Mighty Ducks of Anaheim Away 1993-2006

I previously discussed the Mighty Ducks venture into alternate jersey territory with Wild Wing. I also included the history surrounding the team and its inclusion into the NHL. Now we get to take a look at the team's original jersey scheme. The team's away jersey, that saw action from 1993 to 2006, featured an interesting blend of colors. The team's primary was eggplant (dark purple) with an accent of jade, grey and white. The logo is of a duck mask layered over top of two crossed hockey sticks, a black shaded area (possibly a puck) and a grey triangular background. The slant on the stripe pattern is a unique feature and the use of jade for the outlines of the numbers is pretty cool. The shoulder patch shows Wild Wing enclosed in a circle with the team's name. Overall it's a design that succeeds because it doesn't try to copy other team's jerseys, it makes perfect use of new colors and has one great looking logo.

My final thoughts: Bring them back please! One of the only teams to ever pull off purple of a jersey scheme. The team is in its 20th season so they brought them back for one game but their new jerseys are lame and boring so why not replace them with these awesome jerseys? Just a suggestion. I know Ducks fans agree with me.

Edmonton Oilers alternate 2001-07

Much like the majority of the Canadian teams, the Edmonton Oilers tend to be traditional and stick to what suits them best. But like most teams during the time period, the team adopted this interesting third jersey prior to their season in 2001. The design can be credited to minority owner Todd McFarlane (yeah that Todd McFarlane of Spawn fame). The team's logo was replaced by a flying set of gears with an oil drop on the inside, the primary colors were changed from blue and orange to dark blue and silver and the fonts used for the name and number were changed to a futuristic font. The gears on the logo feature 5 notches to celebrate the team's 5 Stanley Cup Championships which is a pretty unique aspect.

My final thoughts: Where a lot of teams went wrong with their third jerseys, the Oilers did a great job coming up with a design that is different but memorable. Although a departure from their normal colors, I liked the combination of dark blue with the grey and white stripes. It comes together really well for it being a 3rd jersey. I've been critical of darker colored jerseys but this one is sharp and proves the point that alternate jerseys do have a place in sports.

Dallas Stars alternate 2003-2006

While we're on the subject of livestock...

Here's the infamous third jersey for the Dallas Stars, known affectionately as the "Mooterus". The concept came about because the Stars had the idea to incorporate the constellation Taurus into a jersey, but make sure that it makes sense. Well it didn't help much for the Stars because fans and even players hated the jersey. The Stars have always had a strong identity with their unique star shaped patterns but this choice was bad. I guess because they wanted to be clever. They must have thought a bull head with stars inside and a shooting star coming across the left horn would work out well right? I mean there are a lot of cattle ranches in Texas after all. But wait, where is the green? The black landscape gives it a dull look, accented with swooshing stripes of red, green and a slight yellow. The Stars, since their days in Minnesota, have been green and white but the decision to only use green on the sleeves and border proved their arrogance towards the team's history. And then the Stars logo is placed over top of the ugly red stripe pattern towards the wrist, um why? Just a total mess if you ask me.

My final thoughts: NHL teams insistence on designing alternate jerseys has led to plenty of terrible choices, including this one. The fact that they didn't realize the jersey had a logo that looked like a part of the female anatomy goes to show how smart the people were behind its approval.

Calgary Flames Alternate/Away 1998-2006

 

The Flames organization might have originated in Atlanta, but since its relocation to Calgary in 1980, the team has become synonymous with hockey in Canada. The team kept the original colors of the defunct Atlanta Flames and made a slight tweak to the logo, changing it from a flaming "A" to a flaming "C". The jerseys have remained mostly the same, with a small diversion during the 90s with a diagonal stripe pattern going up the jersey and resting under the team logo. Not until 1998 did they radically change their design...for the worse.

As you can see with this one, the team incorporated black for their primary color (a popular choice by most teams for their alternate jerseys) and scaled back on the use of red and yellow. The biggest change of course is the main flaming "C" logo being pushed to the shoulder patch and the invention of what has been called the "Flaming Horse". The idea came about because 1998 was "The Year of the Cowboy" so some dimwit decided it would be cool to create a logo featuring a horse that appears to have jaundice, sports devil ears and has flames shooting out of its nostrils to the side for some strange reason (not to mention the flame "birthmark" on the head). The only problem with this is that well it's a disaster. The proper line of reasoning would be to use a dragon because although they are mythical, they have been known to breathe fire (just saying). I'm actually surprised that Calgary kept this thing around for that long.

