Regarding 3rd Jerseys Part 3

Part 1 can be found here.
Part 2 (Atlantic Division) here.

Intro
To continue the saga of third jerseys and if, when, and how they will return to the NHL - the rest of this series will focus on the jerseys we have seen in the past, as well some speculation and critique as to what we may see in the future.

All images are linked to the originals from Webshots.com, the majority of these are game worn and are part of individual's collections.

The Northeast Division

Boston Bruins

Boston used heritage jerseys on a number of occasions after third jerseys came about. Most notably the white Bobby Orr style.

In 1995 the Bruins brought out their now rather infamous Pooh Bear jerseys. They were far and away the biggest departure the team had ever made from their standard look. They are probably the most famous of the third jerseys released during the first year of their existance in the NHL and the Bruins would keep them as part of their set for 10 years. Finally abandoning them in 2006 and replacing them with the vintage jersey used originally between 1967-74. To be honest I have mixed thoughts about the bear jerseys. Yes, they are experimental and "fun", but they look a little too amateur. I have no problems with them using the bear logo instead of the B, but the Bruins patches on the shoulder seem very forced and the fur or bite marks (or whatever they are) just seem strange. With that said, somehow they worked on the ice and gained quite a bit of popularity.

The current jerseys the Bruins are wearing are not actually a style they have worn in the past. They are a mesh of a number of different type that were worn by the team in the 70's. However, one could draw the conclusion that their design was probably based on fan reaction to the third jersey used in the 2006-07 season as well as the heritage jerseys they had worn in the past. The fact that they changed their alternate jerseys the year before the switch to the Edge jerseys is something that leads you to believe that it was something of a litmus test.

The Bruins could use just about any jersey from before 1975 as a third jersey, however since their standard set now bares such a close resemblance to older jerseys they'd have to pick one from before Orr joined the team to really have them stand out. I'd personally vouch for the brown and yellow jerseys they wore when Eddie Shore was on the team. I don't think they've ever worn them, and their alternate logo is close enough to the crest used on them that it wouldn't be a huge departure.

Buffalo Sabres

In 1996 the Sabres did the unthinkable, they changed their logo, colors and jerseys leaving a lot of people scratching their heads and wondering what on earth the owners were thinking. I for one never really understood it, and a lot of people started petitions to bring back the blue and yellow. Eventually they would, courtesy of a new owner who made good on the promise...although we all know what happened next.

Buffalo's first third jersey was introduced in 2000, and to describe it in one word I would say "uninspired". They remind me of a roller hockey jersey and really do nothing to further the team's identity. The alternate logo seems empty and lacking. The fact that it says "Buffalo" in the stripe on the front doesn't help matters. It looks like it was thrown in as an after thought so that the jersey had more going on. Eight other teams had red jerseys which left these completely without merit.

In 2006, as we all know, the Sabres returned to blue and gold. Many had hoped for a return to the original jerseys that trademarked the team for more than 20 years, however the new owners went in a different direction and brought out what would be forever known as the buffaslug. Perhaps one of the most passionately hated logos and uniforms in the NHL. As what could only be considered a gesture of good will the team used their original blue uniforms as a third jersey last year. With one small, and quite unnecessary, addition: numbers on the front of the jerseys. I can only make the assumption that this was done to distinguish them from older jerseys.

As has been shown third jerseys are often a testing ground for uniform changes and have on a number of occasions become the teams standard set. If Buffalo had done this I think they would have found out that the slug was a no go and that people obviously favored the traditional uniforms. Alas, perhaps contract or stubbornness dictates it, we are stuck with the slug. I'm not sure how many people out there actually like these jerseys but a fondness for the logo itself doesn't seem too prevalent. I personally wish they would just admit defeat and go back to the old jerseys entirely. Ditch the new logo and uniforms and listen to reason (and the fans). Chances of this happening are probably slim, in which case at least have both the home and road versions available for use next year and wear them often. (Just get rid of the numbers on the front...)

Montreal Canadiens

One of those most iconic uniforms in sports the Canadiens have made no truly major changes to their jerseys in their near 100 year existance. (With the execption of the jersey to the right.) They also chose to stick with tradition when it came to having a third jersey which they added in 2002. Originally a heritage jersey it has been used in regular rotation and was slightly updated to incorporate three colored numbers. The particular style was actually the team's road uniforms, used for only three years, between 1944-47, and is essentially the only other jersey the team has ever worn besides their main set that they still wear today.

I don't think the Canadiens will ever change their uniforms. The team is so steeped in history and tradition that even a slight change would cause a massive outcry of dissapointment. In the case of a third jersey their only true option is too use the one that they had before this season. I don't think there would be any bitter complaints if they brought it back.

Ottawa Senators

The Senators introduced their first third jersey in 1998. It incorporated not just a new design but also a new crest involving a more stylized and two-dimensional senator. They updated it again this year. After just one season Ottawa made these their main jersey and in 2000 added a new third jersey in black using the laurel leaves it also used the alternate font found on the red jerseys. These were used up until last year.

It's hard to say what Ottawa would/could do with a third jersey. They changed their overall design this year as well as their alternate logo. It would be strange to see them use a style they've already had since they returned to the NHL in 1992, in which case they'd more or less have to come up with a completely new design or look to their far far past and bring back the barberpole that is currently used by the Ottawa 67's. It's kind of strange that they have never once used those as a heritage jersey.

I'd personally be interested in seeing a barberpole jersey, but they could be disastrous as the amount of striping doesn't translate well onto jerseys of the non-sweater variety. (As in the jerseys the Blackhawks wore in 1991-92, they look great but something just seems kind of strange when the names are added to them.) If you really want to read into things the use of the original "O" emblem may be a sign of what's to come. Although the 2007-08 season marks their 15th anniversary, next year marks the 90th anniversary of the league which may herald some more focus on the league's long history of uniforms. We shall see...

Toronto Maple Leafs

On a number of occasions the Leafs have worn jerseys from their past including one night when they wore the Toronto St. Pats green jerseys in honor of the team's anniversary. The also wore vintage jerseys in 1996-97 which were based on their first uniform design after coming into the league. These did not include nameplates and are perhaps the only example of this in the modern era.

The teams first true third jersey was based on another design from their history and were first used in 1998-99, disappeared, then came back again in 2000-01 and were used until last year. They use both the same style and logo used by the team between 1958-1967.

Alot of people have complained about the new Leafs jerseys being too boring. But, if you look at the past Toronto has always been rather conservative with their uniforms. They use a minimal amount of striping and it makes their jerseys look like traditional hockey sweaters have always looked. If they come out with a third jersey that actually incorporates a design that strays away from this I'd be amazed. They can't really go too wrong by using anything from their past, and I think the use of the old Leaf is almost mandatory on any alternate jersey at this point since it reflects so much more of the team's history.


Next up is the Southeast Division...where things have been kind of crazy...
Part 4 can be found here.