New York, New York
All three Empire State teams have third jerseys on the horizon. Some sooner, some later. We'll start with the Sabres, who I glossed over last week as word came down while I was busy packing for my trip.
Sabres to unveil third jersey Sept. 18
The Buffalo Sabres announced last week that a new third jersey will be unveiled on September 18.
The new sweater is meant to celebrate the team's 40th anniversary and will make its official introduction at Puck Drop 2010, the team's 2010-11 season kickoff party.
Specific details of the design were not made available, but the following description was included in the press release on the Sabres' website:
The Sabres will unveil the team’s new 40th anniversary third jersey at an open practice that morning. This classically-designed uniform is a tribute to not only the history of Buffalo hockey, but early NHL jersey designs. The 40th anniversary jersey will now serve as the team’s alternate jersey.
Fans will be able to purchase the 40th anniversary jersey in the Sabres Store beginning that day. The team is also scheduled to take part in a scrimmage following the jersey unveiling.
That's all we really have to go on at this point, so let's break it down. It's described as a "classically-designed uniform" that's a "tribute to not only the history of Buffalo hockey, but early NHL jersey designs." That all but confirms some sort of textual element as the primary feature of the sweater. Those old-timey hockey sweaters were always using words over symbols.
Concept art by A.J. BloomquistPair that with the part about the history of Buffalo hockey, and a picture starts to emerge. Rumors have swirled for a long time that the Sabres may look to their AHL predecessor, the Buffalo Bisons, who played from 1940 to 1970. This concept (right) probably best exemplifies what we're likely to see based on the above release.
Having said that, it goes against the description leaked to Icethetics back in March. But a lot can change in that amount of time. Luckily, we only have less than a month to wait before we see it.
And of course, we can't talk about Sabres jerseys in 2010 without talking about the standard home and road sweaters. It's practically a foregone conclusion that the "Buffaslug" is dead. However, he still appears on the team's website so I'll hold off on calling it just yet.
That being said, we're expecting last season's third jersey to be the new home sweater while a white version of it will be worn on the road. We've said this over and over. My guess is that this will be made official as sort of an "oh, by the way..." type of thing at the Puck Drop event.
If I hear or see anything before then, you know where to find it. And by the way, this expectation that I "should" have a "leak" by now... laughable, folks. We'll see the jerseys when we see them. What's the rush?
Rangers' third rumored to arrive in November
SNY Rangers Blog said on Tuesday that the New York Rangers will unveil a new alternate jersey in mid-November. The writer cites an anonymous source for the approximate release date and offered no details on the design.
Possible designs for Rangers 3rd jersey?However, if you've been keeping up with JerseyWatch 2010, you already know that Bleacher Report blogger Greg Caggiano claimed in March to have seen a mock-up. He says it will be almost identical to the current home jersey except that RANGERS is replaced by NEW YORK in diagonal text running down the front.
The rest of us are hoping the "Lady Liberty" jersey from the '90s makes some sort of comeback. That was truly a cool sweater — regardless of whether the statue is technically in Jersey or not.
And let's not bee too closed-minded here. It's entirely possible that the Rangers could come up with a totally new sweater design. Likely? Maybe not. But certainly possible.
Islanders plan third jersey for 2011-12
Now that the New York Islanders have fixed their jersey design failures by reverting to their original design twice since 1997 — they're going to mess with it again.
A new article posted yesterday on the Isles' website follows a day in the life of the team's director of retail operations, Terry Goldstein. It's a fun read for jersey geeks like us. Among other things, Goldstein says work began in April on the design of a new alternate sweater which will launch in 2011 — assuring that Icethetics will never ever run out of content. Ever.
He's a little cocky...
“As the Director of Retail Operations, my design ideas are the ones that help create new player jerseys and the different items found in our Team Stores,” Goldstein said. “In the past six years, every Islanders apparel item that you have seen our players or our fans wear at the games, on television or in print has began with my ideas.”
...but at least now we have a legitimate scapegoat for the striping atrocity that was the Islanders' original Reebok Edge uniform. Mike Milbury is still to blame for Fishsticks.
As we all know by now, the Isles are returning to their original colors and uniform design, featuring that classic royal blue and orange combination. It's nice seeing bright colors making their way back into the NHL. Now to the part of the article about the upcoming alternate uniform.