My final thoughts: Among their third jersey brethren, it ranks up there with one of the more poorly executed designs. The one cool feature is the patch designating captain or assistant captain seen here. Luckily they have kept that and got rid of the horse.  I think maybe even Oilers coach Craig MacTavish might have hated it too; I mean look what he did to their mascot.

New York Americans 1930-38

One of the league's first expansion teams was the New York Americans, originating out of Manhattan. The Americans were established in 1925 and were New York's first professional hockey organization. Although they didn't achieve much and were an abysmal team on the ice, the Americans had one of the best jerseys around. During the early portion of the NHL's life, teams only wore one jersey so after an alteration to the original unis, the Americans performed in front of fans with this gem for 8 seasons.

A large spread of patriotism throughout the United States led to the creation of the franchise and its tributes to the nation's colors. Instead of a logo in the middle section, the team opted to use small script New York over top of a large script Americans. The jersey features the stars on the front and back, the red stripes along the sleeves and bottom section and a white mid section for the logo and number on the back.

My final thoughts: A great American jersey. Probably the most patriotic jersey ever manufactured and should have been worthy of use in the Olympics (minus the New York part of course). This is definitely a collectors item for any jersey fanatic out there.

San Jose Sharks Home/Away 1998-2007

The final team to cover from the league's Californian expansion is the San Jose Sharks. Entering the league in 1991, the Sharks have grown into one of the most popular franchises in the NHL. The team's fan base is one of the loudest and most loyal in the league and were considered so intimidating that the Sharks arena carries the nickname of the "Shark Tank". These jerseys were first born during the 97-98 season as an alternate but eventually became the team's go-to jersey for away games starting the next year. The arched name format and slim numbers are winners and the incorporation of a black arch on the front just adds fuel to an awesome fire. The Shark's logo is intense as it should be and the use of black and gray along the tops of the jerseys bring to mind the appearance of a shark. It makes for an intimidating presence on the ice. 

My final thoughts: One of my favorite jerseys from one of my favorite teams. I love the use of teal and the menacing shark logo. The team has done this jersey a great injustice since the team's "upgrade" in 2007. If it were me, I would love for the Sharks to bring back these jerseys and keep them full time (or maybe as an alternate). Lots of nostalgia involved with this uniform with a few of my favorite players (captains Owen Nolan and Patrick Marleau pictured here) putting this on game after game. Essentially the start of the franchise's success began around the time these jerseys were introduced.

Mighty Ducks of Anaheim Alternate 1995-96

Staying with the 90s alternate theme, another Californian team went with a dramatic design. This wildly entertaining addition to the 3rd jersey family was also given a nickname, "Wild Wing", after the team's mascot. The Disney owned Mighty Ducks were awarded a franchise in 1993 and named after the popular movie The Mighty Ducks starring Emilio Estevez as the coach of a hockey team made up of misfits who defy the odds and win a championship. The film was so well received by hockey fans that Disney made a huge decision to create a professional hockey team in Anaheim and give them the Mighty Ducks name. A cartoon television show accompanied the team's arrival, with "Wild Wing" serving as the protagonist.

The cartoon tie-in is a prominent feature on this jersey. On the front we see Wild Wing jumping through the ice, flying in the air with the home Mighty Ducks uniform on and wearing goalie equipment. The stripe pattern on the sleeve is the opposite of the home and away sweaters due to the main color of teal. The normal logo is placed on the shoulder patch and the stripe pattern that is featured on the backs of their other jerseys is done away with. The number/name font was changed to an artistic style, giving it a unique look. My opinion of this jersey is that it's absolute madness and almost comical, yet it does have an appeal. It's one of those "it's so crazy it just might work" type jerseys so I could be critical but I'm not sure if I should be.

