Are new NHL uniforms on the way for 2015-16?

Several NHL teams are ready to introduce new uniforms for 2015-16

Allan Muir | Mar 12, 2015

Are new NHL uniforms on the way for 2015-16? /

Off The Draw

Remember that $300 jersey you bought earlier this season? It might be going out of style.

After hitting up their sporting goods industry sources, the gang over at Icethetics say several teams are ready to make signficant wardrobe changes next season.

Here’s our take on some of the highlights:

Ranking the NHL's Winter Classic Jerseys

16. Philadelphia Flyers 2012

Philly's second trip to the Classic produced the worst jersey to date, a Brach's candy corn nightmare of orange marred by thick black and white piping. The keystone-shaped captain's patches looked like a forced concession to vintage integrity.

15. Detroit Red Wings 2009

Too much white space and a dull gothic D logo sank what should have been a classic.

14. Boston Bruins 2010

For a team with such a rich sartorial history, it's hard to understand why they went with this melange of mismatched vintage elements rather than embrace one of their classic heritage sweaters. Plus: yellow!

13. New York Rangers 2012

Another faux vintage special that centers on a slight updating of an old logo slapped onto a cream-colored sweater. And nothing says retro like cream.

12. Washington Capitals 2011

It's not a particularly great design, but at least it's true to the team heritage theme of the event.

11. Philadelphia Flyers 2010

It worked well enough to become the team's permanent design. Clean and simple. But the nameplate box on the back was one of the worst design ideas in years and really tough to read from a distance.

10. Chicago Blackhawks 2015

An updated take on the team's 1956 home sweaters, this one holds true to the throwback spirit of the event. We like the way the secondary logo appears lower on the sleeves, but the decision to stick to the team's current main logo as opposed to the reductivist original cost them the chance to make it feel truly special.

9. Pittsburgh Penguins 2011

Love the expansion-season logo, the lettering and the navy blue base, but that wacky waist striping would look better matched with a vintage tuxedo.

8. Chicago Blackhawks 2009

The black, red and cream base won't make anyone forget the team's current sweaters, and the logo is waaay too small. Still, it's a solid entry that captures the feel of the team's mid-'30s look.

7. Buffalo Sabres 2008

Nice to see this classic look pulled out of mothballs. Sharp colors and one of the best logos in sports.

6. Detroit Red Wings 2014

A little more spacing between the Detroit wordmark and the winged wheel might have moved this even higher up the list. Even though this design didn't exist in the team's past, it looks the part.

5. Washington Capitals 2015

A team with a limited history to draw on needed to get creative to make this jersey special ... and succeeded. The logo is pinched from the Glenn Hall-era Windsor Spitfires, but with the stars above the W it feels like it could have been native to the Caps. Creative shoulder piping and a discrete tribute to the Washington monument make this one really special.

4. Montreal Canadiens 2016

It’s a curious mix of disparate elements from four historical Habs sweaters ... but somehow, it works. The 1909-style blue chest stripe really pops, as does the white C and the “World Champions” globe sleeve patch. Unlike the organization’s previous outdoor designs, this one lives up to the event.

3. Toronto Maple Leafs 2014

Some take issue with the piping overdose on the sleeves, but as a tribute to the team's 1927 sweater it's nearly flawless.

2. Boston Bruins 2016

This is as close to perfection as it gets, from the throwback logo (crafted in felt and chenille, no less) to the vintage neckline that mimics early sweater styles. Even the one concession to modern times, the oversized numbers, are off-white with old school stitching. Dit Clapper would be proud.

1. Pittsburgh Penguins 2008

penguins.2008.jpg — Dave Sandford/Getty Images

Love those baby blues. A truly bold choice at the time, this near replica of Pittsburgh's 1970-71 sweaters set the standard for retro-outfitting a team at this event and became a staple in the Pens' repertoire.

Capitals: new alternate

Icethetics speculates that the team will revive the red version of its original Stars and Stripes design (photo, above) as a third jersey that can be worn at home (as opposed to the current white version, which, while more striking, is utilized mostly on the road). That’s not a bad call, although this year’s Winter Classic jersey would look awfully good in regular rotation, too.

