Regarding 3rd Jerseys Part 7

Part 1 can be found here.
Part 2 (Atlantic Division) here.
Part 3 (Northeast Division) here.
Part 4 (Southeast Division) here.
Part 5 (Central Division) here.
Part 6 (Northwest 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 End
This will conclude the overview of all the past 3rd jerseys the NHL has seen over the last 12 or so years, as well as my random thoughts on what's to come. Whenever the NHL officially green lights the resurrection of the third jersey program all of the crazy speculation and guesses can begin.

The Pacific Division

Mighty Ducks of Anaheim

That sound you hear is me rubbing my hands together as I prepare to partake in one of my favorite hobbies - nailing on a certain Disney owned NHL franchise that no longer exists. (I consider the non-Mighty Ducks of today a completely different animal with no connections to their sordid past.)

Not surprisingly, considering they were owned by a corporate giant that thrived on merchandise sales, the Mighty Ducks had quite a few third jerseys. Their first, and by far their most famous, was thrust upon the world in 1996. Simply referred to as the "Wild Wing jersey", that is the name of the mascot, these...how do I say this politely...were definitely an example of what happens when you let a cartoon studio run an NHL team. Now, there are proponents of these, however I like to think that their admiration for this particular jersey comes out of morbid fascination rather than actual aesthetic respect for what's going on here. Which is: A duck wearing goalie pads, Wild Wing, sporting a duck - Wild Wing again - logo on a jersey, is popping out of the ice on the front of a Ducks jersey - referred to as the Wild Wing jersey....duck. If you wanted to beat a dead horse you could mention the use of the kidprint font, but I think that is a mute point considering one never really gets past the super hero goalie duck aspect of things. The only way I will ever have an ounce of respect for these is if someone can present me with some footage of someone dropping the gloves wearing them - and then getting trounced by the opponent. I'm not criticizing you Anaheim fans here, I'm saying you people deserved something better than this. If Disney wanted to sell jerseys like this they could have made D4 and had Emilio Estevez wear one, not poor Paul Kariya.

The Wild Wing jerseys would sadly only last the one year. The following season, as if out of ideas, the team didn't have a third jersey. However, to make up for some lost time they somehow managed to have not just a third jersey, but even a fourth(!) for the 1997-98 season. I didn't even know a team could do that. They would actually have both in circulation until the 1999-2000 season when the jade one was dropped. In 2001 the white version was also dropped and the Ducks would actually play without a third jersey up till 2003.

Now these jerseys, the white and eggplant ones, weren't really all that terrible when it comes down to it. They were certainly less over the top than Wild Wing and easily could have replaced the Ducks regular jerseys. I'd be interested in knowing what sales of them were like, and how much the fans looked forward to seeing them, since they really weren't a huge departure in any direction. It's almost as if the league had said to Disney, "Look guys, we're willing to forgive you the last third jersey you had, even give you a fourth, just please don't make a mockery of the sport of hockey with them. Keep it simple."

When it was discovered that adults had taken to the Harry Potter books the publishers put out versions with more mature looking covers to give them a slightly more dignified look as opposed to the illustrated kids covers. In much the same way the Ducks came out with what would have to have been their most "respectable" jersey in 2003. First of all it was black, which wasn't even one of the Ducks official colors. The Ducks cartoon logo was no place to be seen, a new MD monogram logo was used on the shoulders and the crest featured a baseball like word mark. Even the jade was gone. The striping was traditional and even featured a laced collar. It was an interesting manouver to say the least, and gained some popularity amongst the fans and it certainly made them look like a hockey team on the ice. The team would wear them in their last two seasons of play before the new owners came in and started to clean house - changing the logo, the colors, the team name, and becoming the first California based team to win a Stanley Cup. Something which had been in the making for nigh on 40 years. The non-mighty Anaheim Ducks have not had a third jersey, and what they would bring out if the opportunity presented itself is anyone's guess. All one can say for certain is that it will be of no resemblance to anything the Disney franchise ever brought the NHL world.

Dallas Stars

The Stars well known star jersey actually started as a third jersey during the 1997-98 season, at the time Dallas was still wearing the same style they had inherited from Minnesota before the move. One doesn't even need to mention the importance for the team to create it's own identity and look to understand why they came about. Nor does one need to question why the team made them their official jerseys just 2 years later when they added a white counterpart. To me they always seemed like the jerseys the team should have had from the beginning. I mean what better way to incorporate the name into the look? How about what better way not to incorporate a team name into a look - which brings us to the infamous mooterus.

Before the buffaslug, there was the mooterus. (Which, if you are puzzled here, is the combination of two words that describe what the logo on the jersey looks like.) Now, the actual jerseys themselves aren't that bad. They are a bit more colorful than the home and aways with the use of red, and stars on the sleeves are nice, the text and numbers are identical to the others, so what is it that is so unappealing about these? A mere mention of them will provoke a negative response in anyone familiar with them. In fact, they would only last two seasons (2003-04 and 2005-06), before being sent to the jersey boneyard.

The most obvious reason behind their failure is that they were trying too hard to be something other than a Dallas Stars jersey. They looked like another team's jersey. They didn't use the Stars crest, they used a longhorn or bull or steer in combination with what was seemingly a constellation of the animal (your choice) plus a slug like star streaking around the side like a comet. It was too busy, too confusing, and unnecessary. Oh and yes, the fact that it was constantly (and still is) referred to as the mooterus obviously didn't help matters.

Whatever Dallas does with a third jersey in the future you can put everything you own on that it won't be the return of their last alternate. More than likely they will bring out something completely new and hopefully make more use of the color green.