My final thoughts: I was and am still a huge fan of the Mighty Ducks, both the jerseys and the movies (well maybe not D3). This jersey is one of the most unique ones I've ever seen and even though it caters more to children than adults, it is a pretty interesting design. Much like L.A.'s "Burger King", this jersey lasted only one season. It continues to be maligned however as this blog list shows.

1995-96 Los Angeles Kings Alternate

What is there to say about this joke of a uniform? The Kings were living large in the 90s with the world's best player Wayne Gretzky steering this franchise from out of the basement and into the rafters. The Kings finally got into the Stanley Cup Finals in 1993 but lost in devastating fashion to Montreal. The team's profile was on the rise and like most franchise's during this time period, they unveiled a brand new sweater and it ain't pretty.

The team changed their color scheme from the traditional purple and yellow to black, white and gray prior to the 1988-89 season. The idea here was to combine the past colors with the new ones to make a unique design that would encompass everything that is the Los Angeles Kings organization. The only problem is that it's so stupid and moronic that it is more of a disgrace to the team's name than a way of honoring it. As you might figure, the jersey received a moniker: The Burger King jersey. The King's cross logo, that normally sat in the center, was replaced by the goofy Scandinavian Burger King and put on the left side. The team's regular logo was placed on the shoulders instead. Gray swooping patterns are featured all over the jersey, which is an odd decision; what is it supposed to be, a sash? Come on L.A. The numbers are changed from black to purple with a yellow outline, making the numbers stand out but don't fit in with the rest. Even the gray doesn't match up throughout the jersey; there has to be at least 5-6 different shades in just one jersey. Getting back to "The Burger King", could you imagine a logo more ridiculous and absurd?

My final thoughts: There's a reason why it only lasted one season. One of the worst alternate jerseys EVER. But the impact of this jersey will live on as this video alludes to.

Oakland Seals

Time to go retro and shed some light on another failed NHL franchise. The Oakland Seals lasted all of 3 seasons, compiling a 66-118-42 record. The team name was changed to the California Golden Seals after the 1968-69 season. From their short span as an organization, the team made an impact. The logo features a seal with a stick resting inside a giant "O" for Oakland. The lack of detail given to the logo is interesting and the color scheme of light and dark green, yellow, black and blue surprisingly blends together. The jersey's main scheme of green with blue numbers and striping also meshes quite well. The idea of using blue for the numbers instead of traditional colors like white or black is a nice touch. I also enjoy the tie down laces on the top of the jersey.

My final thoughts: Like most former franchises, the Seals have made a name for themselves in recent years because of the NHL's Vintage Hockey collection. Acquiring a jersey like the one above is tough to come by so if you are an avid hockey fan, this would be a great piece to add to the collection. Overall it's simplistic, colorful (but not too much) and strays from the normal confines that normally perpetuate sports jerseys, making it a classic.

Tampa Bay Lightning 3rd Jersey 1996-1999

Keeping with the 3rd jersey vibe, may I present to you this unique and bold entry into the NHL history books with the Lightning's "Bolt Madness on the High Seas" concept. The jersey depicts a violent storm brewing out in the ocean, with large waves forming and rain pouring. What might sound great for a painting doesn't translate to a jersey. Quite frankly this jersey is ridiculous. What exactly does lightning have to do with a giant The gray shoulder pattern gives the contrast to the black and blue primary scheme but looks strange and out of place. The lightning bolts that emanate from the aforementioned shoulder pattern couldn't look any more tacky and cartoonish. Then there's the gray and black streaks on the front of jersey to designate rain...yikes. Add to that the goofy wave pattern on both sides of the jersey and you got yourself an absolute train wreck.

My final thoughts: Teams during the 90's went crazy with their 3rd jersey designs, including this one. It will go down as one of the most absurd and goofy jerseys in the league's history, and maybe sports history. Can't blame them for trying to get creative, but unfortunately the execution is a mess.

Toronto Maple Leafs Alternate 2000-08, 2008-10

The Toronto Maple Leafs have an illustrious history as an NHL franchise. They are one of the original members of the NHL club (Original Six), won 13 championships (which is 2nd league wide behind the Montreal Canadiens), and are the league's most valuable franchise with an estimated net worth of 1 billion dollars. The team's history played a part in the creation of this throwback jersey to serve as an alternate to their home and away sweaters. Going with the traditional Leafs style, the jersey features the detailed old school Maple Leaf crest and the blue filled neckline. I also think the use of slim lettering and numbers was a better way to go instead of the bold that is used for the home and away jerseys. The minimized emphasis on stripes for this jersey also works well because it doesn't clutter the space and is used for outlining purposes.