By returning to the team’s original colors, the Islanders now have only two jerseys for this coming season and Goldstein is looking to create a new third jersey for the 2011-12 season.
“The planning started 4 months ago to re-introduce a third jersey. We currently have a committee of people that are deciding on the style,” Goldstein said. “We have all types of designs. We’ll make samples of the jerseys, then make the final decision. This will become part of what you see on the ice in the 2011-12 season.”
With the way things have been trending lately, I shudder to think the final design may be some scripty text. But next season is still a long way off.
Meantime, the article also includes this gem:
More than 15 months ago, Goldstein started working to create a camouflage practice jersey for this coming season. The Islanders will debut the practice jersey on the ice for pre-game warm-ups, prior to facing off against the Flyers on November 6 in honor of Military Appreciation Night. Once the pre-game skate is over, fans will have the opportunity to bid on the jerseys with the proceeds going to the Wounded Warriors Project.
“Tied in with the warm-up jerseys, we are creating four other military camouflage items for our team stores,” Goldstein said. “We are going to have a John Tavares camouflage shirt, a hat and a generic shirt. We are trying to create some fun items that we have never done before.”
Dude, over a year for a camouflage warm-up jersey? Really? Anyway, if you want to know more I recommend giving it a read.
And yes, I have minor league jersey news to get to as well. But that'll be for another day. I have to go to work some time.
Chris
Quick follow-up to this post. Icethetics reader Jeremy M. pointed out to me that it seems Reebok has redesigned the standard NHL practice jersey. All 30 teams now have replicas for sale. I've posted pictures in a brand new Jersey Gallery.
Of course the "Buffaslug" is nowhere to be found on the Sabres' new jersey, but what's interesting is that the Lady Liberty logo is on the Rangers' practice jersey! An awesome sign of things to come perhaps?
Even if they don't end up using it on the new third jersey, I'm at least glad to see it's not completely dead. Also worth noting is that the Canucks are using their secondary logo, the modernized "stick-in-rink," while the Predators going with the simplified version of their primary mark — introduced on the third jersey, and expected to be on the new home uniform.
That is all.
Reader Comments (24)
If there's one team who shouldn't have a third jersey, it's the Islanders... I don't count last year's "alternate" as it was basically the same past design. But the Fisherman... the orange sweater (which I liked because it was unique, but just didn't seem right), they don't have history on their side.
I really don't like that Sabres alternate... yes, it has a sword, but I don't think any team should have a buffalo in the logo UNLESS THEY ARE THE BUFFALOES!!! Granted, it's hard to make a thin, pointy sabre look like a good logo (it's too plain on its own), but the old red alternate from '03-06 or whenever was always my favorite design. The colors looked incredible, and it just looked modern.
And yes, the Rangers NEED Lady Liberty. It's probably the best alternate jersey ever, and jersey sales would go through the roof of MSG!
Well, there are many camo patterns to choose from... digital patterns such as UCP (modern US Army), MARPAT (Marines), ABU (Air Force), or classic BDU/DCU patterns (including the "chocolate chip" desert camo or the classic "woodland" and "tiger stripe" patterns). Of course, they might also have spent the time coming up with an original design (possibly incorporating the Isles' colors, in which case the decision to phase out the 1997 colors could've been a factor as well.)
If the Rangers do choose to go with the "NEW YORK" wordmark, I can only hope that they would find a way to use the spaced striping and red-white-red collar design, so that it's a true homage to that era. Just slapping "NEW YORK" on the current jersey would be pretty lazy. Personally, I'd prefer the return of the Liberty logo.
I think the Sabres management team is enjoying toying with all of us with the prospect of the demise of the Buffaslug. It'll be worth it, though, to see a new white jersey closer to Punch Imlach's original design.
the isles will probably bring back the orange jersey. it wasn't that good but it sold well
Shouldn't the title of your post really be "New York, New York, New York" (unless you were channeling Sinatra!)?
Whats the rush?!!!! We need too see the new jersey, we've had the slug burned in our minds for too many years now!!!!
Well, it has only been four years. The fisherman was only around half that time and it was at least a good logo — not for the Islanders, but a good logo nevertheless. And honestly, you know the slug is gone and that the classic logo is coming back. The new third jersey is just a bonus! I'm excited too but I don't want to ruin it.
well kevin y, their city is called buffalo? i dont know, i think that should be enough incentive. I actually liked the rbk edge islanders jerseys better than the old stuff they're reverting to.
