Icethetics Season Preview, Part 3
Wednesday · Sep 23 · 2009 | 8:53 PM PDTWe're midway through the Icethetics Season Preview and after yesterday's three-section post, I'm going to make Part 3 short and sweet. It's a recap of the new logos that will be seen around the NHL this season.
Part 3: New NHL Logos
At least six NHL clubs will have new logos in their arsenal beginning with this 2009-10 season, presented here in alphabetical order.
Boston Bruins (special)
The Boston Bruins will face the Philadelphia Flyers in the Winter Classic on New Year's Day 2010. The NHL's annual outdoor game typically sees its participants dig into their history for special vintage uniforms. And the Bs had a long history to dig into.
For this year's big game, the Bruins pulled elements from five of the different looks they've had over the last 85 years. This logo comes from the sweaters worn 60 years ago to commemorate the franchise's 25th anniversary.
The logo will be used on the jersey as well as other Winter Classic-related merchandise. No plans have been announced to make the jersey the new third beginning in 2010-11, but it's not out of the question. The Penguins and Blackhawks have both given their Winter Classic threads an upgrade.
Buffalo Sabres (vintage)
While nothing has been made official just yet, everything is beginning to point to the notion that the Buffalo Sabres will retreat from the slug and give that classic 1970s primary mark another go. (I'll have details on this from Larry Quinn soon.)
Retro is in right now in the NHL and it seems like a vast majority of the teams are looking backward to move their uniforms forward. Sabres fans have been begging for a return to the team's original look. Their wish may soon come true.
The logo will continue to appear this season at center ice in the HSBC Arena and on tons of merchandise along with the team's official web site and other electronic and social media.
Calgary Flames (vintage)
After scrapping plans to release a brand new black third jersey complete with a fancy new logo, the Calgary Flames jumped on the throwback bandwagon. In fact, forget the black jersey — black is nowhere to be found on the new vintage threads the team is trotting out for their 30th anniversary season.
The club will wear a red jersey that's nearly identical to what was originally worn when the Flames moved from Atlanta to Calgary in 1980. Front and center will be that classic, white-hot flaming C.
No word yet on whether this vintage jersey and logo will be sticking around beyond the five games its scheduled for this season or if that previously designed black third will ever see the light of day.
Florida Panthers (alternate)
After 15 years in the NHL, the leaping cat logo most associated with the Florida Panthers is disappearing. While nothing has been announced officially, this legless feline has been popping up all over the place — everywhere but the jerseys, that is.
The Panthers are also one of a handful of teams expected to release a third jersey this season. They, along with the Colorado Avalanche, have yet to do so. It's not clear yet what to expect for the alternate sweater, but it wouldn't surprise me if this new logo somehow figures in.
For now, you can find it all over the team's electronic media outlets as well as publications and merchandise. And I haven't seen it yet, but it'll will probably be painted at center ice as well.
Minnesota Wild (third jersey)
So far this summer, two teams have unveiled third jerseys and both have involved new logos. The Minnesota Wild's new green duds feature a script rather than a typical logo. But that M will be making its way onto all sorts of Wild gear this year.
The logo is an encapsulation of the history of classic Minnesota hockey. From the simple M to the shooting star which dots the I that, no doubt, calls back to the Minnesota North Stars.
It's not my favorite thing for the front of a jersey, but it has a lot of meaning and the Wild still have the best primary mark in the entire league if you ask me.
Nashville Predators (third jersey)
The launch of their third sweater brought two new logos into existence for the Nashville Predators. However neither is entirely new. The one you see here is a simplified and recolored version of the Preds' primary mark.
A mix of black, grey and shades of blue join a brand new color in the team's identity — the red in the eye. I certainly prefer the simpler version of what is surely the most detailed primary logo in the NHL.
The other logo, found on the shoulders of the new jersey, is an adaptation of the current secondary mark which depicts the skull of a saber-toothed tiger. It's now encircled within the same checkerboard pattern found on the uniform itself.
I might've been more impressed with a completely new logo, but then we do know Nashville's track record in this category (see the old mustard jersey). Still, they're at least moving in the right direction by simplifying a complicated set of logos.
I'm not anticipating any other new logos around the NHL. The Colorado Avalanche have yet to unveil their third jersey, but it's expected to feature text across the front with the primary logo on the shoulders — nothing new.
And that wraps up Part 3. We're back tomorrow with Part 4. Can you guess the topic?
Reader Comments (18)
Avalanche and Panthers will have a third jersey this year. According to NHL 10, the Avalanche, Panthers, Wild, and Predators all have black alternates. Additionally, the Blackhawks have their previous alternate jersey unlocked, and an additional jersey locked (likely the Winter Classic). I don't recall the same thing for the Red Wings, but I didn't check.
The Flames retro jersey is NOT listed as an alternate, rather is an unlocked jersey for 1988-89. That doesn't change anything we already knew though. The Oilers' previous alternate jersey is indeed the home jersey this year, according to NHL 10, with the previous home being the new alternate. Despite John Tavares getting an alternate jersey when drafted, the Islanders aren't doing the same thing.
Even though EA Sports has gotten some of the jersey patterns wrong (colors, piping, etc.), they have been accurate about every single team and the jerseys for the most part, and I have no reason to believe that everything I said above is disputable.