My final thoughts: Bringing back an old style almost always succeeds and this jersey is one of the front runners. It's a shame that they got rid of this one and replaced it with a simplistic dark jersey that mirrors their home jersey.

Florida Panthers alternate 2009-2012

 

Now when I was discussing the Panthers reputation of being terrible, it can all be summed up in the creation of this monstrosity. Ushered in in an era where most teams around the league loved introducing multiple shades of blue to their 3rd jerseys, the Panthers made a huge mistake. The team's logo is altered, the colors used don't match with the team's normal colors and patterns look bad. I'm not sure what possessed the creators to use powder blue for the shoulder and sleeve trim but it doesn't match well with the dark blue primary which happens to not be the Panthers normal blue shade.The logo features just a panther head that appears to be drawn by a young child because it looks cartoonish compared to the original. The team also incorporated the circular wheel with the logo and team name like a few other organizations did for their 3rd jerseys. The biggest problem here was the exclusion of red, which is what most Panthers fans relate to the most when they think of the team and its color scheme. Critics and fans alike were bothered with this jersey (if you can call it that), which more than likely led to its departure. Sometimes teams try too hard with 3rd jerseys; too hard that something like this gets manufactured and is panned by everyone.

My final thoughts: All in all a terrible choice for an alternate jersey. There's a reason why these types of jerseys don't get worn very often, and in this case, I can't blame any player who had problems putting this on for a game. In the end though they did serve a good cause and showed other teams that jerseys like this don't work.

1993-1998 Florida Panthers Home

 

The Panthers have been the butt of many jokes during their tenure in the NHL. The team has gained notoriety for being mediocre or among the league's worst but there have been a few bright spots. To the surprise of many people, the Panthers once made it to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1996 on the backs of a roster that featured past and present NHL all-stars like goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck, forward Scott Mellanby and defenseman Ed Jovanovski. They accomplished this feat while having only 3 seasons of experience as an franchise. Since that time however they have only made the playoffs 3 times in 15 seasons. The jersey that I chose to examine here was one of their originals and the one with the most success behind it. 

This home jersey created for the Panthers is one of the better white jerseys that I've seen. Like most teams it features a stripe pattern on the sleeves and bottom while adding a shoulder pattern to accentuate the upper portion of the jersey. The Panthers use brighter shades of yellow and red to make the jersey pop without being over the top and the blue helps keep it in line. The panther in the logo is pretty intimidating, which certainly went with how the team performed during its Stanley Cup run. I also like the team's alternate logo featuring a stick crossed with a palm tree in front of the sun as seen here. 

My final thoughts: It resembles a time when Panther fans could be proud of their team. The team made quite a few modifications during the years after their successful time period which didn't work out well. Although it may seem simple, that attribute is what makes this jersey work.  

Blue Jackets 3rd Jersey 2010-Present

 

The Blue Jackets are the 4th and final team of the "new age" expansion era teams that I haven't covered yet. Columbus was awarded a franchise in 1997 but didn't start playing puck until the 2000-01 season. The team was named after the state's illustrious history with the Civil War. Ohio played a huge part in the Civil War by starting up 23 volunteer infantry regiments for the Union, creating some of the largest military bases at the time and producing some of the war's most prominent members such as Ulysses S. Grant, William Tecumseh Sherman and George Custer.

Why should I mention history when this blog is about hockey jerseys? Well I wanted to reflect the impact that the state's history has on the team, so much so that it created this classic 3rd jersey in 2010 to take over from the swooping stars and stripes alternate. (The logo from that original alternate sweater eventually would replace the team's old one from 2007 to the present day). The new logo features a circular design with a cannon and the team's name over top. Navy blue reflects the color of the original "Blue Jackets" and benefits from the use of lighter blue and white as complements.