Los Angeles Kings

Another classic that came out of the first season of third jerseys, and would sadly not live past it. The Kings famous, and now highly sought after, Burger King style jerseys were nothing short of jaw dropping. With not only gradients and arcing rings, they also featured non matching sleeves, the Kings crest on the shoulders, and a font that was anything but conducive for being on a sports jersey. But, most noticable of all was the oddly placed king logo on the front. (To make things just a little odder, Los Angeles wouldn't actually bring purple back to the teams uniforms for another three years.) If you can find a Gretzky game worn version of this jersey you'll probably be able to sell it for a mint (or at least early retirement) in about 20 years.

After the switch back to purple (or plum if you want to be more precise) the Kings brought out their second third jersey in 1999. Similar to the home and away jerseys in all respects, except for the main use of purple, the only real difference here was the switching of the main and alternate logos. I guess the Kings liked this switch, since they would actually make the strange decision to do the same with their home and away jerseys in 2002, at which point their third jersey (still the purple one) switched back to their original logo use. (If that was hard to follow see the two purple jerseys to the right.) Things would stay like this till this season, and the team currently uses the crown logo as the crest.

I have to say I like the Kings new jerseys, and I like the fact that they are using the simpler of the two logos. I've never been a huge fan of the words "Los Angeles" on the jersey itself, but it does make them stand out. For a third jersey I can imagine them simply going back to the purple one they've had in the past, otherwise they've always got the old yellow and purple ones from the 70's and 80's or, if they can deal with it, the black and silver from the Gretzky era.


Phoenix Coyotes

The one Coyotes venture into third jersey land came with these classics between 1998 and 2003 (when they switched logos and colors.) Now, I'm all for a team using their location when it comes to creating a look and itentity, however there is a line that one shouldn't cross. Unfortunately the Coyotes not only crossed it they seemingly backed up about 50 feet and took a running jump over it. (Possibly a triple jump.) Yes, they look "cool", and they're "neat. And, if it was the NBA, well, be my guest. But, I really think that having an established or at least respectable appearance on the ice goes a long way for not only the team but also the face of the sport and the NHL. Granted the other two jerseys the Coyotes were wearing at this same period of time probably weren't doing much for this either, but at least they lacked cacti. Now, after my negative diatribe there I will proceed to give the Coyotes two positive (warm fuzzy) comments regarding these jerseys. First of all they were predominately green, which is a color which is slowly becoming extinct as a main color in not just the NHL but practically all major sports. And two, the secondary logo they used was actually better than their primary, which may have attributed to the current look of their main logo.

All in all the original Coyotes jerseys were just too busy to be taken seriously. I like what they've got now for the exact opposite reasons. They now look like a serious franchise and a dignified team capable of winning the Stanley Cup. (Or at least looking good on the ice.) Which, with all of the problems Phoenix has had over the years is at least something to be proud of.

Third jerseys for the future? Absolutely no idea, would be kind of nice to see them use that light-tan color in the logo as a main color, since no one else ever has. (Dallas almost did, but that idea was shelved after the first replicas went on sale.)

San Jose Sharks

The first third jersey for the Sharks came out in 1997, and it would become the teams main jersey style the following season with the addition of a white version. Compared to the original Sharks jerseys these were pretty farfetched, however when they became the standard ones they worked well for the team. They added a bit more personality to their look and gave them a bit more of an aquatic and shark-like feel. The team would go 5 years before adding another third jersey to their uniform set, and it would be...you guessed it....black.

Not only was it black, it was nearly entirely black. The striping was bare minimum with just two bands on each sleeve, and the only other color was in the shoulder patches. The thing is, they looked really good on the ice. Especially with the black pants and helmet. (They even had black socks, and more than likely most players had black skates.) Yes, everyone has a black jersey, but these Sharks looked really black, and that in itself was something different.

Of course now everything has changed, the team has updated their logo for the first time, introduced a new alternate logo for the shoulders, added orange to their colors and brought out a much more conventional looking jersey this season. The likes of which San Jose hasn't had in 10 years. There are many nay sayers out there, but I think the team actually deserves some credit for not only coming up with a nice streamlined look but also one that looks back at the traditional hockey sweater instead of looking for the next gimmick. They could of course do whatever for a third jersey now, hopefully not anything too over the top and hopefully not anything too orange. But, I imagine that when we do see alternate jerseys again the Sharks will be one of the first to bring one out. (Or one of the last, as the case with the Edge jerseys was.)

Conclusion
Well, that covers all 30 teams, now only time will tell what becomes of the whole third jersey idea. Perhaps we will never see them again, maybe they'll be back next year, maybe in 2009. Maybe everyone will have one, maybe just a few teams. Instead of new jerseys we may just see vintage ones, or maybe they'll be no heritage or vintage jerseys whatsoever. Only Reebok and the NHL know at this point.

All I can truly say is, I hope that they return in a civilized manner and not one entirely focused on easy money and a cheap show.

Regarding 3rd Jerseys Part 6

Part 1 can be found here.
Part 2 (Atlantic Division) here.
Part 3 (Northeast Division) here.
Part 4 (Southeast Division) here.
Part 5 (Central 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 Northwest Division

Calgary Flames

The Flames have an interesting history with third jerseys. Their first, introduced in 1998, was the black one using their new horse logo (it's not a dragon) and featured a completely different design than the jersey they were currently wearing (at the time they had the ones with the diagonal stripes on the front as well the sleeves), even the fonts used were different. You probably wouldn't even have known it was a Flames jersey if it weren't for the flaming C's on the shoulders. This particular jersey would be their alternate till 2000 at which point it became their main dark jersey and a white version in the same style using the traditional crest in red with the horse logo on the shoulders was introduced as it's counterpart. (So, yes, they became yet another team to use two totally different logos on each jersey.)

The black jersey would be their main jersey until 2003, when it was relegated back to third jersey status when the team introduced the red version which featured the black Flames logo. Not sure many other teams ever really did this, introduce a new jersey and move an existing jersey to the alternate. After the 2005-06 season they dropped the black jersey all together and did not use an alternate of any sorts in the season before the change over to the Edge templates.

