The Atlanta Thrashers ownership horde, the Atlanta Spirit, met with a group interested in keeping the team in Atlanta on Monday, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Chris Vivlamore. That's after True North had already begun negotiating with the ASG, of course, and as we know, TNSE has been angling for the Thrashers for some time now. Thus, as Vivlamore notes, time is of the essence.

The fact that the NHL is already working on contingency 2011-12 season schedules for both possible results of the Winnipeg negotiation might actually be a good thing for Thrashers fans. I am not a lawyer or whatever I would need to be to accurately determine this, but since a team must show it made its best effort to sell local before it can be allowed to move, the lack of a schedule-enforced deadline might give any potential Atlanta groups more time to rally support.

Just a thought.

For more Thrashers, join Bird Watchers Anonymous. For more hockey, visit SB Nation's NHL hub.