I believe the fisherman logo and jersey was actually a Don Maloney product, not Mad Mike.
"striping atrocity"???
What's wrong with the Islanders current Edge jersey? It looks pretty sharp. It's even got a nice big hem-stripe that people seem to be so fond of.
see i think the rangers will use the Lady Liberty, like in the other post about the new practice jerseys if you notice, it's the Lady Liberty on the new jersey. i think this is foreshadowing the future of their jersey.
I would love to have the Liberty jerseys back. However, I'm not sure the new practice jerseys work as that great a clue. The reason why is because the old practice jerseys, which are still visible in the NHL shop too, feature the Liberty logo already.
I always thought the Lady Liberty jersey was one of the classiest jerseys in NHL history, right up there with the Capitals bird. Whenever i think of the Lady Liberty jerseys, the first person i think of wearing those is Wayne Gretzky...though having the "New York" on the front of the jerseys would be an interesting change too. Didn't they wear jerseys exactly like that back in the 1970s?
Yes, the city name is "buffalo". But that's not the nickname. If they were the bisons, then okay.
The Angels were founded as the Los Angeles Angels... for those who don't know, "angeles" is Spanish for "angels". So that's fine. But the logo should be based on the nickname, not the city (which is why I dislike the Vancouver orca logo, as well).
That's my opinion... I know I'm in the minority, but nobody's gonna change it.
um, the rangers' practice jerseys have used the statue of liberty for the last few years...no news here.
Chris maybe you can at least verify or hint at this if it is correct. I talked to someone that knows someone that works somewhere, not trying to get anyone in trouble, but I heard the Sabres away jersey is gonna be just basically a color swap with the thirds/ new home sweaters which would be pretty boring and lame. (think edmonton) But he couldn't quite recall for sure if they had shoulder yokes on them or not. I hope they do because white jersey's with out yokes are so blooming boring and so reeyuckbock.
BTW, I really don't even care about the Sabres new third, i care more about what the roads will look like if you couldn't tell that already. :P
The Statue of Liberty is not technically in New Jersey. That's a myth pushed by guidos.
I'd reference you to NEW JERSEY v. NEW YORK - 523 U.S. 767, where it is clearly noted by the Supreme Court that both Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty belong to New York. New Jersey only owns the water around the islands, and the landfill additions to Ellis.
For what it's worth, the Feds have jurisdiction over both the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, but both historical markers (i.e. the statue and the Ellis Island immigration building) belong to New York.
The Rangers practice jersey is not new...I have the liberty head one from when Colton Orr was still a Ranger two seasons ago.
the lady liberty jersey was nice, but i think everyone is overrating it. i don't think it's that great. i'd prefer the 78-87 "new york" text look. maybe i'm the only one.
The sabres new whites need the shoulder yoke to throw it back. The 70's whites had them
I think that, if done right, the Isles could make a third with a lighthouse logo. As for a fitting colour scheme, I'm not so sure if it would work with orange thoguh.
I hope the Sabres eventually get rid of the Reebok piping on their uniforms, just stick with a classic striping scheme, random modifications don't fit the classic logo.
As a Preds fan I can't say I'll be sad to see the alternate promoted ahead of the home and road but would miss the gold that at present breaks up the monochrome look just enough.
The Rangers had the Liberty Logo on the practice jersey for a few years now. Even when the Alternate Jersey was in use the same logo was on the practice jerseys. Even this year, on the teams site, you would see the home, road and practice jersey on the link for the team shop. That jersey had the liberty logo there too...so it's not a sure shot that Lady Liberty will be donned again for the Rangers.
It be nice but many feel the "New York" jersey is coming back.
Lady Liberty is technically part of New York even though it lies within Jersey City's borders
"Is the Statue in New York or New Jersey? The Statue of Liberty is on Liberty Island, federal property administered by the National Park Service, located within the territorial jurisdiction of the State of New York. A pact between New York and New Jersey, ratified by Congress in 1834, declared this issue."
And as for Buffalo.... one of the theories on the name comes from the mispronunciation of the french term "Beau Fleuve" for Beautiful River or Beautiful Falls due to the location of the Niagara River and Falls.
Enjoy!