My final thoughts: Definitely a great example of a 3rd jersey working out. It has a great reputation around the league and from critics as an excellent alternate and I have to agree wholeheartedly. Their meshing of history and hockey is really quite awesome, ranging from the team name to the use of a replica cannon at home games to signify goals and team wins. A must have for any hockey fan.

Nashville Predators Alternate 2001-07

I mentioned in the Sabres 3rd jersey article that the extended use of yellow for a team's alternate jersey has had some disastrous results. The Predators created this dud prior to their 4th season in the NHL in an attempt to bring a new look to the team as well as sell merchandise because the team's popularity had not taken off as well as they had hoped. The end result was quite frankly a train wreck. Instead of using the team's gold yellow color, they opted to use a mustard yellow tint for the primary color (pretty bad choice on their part). The jersey features dark blue on the areas under the armpit and ribs that connect to swirling gray and white stripes inside the aforementioned blue color. This addition is awkward looking and adds to the jersey's ineffectiveness. The final straw that broke the camel's back here is the modification of the Predators logo. Now I think that the team's original logo is one of the better ones in the NHL; it's detailed, unique and intimidating. But on this jersey, the logo is turned into a caricature and a total joke. The saber tooth tiger here looks more like something you might find in the Ice Age films. Is "Gnash" smiling, staring off in a contemplative manner or trying his hardest to be serious? I can't tell and neither can most fans.

My final thoughts: The Predators have become a successful organization after dismissing this ugly sweater from their repertoire. They've gained credibility and have sustained a high rate of ticket sales since this jersey made its last appearance. Need I say more?

1979-85 Hartford Whalers

The Whalers started out as a team in the old World Hockey Association (WHA), which was a new league established to compete with the NHL. Although the WHA didn't last very long, the Whalers were brought into the fold when the NHL expanded in 1979. The team lasted 18 seasons as a member of the NHL, compiling a record of 534 wins, 709 losses and 177 ties. Even though their franchise numbers were bad, the team featured one of the more unique logos and color schemes during its tenure. And what better to examine than the team's original jersey.

Green is the primary color for the home sweater worn from 1979 to 1985 and it sure does work well. The sleeves feature an angular pattern with a blue stripe in between two larger white stripes. The bottom of the jersey also utilizes this stripe pattern. The logo combined with the colors and shoulder patch are what does it for me. The Whalers logo incorporates the letter W with a tail of a whale over top. In the negative space between the two, there appears to be a "H" for Hartford. The shoulder patch, seen more clearly here, is a relatively small and possibly confused whale affectionately named "Pucky". The diminutive whale was a staple on their jerseys during this time period, but were removed from the 1985-86 season until the team's demise in 1997. "Pucky" came back in a big way when the NHL Store decided to create a Vintage clothing line with all the now defunct franchises.

My final thoughts: One of the coolest vintage jerseys out there without a doubt. I wish I would have been alive then to see them play just because how nice these jerseys are. They weren't a successful team but have remained popular due to their merchandise. I own two Hartford Whalers t-shirts and can't wait to get one of their jerseys.

Buffalo Sabres 2013 Alternate Jersey

Yikes! Alternate jerseys, or third jerseys as they are commonly referred to, have normally been criticized and maligned because they try to incorporate new aspects that have nothing to do with the team's logo or colors.This one is no exception. Sabres forward and co-captain Steve Ott leaked photos of their new duds prior to the season which led to a huge backlash from fans. No wonder why Sabres fans are so depressed; they've been to the Stanley Cup Finals twice in 32 years (losing both in heart-breaking fashion), they're in the process of yet another rebuild, their two star players want out and now this. What isn't there to love?

Let's start with the color scheme. Didn't the Sabres learn anything from the Predators when they used a bright yellow shade as the primary and failed miserably? Although not exactly Colonel Mustard like, the use of yellow for this particular jersey is just as awful. Another strange addition is the use of grey. It's not a featured color for their normal jerseys or in the logo so why is it on there? And why is there so much of it? The numbers would look better if they had gold inside instead of grey. And what's with the partial dark blue back? It's uneven with the front and gives it a goofy look. The new age font for the numbers and colors don't work well either. About the only thing right with this jersey is the Sabres sword logo.

