Sabres Hide Hints in Plain Sight
Wednesday · Aug 25 · 2010 | 8:28 AM PDT
By far, the new Buffalo Sabres third jersey is the most highly anticipated of this year's crop. I'm sure it has to do with the "slug" finally being "salted," but it's given fans passionate about the logo a reason to be happy again.
Many are just dying to see the new sweater — unwilling to wait for the magical date of Sept. 18 when all will be revealed. No wonder the rumors are running rampant.
Time for Icethetics to join the fray. I read a lot — A LOT! — of speculation from all sorts of places. The way I see it, it's my job to wade through it all and provide you guys with the most (hopefully) accurate information. I only write about what I believe has any validity. How often have I steered you wrong?
Having said that, here's my take on Buffalo. They've been hiding hints in plain sight. Have you noticed? Look closely, as the graphic above comes from the Sabres' website splash page about ticket sales. And it's telling us a lot.
The latest, most reliable rumors say the Sabres' new alternate sweater uses these three colors: Royal blue, gold (yellow) and vintage white (dingy white). The jersey itself will be royal blue, allowing us to assume the navy blue will remain on the home sweater.
Number styling on Sabres 3rd jersey?The back — this is where it gets interesting. See the strange stitching pattern on the years (enlarged, right) in that above graphic?
Apparently, that's how the numbers will be styled on this new sweater — vintage white with blue stitching inside the numerals. A bit odd perhaps, but it's one of those cool little details you'll only notice up close.
What about the nameplate? Blue block letters on gold material — on a blue sweater. Think of it as similar to what the Flyers have done with their home and road jerseys with the untraditional nameplates.
The Sabres did tell us this one would be different.
I'm not comfortable calling it yet, but the most widely held rumors say the old Buffalo Bisons script will be emblazoned across the front of the sweater. I'm happy to wait for better details.
One final note. It appears that, unlike their past anniversaries, will not have a specially-designed 40th anniversary logo. Instead, it looks as though they're going with the classic primary logo with "1970" added inside the blue — also as seen in the image above — to mark anything celebrating their first 40 years.
I hope this will tide you guys over until either more information comes out or the jersey is revealed 24 days from now.
Reader Comments (21)
No one will be happier once this and the away jersey are released than myself and my comrades at Sabres, Not Slugs!
I hate the idea of checkerboard numbers on the jersey, but that nameplate idea sounds so fantastically badass.
Where did "checkerboard" come from? Looks nothing like a checkerboard. More of a cross-stitch pattern, if you really look at it.
Buffalo's alternate rumors are so interesting. Seems odd that you would celebrate your teams past by inventing a new design that give homage to hockey's past. It's sounding like a beautiful sweater though.
Eh... y'all know how I feel about this logo. I really don't understand what's so great about it... it has a buffalo "silhouette", and long, pointy lines... in a circle. Nothing special.
if you look way back at the sweaters of the 40s, they actually did have stitching like that, and some even did it in a swirling pattern.
Nice post, I like the speculation and wish you did it more. Maybe some people can send in concepts based on your description, and you could get a post out of that as well, different interpretations of the same info.
For those of you that watch South Park, you know the tone of voice when I say,
"...Kevin, goddamnit..."
You're right though.
We do know how you feel.
So bringing it up time and time again adds nothing to the conversation.
Just sit tight and wait for news thats more relevant to your interests. You don't have to take every opportunity to complain.
can someone do a concept just so i can look at the nameplate it sounds so great
I really would like a anniversary patch.... Why don't they bust out the old Buffalo Bisions jersey from the past.
Regardless of what it seems they may have said, I still think this is just gonna be a one year jersey. Mostly because, and that's IF they go slapping a year somewhere on it. Would kinda be dumb to "remind" people year in and year out what year the sabres were established, but who knows? This is Larry Quinn we're talking about here.
They could go with a logo idea much like the Sens had back in the day with the winged "S" which incorporated the est. MDCCCXCIV (1894) on the shoulders. Just a small nod to Buffalo's inception, perhaps on the Sabred 'B' currently on the shoulders?
Kevin y!
Are u crazy it says buffalo sabres!!!! That logo has a buffalo, and SABRES! which are the swords. your nuts my man
Nice logo, nice colors. You paying attention, Blues?
Anyone else thinking that the splash page could mimic the striping on the jersey? And would that in turn mean that the stars will also be incorporated somehow?
Kevin Y, once again, give it a rest man. I was right when I said you would never be able to stop complaining about other team's uniforms. Man I would love to see your face if the Kings unveiled "RBK Edge Burger King" jerseys. Tears would be shed.
Also, I like the number stitching design, really cool in my opinion.
I'm fairly sure that the Bison's script will be on the jersey.
It's hardly a silhouette kev, it's an albino buffalo. Which also to add I do believe the reasoning for the red eye to those that don't "get it".
They never should have switched from the black/red/silver colour combo IMO. I have a feeling this will be a complete disaster of epic proportions.
Correction Connor. They should have never switched TO the black/red/silver color combo. You can Kevin can both hit the bricks.
At first I was iffy about purchasing this jersey when it's out jsut by the earlier details that were on it, plus some mock ups, but now that I see all of this and read about it more, it sounds like it will be a badass jersey. Guess I'll be spending money on this one too, plus if they end up changing their away jersey which I'm really hoping they do!
connor -- the switch to black/red/silver was one of the biggest mistakes the team ever made. it was like we lost our hockey team for ten years. then the slug came out, which became the biggest mistake the team ever made.
i mean, how many black/red (or similar) teams does hockey need?
blackhawks
devils
senators
hurricanes
flames
coyotes
isn't that enough for you?
the original sabres uniforms were perfect out of the gate -- they were all-time classics.
This is going to end up being a must have Sabres Jersey i honestly cant wait to see what we get it sounds so awsome! Glad were getting back the old school logos for home and away to go with this.