Hard to say really, the Flames can always dust off the original Calgary sweaters a la Lanny McDonald. They did win their only cup wearing them in 88-89 (20 years ago next season...), so I hope they make at least a guest appearance at some point next season. Other than that they could do just about anything, bring back the horse, use a white C on a black jersey, use the flag for the city of Calgary...

Colorado Avalanche

The Avalanche introduced their one, and only, third jersey in 2001. From everything I've heard and read it has always been a fan favorite out in those parts and people seem to regret it's dissapearance this season. Who knows, maybe it will be back next season, it's certainly simple enough to easily translate onto the new template. (I make the assumption that the mountain tops weren't.)

Now, before I say this: understand that my opinion doesn't matter - it's just an opinion and all that really matters is what fans of the team think, BUT I cannot stand diagonal city/team names on NHL jerseys. The Rangers get away with it since that is what they have always used, but when other teams do it it relegates the whole look to that of a college team. Colgate can do it, or Wisconsin, even NMU could get away with it, but not NHL teams. When Pittsburgh did it in the 90's I think it should have been a warning to everyone else, but...I guess the Avalanche missed that phone call. The jersey itself looks nice, and yes it is supposed to be "old time hockey" but I can just never get over the awkward text on the front. However, as I said, the fans loved it.

For all I know there is a debate somewhere in a Denver skyrise going on right now about whether or not to create something new that evokes the spirit of the Avalanche and the state of Colorado - or to bring back the third jerseys of yore. Either way someone's going to be happy and someone's going to be dissapointed...that's just the way it goes.

Edmonton Oilers

In 2001 the Oilers brought out their infamous third jersey which was designed by co-owner of the team Todd McFarlane (who is also the creator of the highly successful Spawn comic book character and series). The jerseys, not without some serious critics and a little controversy, would become the most popular and best selling in the league.

Without orange, or copper, and featuring a crest that - at first glance - bares no resemblance to anything Oilers related, it's not hard to understand where the critics were coming from. But, as it was mighty popular and sold very well, there isn't a whole lot that need be said to defend it. The fact that the team never made any hints at replacing the standard Oilers look with it certainly didn't hurt it's appeal either.

Edmonton would use this as an alternate for 6 years (up until last season), so conceivably if the the league brings back third jerseys next season we could see it return. (Although I think the team needs to clean up their current jerseys a bit before they focus on another one.) Otherwise, there is always the iconic Cup era jerseys from the 1980's.


Minnesota Wild

Contrary to what one might think these didn't actually become part of the team's uniform set until 2003-04. And, as you can tell by the fact that they are the teams main road jersey now, they were popular and did well to define what the team was going for identity wise. Critics will say that they use a different crest and, well, completely different style and look compared with their away jersey...but what can you do. They look good on the ice, they certainly mean hockey when you see them - and hey this is Minnesota - so all in all you can't help but call them a success from the third jersey standpoint. They are actually the only third jersey that made the transition to the Edge style this season.

The real cause for panic here is: what on earth would the Wild do for a third jersey in the future? Create something else that looks old fashioned? Bring back the green version of their current away jersey? Make a white version of this one? If you said "none of the above" then you might also be right.

Vancouver Canucks

The Canucks jerseys here are game worn and not replicas.

The Canucks were in on the third jersey game from the beginning, and they definitely took the whole idea to heart when they brought these out in 1996. At the time they were wearing the black/white jerseys with the simple hem and sleeve stripes, this particular jersey was certainly in stark contrast to that look - and well just about every other in the league. The true innovators of the "fabric gradient" this was their first of two attempts. This one being the more advanced since it inolved a gradient that blended into stripes on both the front and back - as well as one of the sleeves. I'm guessing people liked these, since someone seems to always defend them when any amount of criticism is offered. I for one find the whole look appalling, however when weighed with some of the other third jerseys of the same time period it becomes slightly less so. The yellow names and numbers on top of red (and the gradient) almost makes you dizzy. These were rather short lived and dissapeared after the 1996-97 season when the Canucks switched logos and color schemes (again).

After three years without a third jersey Vancouver brought out "fabric gradient" model number two. (Even more highly defended than number one.) This one involved the slightly more traditional (if the term can be used) gradient pattern of simply two colors fading into one another. More unconventional was the use of the curved hem on the bottom of the jerseys that is now common place around the league with the new Edge designs. (As mentioned in a previous entry, Nashville was the other team doing this with their third jerseys at the time.) One might also point out the strange use of piping/stripes that connect the sleeves to the shoulders at 45 degree angles. I won't try and kid you, I never understood these jerseys. I still don't. They would last four seasons (five if you count the lockout year).

Now if two different jerseys involving a gradient with two different color schemes and logos wasn't enough, things get just a little stranger in the 2005-06 season. During that year the Canucks, while still using their red and blue third jersey, brought back their blue and green jerseys that they used between 1972-78 as a heritage jersey. Reception to seeing it again after so many other uniform styles during the course of more than 25 years must have been good, since they adopted it as their official third jersey for the 2006-07 season. Thus becoming the only other team, besides say Toronto and Montreal, to use an older jersey style (even with an old logo) as an official alternate. The Canucks get even more credit since it used a completely different color scheme as well. They were even more embraced now that fans saw more of them and rumors began to fly about the team adopting them as their official uniform style with the change over to the Edge jerseys this season.

This would, unfortunately, not be the case. The colors and even the patterns were retained from the 70's however the fonts and logos were not. (The stick and rink C is however used as a shoulder patch.) The orca's colors were tweeked, their traditional font style was altered to Agency, and the word Vancouver was slapped over the front of the jerseys as a wave to the team's pre-NHL existance. Sadly, while the Canucks retain their current uniforms they will be hard pressed to find a reason to wear the old green and blue ones. The only real difference would be the altering of the crest and I think that would come across as saying, "What, you guys like these better?" And if they really haven't heard the fans response to that question yet, then I think they'd rather not hear it when they specifically come out and ask for it.

