Regarding 3rd Jerseys Part 4

Part 1 can be found here.
Part 2 (Atlantic Division) here.
Part 3 (Northeast 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 Southeast Division

Atlanta Thrashers

The Thrashers unveiled their powder blue jerseys in 2003 and reaction the them has always been mixed. The team however staked the franchise on them in 2006 and made them the official home jerseys creating a strange combination of light and darks which use two different main color themes. Light blue being dominant on one, and practically non-existant on the other. Their current Edge design varies slightly from last years model but overall has the same basic appearance.

To me these jerseys are something of an enigma, they seem to break so many rules but in the end they work. In fact they work so well that they are a welcome addition to a league dominated by about 5 standard colors. Even the word "Atlanta" down one sleeve, with no TV number, a style that has no regard for being symmetrical and a bizarre dark line running down the stitching on one side can't ruin the fact that they actually look good on the ice. They are original and certainly added to the Thrashers identity as a team and remain one of the true success stories of a third jersey.

Atlanta being a relatively new club can go anywhere with a third jersey, I imagine they will probably bring out something dark blue if and when they release a third jersey. As for the design, well, I hope they succeed in being as creative as they were with the powder blue one.

Carolina Hurricanes
As previously mentioned the Hurricanes are one of three teams that have never used a third jersey. Why? I have no clue. In a way they should be applauded for this because they could very easily have just put out a matching black jersey using the same pattern but resisted the temptation to do so. They could have also come up with something off-the-wall for the sake of merchandising...but they didn't.

It's hard to say what they would do for a third jersey if it was imposed upon them to have one. Odds are it would be a black version, otherwise your guess is as good as mine...

Florida Panthers

If you are unaware of the Florida Panthers strange uniform history then you are not alone. At first it all seems rather normal, then you take a closer look and realize that all is a bit more confusing.

First off the Panthers added the blue version of their uniform (using the same style as their red and whites) in 1998. However, there was one major difference that made them stand out besides the color. The once bare-pawed panther crest was now breaking a hockey stick. This strange change was never incorporated into their other jerseys, and why it is that the team chose to use it on one jersey and not the others truly boggles the mind. It doesn't in any way actually ruin the logo, but it doesn't exactly add anything to it either. It's a lateral move that seems kind of unnecessary considering it's already fairly obvious that they are a hockey team and adding a stick seems much too cliche. (I find this to be redundant with any sports team that incorportates equipment from the sport into their logos. The Penguins get away with it, but the Sharks and Thrashers don't need it. I'll get to the Ducks later, but they were the worst criminals when it came to this type of thing...)

Now, things get even stranger in 2003 because Florida decided to make their blue alternates their main home jersey and instead of creating a new third jersey simply moved their red ones to that position. (Which is essentially what the Flyers should have done when they made their blacks their main jerseys...instead they just got rid of the orange.) So, what about the stick? Yes, they took the stick away from the panther on the blue jerseys and put it on the red jerseys officially signifying the change of status.

The Panthers do not have the stick included with their new jerseys this year, in case you were wondering, Which makes one question it's return on a future third jersey which will more than likely be a red version of their current set (since they opted for blue for their roads.)

Tampa Bay Lightning

Ugghhh...remember these? So do I unfortunately. The Lightning wore these for three seasons starting in 1996, and let me just say their removal from the team's uniform set for the 1999-00 season was nothing to mourn.

In just the way Atlanta succeeded with something outlandish and different the Lightning failed miserably. Whatever look they were trying to achieve with these...well...it didn't happen. The crest on the front looks remarkably out of place, the actual jersey "pattern" involving a one dimentional storm scene over waves just looks wrong...and the bolts of firey lighting on the sleeves makes them look freakish. I could go into the frazzled font...but that would just be beating a dead horse. In any case these were the one and only third jersey ever used by the team and I'd stake my life on the fact that we will never see them again. (Thank goodness...)

If we are to see a Lightning third jersey again my guess is that it will be something rather conservative and probably involve blue as a main color. Don't expect them to use their alternate logo with the Florida state outline as the main crest however, because that may get it into their heads to use it permanently on their other jerseys as well...which would be the smart thing to do. Who knows, considering the name they could do just about anything on a third jersey involving lightning bolts. I just hope they consider that the players will actually have to wear them on the ice before they start manufacturing them.

Washington Capitals

In 1995 the Capitals ditched the red, white and blue as well as their logo and the jersey style they had for more than two decades. Now, a lot of people loved these jerseys. Granted they took some time to get used to but people actually complain about their return to their text logo and orignal colors. I am not one of those people. I always had a serious dislike for the blue and black jerseys (not to mention their logo(s) and worst of all their choice of fonts) and was thrilled when they brought back their old appearance this year. For once I think a lot of fans got what they wanted and a lot of credit can be given to their new owner who is very concious of what the fans want to see.

In 1997 the team brought out their black alternate using what is not so lovingly referred to as the "squashed bug" logo. Once again I have to go back to the incorporation of hockey equipment in a hockey logo. Not only two sticks but a puck as well in this case. I could make a case for not using a wordmark in a logo, unless the logo is the wordmark, but since the team has since ditched these jerseys it would be fruitless. In 2000 the Capitals made this jersey their main home jersey and thereby being one of the few teams that had two completely different logos on their home and away jerseys. Something that drives me crazy, I think only Minnesota and Nashville are still doing this. Since 2000 the team has not had a third jersey.

Now, the Capitals are a strange case when it comes to what they may unveil in the future. They could very easily bring back their original jerseys as a vintage/heritage/third jersey. But, you run into the problem of the team using two logos that look only slightly different. (I'm all for it, but from a marketing stand point things get confusing.) More than likely they will bring about a jersey that is a nod to their past and somehow uses some of the features of their old jerseys. Possibly the stars and white shoulders. Truly a tough call considering their current identity is less than a year old.


Next up the Central Division...
Part 5 can be found here