I have to say, Nashville's new logos look a lot better in person than they do in ink (digital ink I guess). The picture of the secondary logo does not begin to do justice to the real thing. The textures and depth to the logo make it difficult to draw, but makes it look truly impressive in person. Maybe the Preds will release some high quality shots of the jersey you'll really get to see that secondary.
Honestly I'm getting a bit bored of that "retro is hot" phase. In every sports... I mean it was ok to have a nice retro third jersey at first, but now everybody's got one and they wear it all the time...
Secondly, I am very disappointed for the Florida Panthers. The jumping cat was a very nice logo that was still up to date even though it's been created 15 years ago. The new one just look like an ordinary animal logo that every teams has. Plus, I've never liked the version with the stick. It just doesn't fit. I look like it's just been glued over.
Thirdly, I have to admit that the Preds logo in tones of blue and silver looks waaay better. I think they should adopt this new color scheme full time
FInally, Boston's winter classic uniforms are good but I loved the one they wore during the 1991 season to comemorate the NHL's 75 years of existance.
- I don't like Minnesota's logo. It's too baseballish.
- Nashville's jerseys are nothing original. I'm tired of navy blue and black jerseys in the NHL. I actually prefer if they used that mustard yellow color of their previous third jersey (not the logo but the color only). It's a unique color that would be associated with Nashville and no one else. Just like baby blue is associated with Atlanta and orange is associated with Philly.
- As for Boston, Buffalo, and Calgary, I'm all for them going back to their roots. I would actually vote to have Boston keep these yellow jerseys full-time and make a road jersey as well. I would say the same for Calgary. And again, the same goes for Buffalo. They're all classic logos and classic jerseys.
- Never liked Florida's logo or jersey. I do think this modified version is better than the full body one, but I'm still not a fan. Not to mention I wish they get out of Florida and go to a more hockey based market. But that's just my opinion.
Ya the vintage sabres logo is everywhere, in the 09-10 media guide all the players photos are with the 3rd throwback jerseys. As a sabres fan ive been praying they go vintage... PLEASE!!!!!
Me thinks that we will be seeing some goaile masks tomorrow
I agree about the Panthers, Hab. They need to move. The Miami Herald reported that the Panthers' ownership group has lost more than $100 million since owner Cohen bought the team in 2001. Maybe the NHL will have to try to buy this franchise also to prevent some wealthy Canadian from scavenging its rotting carcass.
Kevin Y isn't entirely correct. All those teams have alternates according to NHL 10, but they are not "all black". NHL 10 mearly has them blacked out to appear blank before they release the code to unlock those uniforms.
Just a point of clarification.
Oilers are using the retro logo and uniforms as their regular home set.
@ BrianB23
Thanks for correcting me. I really screwed up the wording of that, but that's exactly what I meant. I should've said that those jerseys are all "locked", not "black". I meant to say black alternates to differentiate from the 17 alternates (and Oilers jersey switch) from last year.
im a little confused...are the sabres going vintage or their current version of the vintage jersey (the third jersey)...ive been hearing a white version of the current third jersey which i am praying for...GO SABRES
I was at the Panthers pre-season home game at the Bank Atlantic Center in Sunrise, FL on 9/23/09. The center ice logo is the same leaping cat we are all acustom to seeing. I walked around the entire upper and lower level concourses and did not notice any new or alternate logos anywhere, especially like the worded cat face only logo that is shown on Icethetics. Finally, I asked one of the employees from their team pro shop, located inside the arena, about a third jersey this season and he said he had not heard anything about a third jersey for this season.
Just wanted to pass along my observations and my inquiry from the game. I'll try to post a link of my game photos here after I upload them on Facebook. I have several shots of center ice, inlcuding the white paw prints that run along the red line.
Sabres are not choosing their words carfully..or are they ? Larry Quinn, managing Partner said on the radio the Sabres are in process of going back to their retro unifroms ful-time. Does he mean "Retro Uniform" of the 70's ansd 80's (Winter Classic uniform was awesome..but Sabres never had shoulder patches with neck laces until the Winter Classic (which we all loved).
Or does he mean a white version of the current 3rd's which is nice..but not the retro design exactly ?
Chris please find this out for us !!
Thanks
I hope the sabres have a white version of the thirds, that is my favorite third jersey.
LargeTimHortons - You are mistaken. The Sabres DID have neck laces until 1978. When they ditched the laces for the V neck, they added the shoulder patches that same year.
As far as you wanting the original retro uniform.... I doubt that's what they mean.
They're probably gonna pass that weird looking newer version of the original jersey off as a throwback. The added silver and thick circle logo and underarm pits look ridiculous.
The original Sabres home and away are one of the nicest uniforms hockey has seen.
These new ones miss the mark by a long shot! Good goin RBK.
bwayblueshirt..thanks for the comments ont he Sabres. The Sabres either had neck laces and no shoulder logos...or a V-Neck with Shoulder logos...The Winter Classic jersey was awesome ..I WANT IT BACK..but it is the only time the Sabres had both neck laces and shoulder logos on a jersey.
check it out at: http://nhluniforms.com/
I disagree with your comment about the Wild logo being one of the nicest in the league. It's one of the most confusing, and that's because it was designed by a committee of unqualified people, and kids. That's the problem with uniforms; they are continually changed as a source of revenue, and they're designed by people who know nothing about hockey. "Retro" is not a fad, it's history.
I can't believe it. I just found a Sabres fan that LIKES THE SLUG!!!!!! Poor guy, we always knew that he was a little different.