Now, with all of that said about the Canucks, what are they going to do next year or whenever it is they decide to reinstate the third jersey program. Will they:
a) Come up with something completely different?
b) Yellow, black and red?
c) Red and blue?
d) Same jerseys different crest?
e) Even older jersey style with V's on the sleeves?
f) Johnny Canuck?
g) New color scheme and logo?
h) New jerseys across the board?
i) New jerseys without the word "Vancouver" and a green alternate?
j) Norman Mailer
k) All of the above.

Next up the Pacific Division...and all 37 Mighty Ducks 3rd jerseys...
Part 7 can be found here.

Regarding 3rd Jerseys Part 5

Part 1 can be found here.
Part 2 (Atlantic Division) here.
Part 3 (Northeast Division) here.
Part 4 (Southeast 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 Central Division

Detroit Red Wings

Detroit is one of the three NHL teams never to have used a third jersey. This is probably all for the best because they really would be fighting an uphill battle to come up with anything that would even do justice to the two regular jerseys they have. In fact, during their entire existance in the NHL they have never really strayed from the look they continue to use even into the 2007-08 season.

In 1991-92 (and in one game in 1993-94 against the Blackhawks) they used an alternate jersey in conjunction with the league's 75th anniversary, that jersey (shown to the right) was never actually worn by the Red Wings at any time during their history. It was actually worn by their predecessors the Detroit Cougars in the late 1920's. Presumably if the Red Wings would be forced to bring in an alternate sweater this would probably be it, since it now has some tradition in the city. If they were to go and do anything else I'd be amazed (less it be picking another sweater from from the 20's or 30's). Of course...stranger things have happened...

Chicago Blackhawks

The stranger things happening... The Blackhawks, whose home and away jerseys are just about as iconic as the Red Wings, introduced their black versions in 1996 (and used them till this year). Chicago had at one point during their history actually worn black as their main color (not a stretch considering their name) however those jersey looked nothing like these and did not even incorporate red.

I can't say I have ever really had anything against these, and the fact that they have never even considered replacing their red jerseys with them makes them quite alright. However one does question their value to the team's identity and whether or not wearing a heritage jersey would mean more than simply swapping out the colors to create a third version of their regular uniform.

Personally I'd love to see them bring back the major barberpole action they wore in 91-92 (image to right), I actually knew someone who bought one of these and it was truly something to behold. The Hawks actually wore the style for nearly 20 years, lasting up until the mid-fifties when they changed to the solid red and larger logo. I have no idea what fans of the team think, but I do know that the Blackhawks won a Stanley Cup in the first year they officially wore them and that would be 70 years ago next season...

One way or another Chicago isn't going to dissapoint anyone, enough people like the black jerseys that their return would be welcomed. They are also an Original Six team which means doing anything too brash is pretty much out of the question. Of course they could always go with those black jerseys that don't involve any red, they'd actually look quite good. You can see an image of them here.


Columbus Blue Jackets

The Blue Jackets have been in the league for just just more than 7 years now and in that time they have amassed a ridiculous amount of logos. At last count they had already had 2 different primary logos and 5 different alternate ones. (Goodbye strange bug thing and hello hat.) Their first alternate jersey, which came out in 2003, featured the primary logo they are using now as the crest. I guess the team realized they were onto something since they kept these jerseys until this year and basically styled their new Edge versions after them. Unfortunately without the stars on the sleeves...

Now, I guess it is too much to expect them to incorporate more of the Civil War theme into a third jersey (you know buttons down the front, maybe a collar and felt patches...) so I can only hope that they at least try to use the hat logo they currently have on the shoulder patches. I'm not sure why but I like the idea of a team using something so simple and yet at the same time so historical. Granted it doesn't say anything about hockey, and it's not exactly flashy and menacing, but it defines what a blue jacket is...kind of...well more so than the old CB rollercoaster logo did anyways.

Who knows, Columbus came out this season having some of the nicest jerseys in the league. They were well defined, simple and straight forward. If they can do something along those lines with a third jersey then I'm sure they'll have a hit with the fans. (Just don't bring back that bug thing!)

Nashville Predators

The Nashville Predators brought out jerseys in a color nobody had ever seen before in 2001. Whether the color is technically known as mustard, or not, doesn't really matter since that is the only way people talk about them. Well did, until they were abandoned this season and many, perhaps not all, but many, breathed a sigh of relief.

Now, the strange thing about these jerseys is not just the color but the hemline which is curved like the Edge jerseys. The only other team I can think of that did this was Vancouver who had it on their third jerseys as well. What the significance was I don't know, since they didn't use the same style on their main jerseys. Some people have claimed that this looks better on a pair of jeans and fans like that, but to me that seems a bit trite. At the same time it's as good a theory as any since I can't for the life of me see how it would in any way, shape or form create a better jersey for the players to wear on the ice.

In addition to the hem thing, the Predators also introduced yet another crest with these which meant that they now had a different one on each of their three jerseys. I have never really liked when teams do this and as far as I know hockey is really the only sport that does it. The Predators are doing it this year as well, along with Minnesota, and it kind of drives one mad if you care about the aesthetics of these types of things.

Whether or not we see the return of the mustard next season is up for grabs. I'd say no. We are more than likely going to see something a bit more tame colorwise and perhaps a bit more daring patternwise. All I can say is pick one sabre tooth cat and stay with it.

St. Louis Blues

Most of us are probably aware of the infamous third jersey the St. Louis Blues never wore. If you aren't familiar you can see the design that still makes team owners cringe here. As for the third jersey the team would eventually adopt they played things much more conservatively. One would almost say they played them intelligently. Brought out in 1997 these are one of the very few examples of a team using a white alternate. They were also very much in opposition of the team's main jerseys. Not because they were dramatically different, but because they were dramatically less complicated. (At the time the team was using the diagonal stripes and strangely skewed numbers.)

