ESPN doesn’t know Atlanta Thrashers aren’t Nashville Predators (Video)

ESPN analyst LZ Granderson confused the Nashville Predators with the Winnipeg Jets, who actually once were the Atlanta Thrashers.

The Nashville Predators used to be the Atlanta Thrashers and won’t be back to the Stanley Cup Final anytime soon. This, according to ESPN expert hockey analyst LZ Granderson.

No wonder that Nashville fan missed out on his Stanley Cup tickets. He thought the games were being played in Atlanta.

So much is wrong with this. Let’s start with the obvious: the Predators were never the Atlanta Thrashers. The Predators have always been the Nashville Predators. They were an expansion team, not a relocation team. The Thrashers became the current Winnipeg Jets. There’s also the old Winnipeg Jets, but they became the Phoenix Coyotes. NHL teams do a lot of moving.

My favorite part is that LZ is so sure of himself when he says it. “I used to follow them as the Atlanta Thrashers,” he proclaimed more confident than P.K. Subban guaranteeing a Game 3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Then there’s clowning a team because they’ve made one Stanley Cup Final in their 15-years history, so says Granderson. They’ve also made one Stanley Cup Final in the last year, which is something only one other team can say. The Predators have been a playoff team for the last three seasons and have made the postseason 10 times in their 18, not 15, year history. They’re built to compete for the Cup for at least the next five years.

Unless they get moved to Atlanta. Then all bets are off.

In fairness to LZ, he did apologize after the commercial break for his mistake. He also went on Twitter to laugh at himself.

https://twitter.com/Locs_n_Laughs/status/887416294198263808

It’s ok, LZ. Nashville fans would rather you talk about their team than Mike Milbury.

Next: Predators front office starting to stir

If ESPN didn’t have a reputation for hating hockey, this would still be funny. But their lack of NHL coverage just makes it all worse.