Away from the scoreboard, the Kings have been leading the Thrashers from day one.
In their 11-year existence, Atlanta has had seven captains - including three former Kings.
At the time Kelly Buchberger was named their first captain, he had yet to play in LA. However, he served as the Oilers captain for the prior four seasons and why they made him available in the expansion draft is a bit of a mystery. Nonetheless, his jersey included the 'C" when the Thrashers began play in 1999 and he rewarded the team by scoring the first goal in franchise history (against Bobby Holik's New Jersey Devils, more on that later).
Just 68 games into his career in hot-lanta he was traded to Los Angeles (along with Nelson Emerson) for Donald Audette and Frantisek Kaberle.
Adding Buchberger was a key piece to the Kings three year stretch of post-season play. He was allowed to leave as a free agent in the summer of 2002 and until this past April, the Kings hadn't participated in the playoffs since.
Back to the Thrashers...Steve Staios wore the 'C' in Atlanta the following season and then it went to Ray Ferraro.