After one season these became the Blues official home jerseys and the royal blue version debuted as their away jerseys. Now, whether or not the team actually used the 1997-98 season as a way to gauge fan reaction I don't know. If they did then I guess they discovered they had created something more along the lines of what the fans wanted. If that is the case then you have to admit they played the third jersey card in a very nifty way and since then have not even bothered to try another one.

The team did wear their heritage jerseys in 2003-04 (these being from the late 70's/early 80's) and I imagine that they would conceivably draw from their past for any other third jersey they are going to wear in the future. Considering the infamy of the disaster they so narrowly avoided in 1996 one can assume the current owners still don't want to venture into uncharted waters any time too soon. The Blues had great uniforms in the 70's, better than most, so I think people would be happy to see more of them.

Next up the Northwest Division...
Part 6 can be found here.

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

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.

Regarding 3rd Jerseys Part 2

Part 1 can be found 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.

From Part One
In part one of this series I mentioned the desire to see more vintage jerseys used as team's official third jerseys. It would be wise to point out that the NHL had a Heritage Jersey Program (all of the jerseys you see with the V patch on them) and that until this season were used by teams outside of their regular uniform set. The Kings for instance wore both their vintage black and silver, as well as their purple and yellow uniforms in various games between 2000-2007. They never officially had either as a third jersey.

I also touched on the issues regarding whether or not these jerseys would actually be incorporated into the Edge template or whether they would continue to use the CCM model. If the Winter Classic is anything to go on these would be Reebok branded jerseys using the old template and not the Edge one. (The vintage jerseys Buffalo and Pittsburgh are going to wear are being sold on NHL.com if you want to have a look.) Despite the strangeness of having two different jersey styles this is the only logical solution and I applaud them for it....I only wish they were CCM.

Now...looking back at the past.


The Atlantic Division

New Jersey Devils

As mentioned in part one the Devils are one of three teams never to have worn a third jersey of any sort. Conceivably they could wear their old red and green jerseys as a vintage set, although one would have to weigh this against creating a new jersey entirely to add to the team's identity. I was one of those people that made a sort of small squeak of disappointment when the team abandoned green for black since it was all too typical at the time. On the other hand I've always been relatively pleased with the fact that the team has since resisted the temptation to put out a black version of their current jerseys and call that a third.

So, what do you do if you are New Jersey? Well, hopefully you don't create some sort of alternate logo to serve the purpose. The team has been around for 25 years and has survived well enough on one main logo. Bringing in something new at this point would seem extremely forced and unnecessary. I'd personally vouch for using the jerseys they wore for the first 10 years of their existence. Or, if it comes to it, creating a new one that doesn't stray too far from what they currently have.

By the way that is a Brodeur rookie jersey, he did in fact where the number 29 in the 4 games he played with the Devils in 1991-92.

New York Islanders

If we hop over the whole debacle regarding the you-know-what-uniforms involving a particular type of crispy fish snack then the Islanders only had one third jersey. It was introduced in 2002-03 and for the life of me I have never understood it. I don't know what it does to add to the team's appearance or what the pattern is supposed to symbolize. Granted it's original in that no other team has ever had anything similar to it, but what were they going for here?

I can hope that if and when the league introduces third jerseys again that the Islanders don't bring this back. Now that they've strayed away from the iconic look they had during the 80's when they were winning Stanley Cups every other week, they could bring back that look as a third jersey. Think about it, all the people who don't like what they are wearing Edge style can pick up a player's jersey in the version that everyone relates to when they think of Long Island.

New York Rangers

The Rangers first brought out the Statue of Liberty jerseys in 1996, and there is a rather interesting article from The New York Times talking about them before they were ever used. It includes the great quote from Luc Robitalle, 'It's a really cool jersey. They didn't overdo it. Some teams did. I'm not going to name any names.'' Take your pick of who he was referring to...my money would be one his former team the Los Angeles Kings. So, you see, the players do in fact care about what they have to wear on the ice.

The Rangers wore these as a third jersey up until last year, with the exception of the 1998-99 season when they wore the seldom seen white versions. At the time Gretzky was on the team and to seemingly capitalize on the massive sales that surrounded Wayne wherever he played the team wanted to use both the blue and the white. However, and this goes back to what I said in part one about allowing a team a "second set" with both a home and an away version, the NHL had a strict rule about having only one official third jersey. The Rangers opted to use the whites. The following season the blues were back, the whites disappeared and have since become a sought after collectors item.

To be honest I never really had a problem with these. They worked the best when Richter was in goal with the matching helmet but all in all the team succeeded where other's had failed. They were simple, evoked the spirit of the city, weren't overdone and could be seen as being on par with the team's main set. They weren't without their critics, which is understandable, but they could have been much much worse.

I would think that the Rangers could bring these back without any problems next season and a lot of people would probably be happy with that. One thing you don't really mess with are New York's jerseys, so the thought of them creating yet another design is a bit daunting. Take your pick of vintage jerseys to wear...although none of them stray too far from what they've been wearing since they came into the league...except for the brief (and disastrous) departure from the norm between 1976-1978. And even those have a bit of nostalgia now that 30 years has passed.

Pittsburgh Penguins

The Penguins were in on the third jersey game from the start when they introduced what I can only refer to as robo-Penguin in 1995. These, and I am admitting to this, may be one of the few times a team has truly gone experimental and somewhat succeeded. With that said I don't ever want to see gradients used in the NHL ever again. These were popular and they would become the team's official road jersey in the 1997-98 season and remain so until 2002 when another third jersey took their place along with a matching white version.

The jersey in question would be the style the Penguins would eventually maintain until the switch to the Edge jerseys this season. When they went, so did the more stylized version of the Penguin and the original logo became their sole emblem.

