The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Hockey_League" id="mwAQI" rel="mw:WikiLink" title="National Hockey League">National Hockey League</a> approved expansion franchises for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nashville_Predators" id="mwAQM" rel="mw:WikiLink" title="Nashville Predators">Nashville</a> (1998), <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlanta_Thrashers" id="mwAQQ" rel="mw:WikiLink" title="Atlanta Thrashers">Atlanta</a> (1999), <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbus_Blue_Jackets" id="mwAQU" rel="mw:WikiLink" title="Columbus Blue Jackets">Columbus</a> (2000), and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_Wild" id="mwAQY" rel="mw:WikiLink" title="Minnesota Wild">Minneapolis-Saint Paul</a> (2000).