[kirant]

Originally Posted by alan21

Was there a denial from the Thrashers before they were moved?

I don't remember if there was anything before this, but the final days in Atlanta had the team's ownership openly admit they were looking for new investors for the team (January 2011?). I believe the ownership came straight out and admitted they were selling and the move was clear after sale to True North.

Edit - As per Wikipedia:

On May 16, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that talks for a sale to True North Sports & Entertainment were underway.[14] According to The Globe and Mail, a deal was finalized on May 20, 2011, to relocate the team to Winnipeg.[15] The League later denied the report, but acknowledged that advanced negotiations between the two teams were underway and that NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman supported the move.[16] Draft schedules were prepared that accommodated for the team's move to Winnipeg,[17] as True North sought to move the American Hockey League (AHL) team that played in Manitoba, eventually moving that team to St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, in Atlantic Canada.[18]

On May 31, 2011, True North Sports & Entertainment and the NHL held a press conference in Winnipeg to announce the completion of a deal to purchase the Thrashers. True North intended to relocate the team to the MTS Centre in Winnipeg and on June 21, 2011, both the sale and relocation of the team were formally approved by the NHL's Board of Governors. The Atlanta Spirit Group, however, retained the rights and logos for the Thrashers.[19] The Thrashers' website was shut down soon after.