The Penguins could easily use any number of classic designs as a third jersey, perhaps the one that stands out the most would be the early 90's one they wore when they won the Stanley Cup fronted by Lemieux. That jersey just screams hockey when you see it. As mentioned all over the place they are wearing their powder blue jerseys from the 70's in the Winter Classic, and if it weren't for the major departure, these would be pretty cool as a third. (The actual style itself was used by the Penguins between 1968 and 1973.) Fan reaction could probably dictate this. My only hope is that they don't come up with anything over stylized if they go for a new look entirely, they have succeeded in creating an identity through simplicity and anything over the top would ruin it. Perhaps they could put the scarf back on the penguin, it only existed for one season and was never used on a jersey. The man who created the Penguins logo Bob Gessner put it like this, "The first penguin looked a little wimpy with the scarf, more like a figure skater than a hockey player." Ok, maybe leave the scarf off.. (More on the evolution of the Pens logo and their uniforms can be found at the excellent site PittsburghHockey.net

Philadelphia Flyers

It's probably best to admit that I grew up a Flyers fan and still am one. So if I come across as a bit over sensitive in regards to their uniforms you can understand why.

Philadelphia came out with a black version of their other jerseys in 1997, and it worked. It was, in fact, a welcome addition since it did not alter their overall look and used the same pattern. These were really popular when they were released and truly defined the meaning of having a third jersey. They were no better or worse than the regular set, and complemented their existing look. BUT, when they became the team's official jersey (in 2001) replacing the orange I think part of me (and a lot of other Flyers fans died). In fact they didn't even use the original orange jersey as a third that season, it just vanished. There were petitions, there still may be, lobbying to bring back the orange. The team had always worn orange, it was their main color and what made them stand out amongst every other team in the league. Replacing it with black, despite the third jersey's popularity, ruined their identity on the ice.

I am going to make the assumption that the powers that be heard the fans and decided to give them, in their mind, what they wanted and brought out the orange jersey that they would maintain as their official third till last year. This was in 2002, and in honor of the Flyers celebrating their 35th Anniversary in the league they used the, newly designed, beveled version of their logo. Which I'm sure looks great on paper and t-shirts, but as a crest on a jersey it fails to invoke anything other than a Flyers logo someone has tweaked in Photoshop. You don't mess with the Flyers logo after 35 years. The rest of the jersey I never quite got, it always looked like the sleeves were sewn on upside down, and the names and numbers with three colors always looked too busy. I can't help but think clown fish when I see these.

Myself, and many others, still want an orange jersey as the main home uniform. Black is so overdone and boring at this point that it needs to go, not just with Philadelphia, and not just with the NHL, but with a lot of teams who have more or less incorporated it for the sake of selling more merchandise. Yes, money matters, but don't sacrifice the team's history in the process. Which brings us to the Flyers potential third jerseys, assuming that we don't get a return to the orange jerseys of the 80's as an alternate, we will probably see the current Edge style of theirs in an orange format. Sadly. Ironically spokesmen for the team keep saying that the new jerseys are a nod to the Flyers jerseys of the past blah blah blah. Last time I checked the team didn't have a black jersey for the first 30+ years they existed...which may explain why their white jerseys look so much better.


Coming up next the Northeast Division...and what Buffalo needs to do to cure slugatis (inflamation of the slug).
Part 3 can be found here.

Regarding 3rd Jerseys Part 1

According to initial reports from the summer the NHL will probably allow teams to use third jerseys next season. This is nice for marketing and fashion, but all it really means is that designers will have to go back to the drawing board and find a way to convert whatever snazzy design the team used to wear before the new templates and make it Rbk Edge compatible (sort of like upgrading from a stable operating system to say...Vista.) Well, in theory that's what they would do, but in reality things are a bit more complicated.

History
First a little history, the NHL's third jersey "program" truly came to life during the 1995-96 season (although vintage jerseys had been worn by the Original Six teams in 1991-92 in conjunction with the league's 75th anniversary). Five teams wore alternate jerseys in the first season they were allowed. In 2006-07, the last year they were worn, the number had reached 18. During the 11 years in which they existed more than two dozen different designs were used by the league, these often came and went and were occasionally absorbed into a teams uniform set as a main home or away jersey. Detroit, Carolina and New Jersey are the only three teams to never have a third jersey.

Despite what some of the uniforms we've seen in the past may suggest, teams actually have to have their designs approved by the league and get permission to wear them on certain dates. One exception to this were the Rangers Statue of Liberty jerseys (they actually toyed with the idea of using King Kong if you can believe) which, according to Al Morganti, were in violation of the rules and hence the Rangers were fined every time they wore them. (No stranger to this type of thing the NHL is currently fining the team $100,000 a day for not giving up control of their website to the league.)

Today
So, back to the future, what will we see next year...if anything. Well, some focus has to be put on the actual jerseys themselves not just the designs. Despite a grand entrance and mammoth marketing campaign (EA Sports) the actual Edge jerseys have not lived up to expectations and have seemingly failed to win over most of the players that were supposed to be ooing and ahhing. Most recently in the news the Capitals have completely ditched the space age fabrics used in the jerseys and unanimously voted to return to the material used in previous years. (via On Frozen Blog). Reebok, in a rare multi-national corporate giant moment of saving face, extended this option to anyone in the league wanting to make the switch. Needless to say a many players have done so.

Reebok
What Reebok is going to have to do, or may currently be in the process of doing, is fix the stuff they broke. Whether this means a return to traditional fabrics (negating the point of the Edge design entirely), coming up with new fabrics, or admitting total defeat and returning to the old template remains to be seen. Players were of course involved in the creation process of the jerseys and I can assume their subsequent complaints after using them in action will be taken seriously when the season is over. (I imagine a small survey being given to each team member with questions like, "On a scale of 1-10 how would you say the Rbk Edge jerseys compared to last year's model...etc.") Reebok, despite a contract with the NHL, is going to be walking a thin line with whatever changes they do make - too much and they've created a new jersey entirely, too little and they come across as not taking their product seriously enough.