Avalanche: discontinuing current alternate

Reebok says that the current word-mark third jersey will be discontinued, which suggests a new third could be on the way. Or, as Icethetics notes, Colorado may just be clearing a path so that the team can use its upcoming Stadium Series jersey as a de facto third after it makes its outdoor debut early in 2016. So, what’ll it be? Stadium Series duds tend to be more futuristic, as opposed to the retro-themed Winter Classic looks. We’re expecting something heavy on chrome and bright colors. Tacky. Look, we know there are rights issues in play here, but wouldn’t it be cool if the Avs paid tribute to the area’s history by working with the old Colorado Rockies design? Or maybe the Denver Mavericks?

Ducks: new alternate

It sounds like Anaheim could be going with a predominantly orange third sweater. That’d be unique—hey, anything but black, Amirite?—but come on. Orange is the new mustard. It’s an emasculating look. Just check out the orange-heavy design that the Ducks wore for their 2014 Stadium Series game. Those things made Ryan Getzlaf look about as intimidating as Ryan Seacrest. Sadly, we might see something similar ... or, if we're lucky, maybe something more like this concept art. It’s still orange, but the vintage logo makes it a little more palatable.

Coyotes: new home and road

The franchise’s look has been in need of an update for a few years, but it’s all the more imperative now that Arizona has rebranded. Nothing wrong with the red brick—it’s one of the more striking colors on the league’s palate—but the absence of waist stripes gives the Coyotes’ jersey a pajama-top feel. Icethetics suggests that there might be some sort of hybrid in the offing that utilizes elements of both the current look and the classic design, and that was brought back for a game last week. No telling at this point if that’s where this is headed, but a hybrid offers some interesting possibilities. One thing this franchise has going for it is a clearly defined sense of place. Any new design should fully embrace that idea.

[daily_cut.nhl]

Islanders: new alternate

It’s long been known that there would be a new third jersey making its debut when the team moved to Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, and that the design would be black and white—similar to the togs worn by the building’s other tenants, the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets. We also know that trademark applications have been filed for this logo, which could be used as a main logo, as a shoulder patch or as something to make cocktail napkins in the luxury boxes look distinctive. No telling at this point, but we bet that New York will want something bold and retro, and that will really pop against a very bland jersey design.

Sabres: no alternates

After two seasons of shame, Buffalo is retiring the third jersey that was delightfully labeled “a turd burger” by team president Ted Black. A replacement will be put off until at least 2016–17. Here’s hoping that Mr. Black is kept far away from that project.

GALLERY: The 20 Worst NHL Jerseys of All Time

The 20 Worst NHL Jerseys of All Time

#20: 1995-97 Vancouver Canucks thirds

The spaghetti skate might be the NHL's biggest logo fail outside of Vancouver's own original stick-in-a-rink, but it never seemed quite so excessive as when it was applied to these shocking alternates. Add in the unbalanced yellow V that bisects the logo and slides off to the right side and take away the shoulder and arm piping and you're left with a jersey that's somehow overly busy and sadly plain at the same time.

#19: 2009-11 Ottawa Senators thirds

The Canadiens have an abbreviated nickname too, but you'd never catch them slapping it on the front of a jersey.

#18: 1998-2006 Calgary Flames thirds

Their home/roads from 1995-2000 could have made the cut as well—does anyone know what was going on with the section of trim that leapt up from the bottom and pushed the logo higher?—but the silliness of the flame-snorting horse gives these the edge. That black base didn't go over too well with fans who loved the C of Red, either.

#17: 2001 All-Star Game

This one feels like the designer was romancing fans of soccer or rugby kits, because it doesn't much look like hockey ... oh wait, there's the NHL logo all tucked away over there!

#16: 2003-07 Atlanta Thrashers thirds/homes

The burnt red “motocross” thirds worn from 2008-11 might be more universally despised, but these get the nod because they went from seldom-worn thirds to their standard home kit. The baby blue base that works for the Penguins fails here because of the complementary colors, but the real disaster is the trim that runs down the left sleeve only emblazoned with the word Atlanta—you know, in case the fans watching at Phillips Arena forgot what town they were in.

#15: 2001-07 Nashville Predators thirds

Honestly, the alternate logo on these is pretty awesome, maybe better even than their traditional tiger head. But that hideous mustard yellow base and that square-cut neckline ... did Anne of Brittany design these things?

#14: 2001-07 Edmonton Oilers thirds

Books should have layers of meaning. Movies, songs ... sure, they can too. But team logos? They just need to look cool. That point was lost on artist/minority owner Todd MacFarlane who tried waaaay too hard when he was asked to come up with something new. Ditching the traditional colors was another big mistake.