My final thoughts: Worst jersey in NHL history. That's it.

Philadelphia Flyers Away Jersey 2010-Present

Even though the Flyers were a member of the NHL's first expansion era in 1967, the team has carved out a tradition that rivals teams from the Original Six. Their jersey patterns also reflect this sentiment. The team's logo has never been altered during its 47 years of existence. A few of the jerseys have had different stylized aspects changed ranging from the shoulder patterns, outlined names and numbers and the incorporation of stripes. The Flyers tweaked with their home and away sweaters prior to the 2010-11 season to give them a look that harkened back to the team's beginnings. They ditched the black jerseys and made the orange alternate their new home jersey and changed the sleeve patterns. While both look sharp, the one I want to focus on is their visiting whites.

I tend to focus more on the dark colored jerseys because they have more characteristics to applaud or pick at but these away whites are the nicest you might come across. The two features that stick out to me are the the black borders around the numbers on the back and the arms and the "nameplate". The use of an outline on the numbers helps define them and makes them stand out better as opposed to no border. The nameplate is also a cool feature because the names are clearly visible on the black background, which is helpful for anyone who attends or covers a Flyers game. The nameplate was used in the early stages of the NHL so the fact that they brought it back is awesome. It gives the jersey a vintage feel to it.

My final thoughts: Probably the best white jersey circulating out there. The nameplate feature sets it apart from other light jerseys and gives it a unique look in order to stand out in a pack of rather boring away sweaters.

New York Rangers Statue of Liberty 1996-2007

The Rangers have a storied history in the National Hockey League because they belong to the highly respected Original Six group. The Original Six were the first six teams in the history of the league which was comprised of the Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins and the Rangers. Being a traditional team, the Rangers have had the same jersey pattern for most of their history, featuring a red, white and blue color scheme, stripes on the sleeves and bottom of the jersey and using the diagonal Rangers pattern on the front instead of the team's logo. The team decided to change things up in 1996 by creating what is considered the "Statue of Liberty" jersey to use as an alternate.

This jersey pattern was well received by fans and there's no wonder why. The jersey features the head of the Statue of Liberty placed inside of the Rangers usual logo and the abbreviated NYR resting underneath the new logo. The team changed up the color scheme just slightly by featuring navy blue as the main color and adding silver stripes to compliment the gray used for the statue.

My final thoughts: Although the team did not have a whole lot of success during the years that they used these jerseys (339-362 with 77 ties and 42 overtime or shootout losses), they sure were popular with fans and sports jersey critics. Using the Statue of Liberty as the new logo was a nice touch; giving the team a new identity while showing history about the city. Nicely done Rangers.

Atlanta Thrashers Home/Alternate Jersey 2003-2011

 

The Atlanta Thrashers came into the league during the 1999-2000 NHL season as a part of the 4 team expansion era with Nashville, Columbus and Minnesota. Unlike those 3 teams, the Thrashers had ownership issues, problems with selling tickets and their products and ultimately sold the team to an ownership group based out of Winnipeg in the Manitoba province of Canada. With an atrocious jersey like this one, which they wore for most of their home games, it's no wonder why nobody wanted to come to games or buy their merchandise.

So what's so wrong with it? Well for starters, there's the whole blinding color scheme with "Thrasher Ice Blue" taking up most of the jersey. It's such a terrible color choice and yet they felt that it was smart to make most of the jersey that color. It's not even one of the original team colors so the use of this color is unnecessary and a huge mistake. Then we get to the sleeves. One side features the old Thrashers logo, which looks fine to me. But then they decided to add a dark blue color and the bold-faced Atlanta to the left side sleeve. Who thought that was a good idea? The concept comes across as second rate; a thought shared by the author of this story. It's almost as if they thought about using that design for the whole jersey but scrapped the idea and just threw it on there. The use of red, white and blue on the dark sleeve pattern comes across as tacky.

My final thoughts: Truly a horrendous jersey design. This is hockey after all, not soccer or football where jerseys like this one would be more common and accepted. The Thrasher Ice Blue color does not exude masculinity, therefore making anyone who wears it feel emasculated. No wonder why they only made the playoffs once in 12 seasons. They were better off with their original home sweater.