It's a debacle, and a sideshow, it hasn't made players better, and it certainly hasn't boosted jersey sales. But, if the Edge jerseys are going to stick around and additional jersey designs made using them then things will need to be straightened out first. Obviously they aren't going to start putting a focus on additional uniform sets when they haven't succeeded with the 60 brought out this year. (And I don't mean appearance wise, but rather the basic functionality that amounts to wearing a sweater over some pads and being able to play hockey in it.) So, in a nutshell, there will not be any 3rd jerseys next year unless Reebok and the NHL decide that all is well and they can now move forward.

Now, taking into account that all that happens, we can start looking at what kind of third jerseys we are talking about. For one, and this is all speculation and opinion from here on out, I wouldn't be surprised if all 30 teams had 3rd jerseys next year. From a marketing stand point it makes sense, from a video game stand point (don't underestimate how important EA Sports is to both Reebok and the NHL) it gives people a reason to buy an updated version, it brings about publicity and gives fans more stuff to buy. Heck, for all I care let teams have as many jerseys as they want so long as they aren't hideous and a waste of money. Which brings me to the next point.

Limitations
When is a third jersey even worth having? When it says something about the team, adds to their identity, doesn't go overboard, and in some way incorporates a look that is not used in the team's main set. And of course it has to appeal to the fans, but not more or less so than the team's main set. Because, let's be honest, in this day and age sales outweigh identity (sadly). Hopefully teams take these types of things into account and don't just roll out some basic color changes and alternate logos used as crests which seemed to be the easy way to go before.

I personally don't think that any newly thought up third jersey can beat a team wearing a vintage sweater. It says more about the team (and the history of the league) than anything else. They are popular with fans of the game because they are reminiscent of bygone eras and often connected to specific players from the past. (Why do you think Boston's new jerseys have been more successful in comparison to say Edmonton's?) If you are team with a 30+ year history than for godsakes pay some homage to that rather than introducing some flashy bit of fabric with no connection whatsoever to the club. The only real problem with this is whether or not the actual Edge templates are capable of reproducing older designs. From what I understand there aren't too many patterns that can't be achieved. So, if we can go by that (and the fact that older jerseys tended to be simpler) then there are no practical limitations. Even if there are why not make them using the old style, I mean they are vintage...

But what if you haven't got a 30 year history? What if you're say Atlanta or Nashville? This is where things get interesting, there are about a dozen teams that can't really look to the past and return to an old style as a third jersey. I assume that none of them will dig so deep as to wear a jersey from the city they previously played in (as in Carolina wearing a Whalers uniform or Phoenix wearing a Jets sweater). The Ducks will never wear anything that pertains to the Disney era...ever... The Lightning and the Panthers haven't been around long enough, neither have the Sharks, the Blue Jackets or the Wild. The Avalanche could use their old style jerseys conceivably but they are rather close to their new ones. Same with Dallas wearing their old star jerseys. These teams will have to go back to the drawing board and come up with something that is hopefully not as garish as the mustard colored thing the Predators wore.

Why and when?
A certain set of guidelines should be drawn up for when these jerseys are worn. I always liked the idea of old rivalries playing each other in vintage uniforms. Wearing them on anniversaries of particular events or when players retire is another thing we should see more of. In general they should really see more use, otherwise they just become a bit of a show and not a part of the team's look. Instead of a third jersey perhaps we should look at what could be called a "second set" with a home and an away version...that would certainly bring about more opportunities to wear them. It certainly would have made sense last year when Buffalo had their old blue jerseys to wear...but not their original home whites (which they are wearing in the Ice Bowl on New Years Day, which in itself says something about the popularity of vintage jerseys considering the high profile of the game).

Conclusion
- First and foremost the whole Edge mess needs to be cleaned up. Players (and fans) need to have something they can both feel comfortable in and be satisfied with. In no other sport is the jersey as iconic as in hockey (except maybe soccer), and to have so many current complaints and issues is a shame and a scar on the face of the sport itself.

- More vintage team jerseys and less trivial fashion attempts. Give the fans what they want and let the players feel a part of history. The NHL is timeless let's see more of it's great heritage.

- Create more events to exercise the use of these jerseys, not just outdoor games once a year. Rivalry weekends, Original Six nights, bring back Hockey Day in Canada the way it should be....etc.

Part 2
In part 2 of this series I hope to take a closer look at what jerseys we might (that I want to) see next season...or whenever it is the NHL brings the third jersey back. Plus a closer look at some of the one's we have seen in the past.

Part 2 Here

Crosby, Reebok and Everybody Else

It looks like Sidney Crosby has become more than just an endorser for Reebok, but also the lead lobbyist in getting the company to act in the interest of the players in the NHL in regards to fixing the issues with the Edge jerseys.

Over at SidneyCrosbySpotlight.com there is an article detailing Crosby's involvement with a number of links to articles over the past year illustrating the point. I think the key sentence may have come from David Baxter, Reebok's president of the sports licensing division, who uttered the following line, "...based on this feedback, Reebok will provide players with the option to wear a version with slight sizing and fabrication adjustments." That may sound like the voice of surrender hidden in a veil of customer service but in plain English it means: "We are going to do anything we can to make people happy and we still stand by our jerseys." Saving face? Maybe. Commitment to the actual people who wear these things as part of their job? If so, then many can thank Crosby for his efforts in seeing this thing through and thinking on behalf of his colleagues. (Many of whom are deeply disgruntled by the new fabric and 'technology'.)

If you're looking for even more on this story Larry Brooks had an article in the New Yory Post recently which is now up on FoxSports here. He not only touches on the jersey's technical issues but looks at what effects they may have on the future of the game.

