 years old, Bogosian is in the final year of his contract with Minnesota and is realistically approaching the end of his NHL career. His role has diminished to limited third-pairing minutes, though his veteran presence and championship experience remain valuable assets in a locker room. Whether he receives another contract or decides to retire at the end of this season remains to be seen, but the reality is that his time in the NHL is running short.

Kane, at 34, theoretically has more runway remaining in his career, but his injury history and the mounting miles on his body raise questions about how much longer he can maintain NHL-level performance. His contract with Vancouver runs through the 2025-26 season, after which he’ll become a free agent. Given his controversial past, securing another contract may prove challenging unless he can demonstrate both health and productivity with the Canucks while avoiding further off-ice incidents.

Within the next few years, perhaps sooner, the NHL will no longer have any active players who wore an Atlanta Thrashers uniform. The franchise will exist only in highlight reels, record books, and the memories of fans who supported hockey in Georgia. For a franchise that struggled to find its identity and ultimately failed in its market, this fading away seems somehow fitting—a quiet disappearance rather than a dramatic exit.

The stories of these final former Atlanta Thrashers players still active in the NHL serve as reminders of hockey’s transient nature. Players who once represented the future of a franchise have become the last links to its past. Young prospects become veterans, then elder statesmen, then retirees, and eventually legends of a bygone era. For Bogosian and Kane, their Atlanta roots are now just a footnote in much longer, more complex careers that have taken them across North America and through every high and low the NHL can offer.