#13: 2015 All-Star Game

2015-NHL-All-Star-Game-Jonathan-Toews-Ryan-Johansen.jpg — Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Yes, these were widely panned when they were revealed late last year, but I don't think we've quite yet come to terms with how awful these really are. Give it time, though. The oozing toxic green trim and oversized chrome NHL shield will soon be as fondly regarded as KISS's disco years.

#12: 2011-14 New York Islanders thirds

You know how things work these days. Nothing gets into production without market testing, focus groups and God knows how many meetings. At some point in the process, there had to be alternatives on the board ... and yet somehow, a black jersey with a “dynamic” Islanders wordmark above a player number was the option everyone agreed on. Or maybe they just left the whole thing up to an intern.

#11: 1995-96 Los Angeles Kings Burger King

Ray Ferraro wrote just today on Twitter that the worst-dressed game he ever saw was when the Kings trotted these paeans to fast food out against the salmon-clad Canucks. Why am I hungry all of a sudden?

#10: 1998-93 Phoenix Coyotes thirds

A reminder of just how bad things got in the '90s, these green alternates combined an under-designed alternate logo with a desert green background and a cactus-festooned trim that was as richly detailed as the old 8-bit High Noon game. Peyote may have been ingested during the design process.

#9: 1978-85 Vancouver Canucks deep V

This beaming yellow sweater with deep black and red V neckline instead of an actual logo was the first of many ill-conceived designs trotted out by the franchise. Many fans revere it as an important part of the Canucks' history. And this is why that team can't have nice things to wear.

#8: 2011 Calgary Flames Heritage Classic

Okay, so maybe they do have a bit ol' timey flavor, but they also look a lot like Ronald McDonald's outfit, especially next to the Canadiens' more dignified threads.

#7: 2003-06 Dallas Stars “Mooterus” thirds

No less a fashion expert than Sean Avery ranked this design as the worst jersey ever in an article in Men's Vogue, and he's not far off. In introducing the design, the Stars said “the new logo depicts a constellation of individual stars aligning to form an unstoppable force of nature, a charging bull.” What they overlooked was that stars also aligned to resemble the female reproductive system.

#6: 1995-97 New York Islanders fish sticks

New-York-Islanders-fisherman-uniform-1995-Darius-Kasparaitis-Travis-Green_0.jpg — Jim Leary/AP

It could have been worse. They could have been inspired by another islander for the logo ... like maybe Gilligan.

#5: 1996-99 Tampa Bay Lightning thirds

Another standout of the sublimation era, this one was the work of someone who finally made the connection between slashing rain and high seas and hockey. And we're all better for it.

#4: 2013-14 Buffalo Sabres thirds

Before #thedress, this horrorshow was the social media fashion phenomenon ... except in this case, everyone agreed: it was mustard yellow and it sucked. In fact, the online animosity was so relentless that Buffalo president Ted Black was moved to utter one of the greatest lines in hockey history: “If it's a turd burger I'll have to put it on a bun and eat it.” We hope that burger came with a shake to wash it down, Ted.

#3: 2009 Montreal Canadiens 1912-13 throwbacks

Looking more like the uniform of a 1920s chain gang rock breaker than a legendary hockey team, this tribute to Montreal's centennial season was so ugly that coach Bob Gainey refused to let his team wear it a second time after its Feb. 1, 2009 debut. Boston's Shawn Thornton, whose Bruins beat the Canadiens 3-1 that night, thought that was the right call. “I was really concerned about it in warmup,” he said. “When there were 23 guys skating around, I was dizzy and I didn't know if I got enough sleep or what.”

#2: 1995-96 Anaheim Ducks Wild Wing

This is the “Showgirls” of hockey sweaters, a debacle so gallingly bad that for some it comes all the way back around to great. Featured a cartoon version of the team's mascot leaping forward in an apparent 'roid-fueled rage along some of the worst name/number graphics ever.

#1: 1995-2006 Bruins Winnie The Pooh thirds

Objectively, this wasn't even the worst third jersey introduced in 1995, but it stuck around so long—10 humiliating seasons—and was such a downgrade from their classic traditional sweaters that it earns the top spot. The dijon yellow body and jagged trim were bad enough, but that sleepy bear head logo? It's like replacing San Jose's fearsome fish with Katy Perry's left shark, only there's no kitsch value here. It was no coincidence the team was so bad for so many of those years. Wearing these took two inches and 20 pounds off those poor souls.

Published Mar 12, 2015

ALLAN MUIR