When it comes down to it, through it all, half-stripes...flags....and a 9% speed increase, it's about money. Not just for Addidas via Reebok (in turn via CCM who is still the official supplier of the league till 2014, look closely enough and you'll see their logo on the tags still) but for the league and everyone attached to it. If you need any proof of this, as if it wasn't evident enough when visiting the NHL's website and being practically forced into buying a jersey every 2 minutes via a pop-up Flash segment, then all you need to do is visit the official website of Rbk Edge. You'd think this would involve a massive amount of charts, graphs, and numbers - illustrating how and why the Edge jerseys are better. Unfortunately you'd be mistaken, since it seems the site has become nothing more than one long ad for EA's NHL '08. Forgive me if I'm wrong but I thought Rbk designed these for people, not a video game...

Nonetheless, you don't need a calculator to figure out that at $250 a pop someone is profiting on sales of the jerseys. That is...if they can sell them. It's no secret that fans haven't been taking to the new looks and measurements. Complaints of the quality of the replicas run rampant and the sizing alone is enough to dissuade many from forking over the cash. I asked the owner of Sportsk.com an independent company that sells custom NHL jerseys, how sales were going with the new jerseys and he reiterated the fact that fans still want the old ones. You can read that as fear of change, or just hesitation, but considering the sports apparel world makes their bread and butter by consistantly bringing out new products you can't deny the implications.

The old bulky CCM sweaters were a happy middleground. Players could play in them without serious complaints and fans could buy them and feel that they got their money's worth and wear them proudly. If the Edge jerseys are to ever gain a stronghold in the NHL then they will have to achieve the same level of acceptance both on and off the ice. Crosby is working on one aspect, who will pick up the torch for the other?

10 NHL jerseys worse than the new Edge jerseys

Yes, Rbk made some mistakes. In some cases some awful ones. In some cases the designers are to blame. In some cases owners. Vancouver doesn't need the city name, Edmonton needs real stripes, Calgary needs to start over or at least lose the patches...in fact based on the voting and opinions voiced here nearly every team has presented some sort of dissapointment.

In reality, not just the fan/fashion world, the issue of the non-water absorbing material used in the jerseys rages on. Nameplates continue to fall off, and jerseys get ripped too easily. Whether this will bring about any new changes in the 2008-09 season remains to be seen, but with all the talk of going back to the old style and old designs we should be reminded that things weren't always that pretty and the good ol' days weren't necessarily better...

The following jerseys are actually game worn and come from either GameWorn.net, Spirit of the Game or from collectors pages.


10. California Golden Seals
1974-1976
The last two years of the Seals less than stellar existance in the NHL saw a switch of jerseys that didn't exactly make up for the lackluster performance on the ice. Long before whatever you want to call that shade of blue/green was fashionable the Seals proved to the world that it was an awful idea...so were the shoulder stripes.


9. Boston Bruins
1995-2005
I can hear people disagreeing with me already, but quite honestly it still confounds me that the Bruins wore these as an alternate for 10 whole years. Maybe it's the yellow, maybe it's the lack of the B, maybe it's the fur/bite mark/rough edge pattern thing. Boston being an original six team with strong ties to tradition and history amazingly escaped unharmed by this total departure from their identity. It didn't hurt that a lot of the fans loved them...probably about as many as hated them. Among the host of hideous jerseys that came out of 1995, these survived the longest.


8. Calgary Flames
1995-2000
Calgary's obsession with stripes at weird angles seems to have started here. Say what you will about the Bettman stripes that Rbk has given us, the Flames striping here (and the white C) is just plain baffling. It's like someone broke off a chunk of the hem striping and just threw it onto the front of the jersey. I could see these in the Olympics during the 80's, even in Calgary in 1988, but not on an NHL team all the way into the new Millenium...


7. Vancouver Canucks
1995-1997
Another fine example of what 1995 brought us....the fabric gradient. It's as if someone said, "Hey guys, look what we can do!". Amazingly the Canucks would use the gradient again on an alternate starting in 2001 and going all the way up to 2006! These truly got the prize though because they didn't just involve the gradient they involved a gradient over stripes. The only way these could have worked is if they didn't have a logo ruining the whole effect..which brings us to...


6. Vancouver Canucks
1978-1981
Quite possibly the most famous of the bad taste jerseys, at least the Canucks changed the plain red names on the backs following the '81 season. They also brought new meaning to the term V-neck, and are one of the rare examples (if not the only example) of a jersey without a crest that was used as the teams main uniform. The look was complete with the addition of the yellow helmets. Not surprisingly Vancouver completely left this look out when they created their new montage look.


5. Phoenix Coyotes
1998-2003
Alot can be said, or not said, for the Coyotes original branding after the move, but when they got in on the third jersey game they truly proved that a new look was needed. Complete with mesas, cacti, Hopi moon, and well just about everything else you don't associate with hockey. If the fact that the entire bottom of the jerseys displays this imagery wasn't enough for you then you're in luck... it's repeated on the sleeves. (In 2004 the team completely changed their appearance...)


4. Los Angeles Kings
1995-1996
Dubbed the "Burger King" style, the only good things about these were the fact that they were only used for one season. It was if Los Angeles decided they wanted to play in disguise (considering they only won 24 games it's not surprising)... At the time they were black and silver with no purple in sight...let alone a king logo. These would have been great had the Kings played in say Austria at the time, but alas that was not the case. I can only assume that a game worn Gretzky version of these is something of a holy grail for collectors, cause god knows I can't see anyone wearing a store bought one.


3. Tampa Bay Lightning
1996-1998
Oddly enough these didn't come out in 1995, it seems like the Lightning felt like they were missing out on the fun and introduced these as a third jersey in 1996. Let's see here..we've got an Atari 2600 graphics style version of a wave and the ocean with some rain (two tone rain that is) and then some crazy lightning shooting into the players gloves from the shoulders. I think. So, at least we get the message. Sort of. Oh wait, the logo with the words Tampa Bay Lightning with a lightning bolt coming out of a cloud explains it. I'm not gonna even touch the font...