Isles 3rd Jersey Leaks Again
Wednesday · Oct 12 · 2011 | 11:56 PM PDT
What's been called the worst hockey jersey design in history has become the NHL's worst kept secret of the year. And now there's another leak of the New York Islanders' forthcoming third jersey.
This time it's a photo I can actually post on the blog. According to Glen Cuthbert, who tweeted it tonight, it comes to us by way of River City Sports. Looks like a page from the retailer's catalog — and it probably shouldn't feature that unreleased jersey quite yet.
Over the summer, I posted a image that depicted the sweater's design. It was based on a photo from Reebok — the same photo seen on the catalog page above. I was not permitted to put that particular photo on the blog but I was able to provide my own graphic rendition of it.
It's believed the Islanders will officially unveil the jersey in late November. Every year since third jerseys came back, there has always been a team or two that holds out until Thanksgiving (US) or Black Friday for the big reveal — obviously hoping to capitalize on the Christmas season.
As for the design itself. It's been widely criticized primarily by Islanders fans. As you'd expect. It has black and grey in it. (Perhaps they're just using those colors to maintain balance in the universe since the Lightning dropped them.) It's very much untraditional and that tends not to sit well with Icethetics readers.
Now the opinion part — which you're highly likely to disagree with. So stop reading if you're not interested in an alternative perspective. Fair warning.
I like it. Not the jersey design, that's pretty hideous. But I like that a team like the Islanders is still willing to experiment with their uniforms even after all the trouble that's gotten them into in the past. Now that they've perfected their home and road uniforms, why not use the third jersey for which it was originally intended? Showcasing an alternate color.
If it doesn't catch on, so what? Try it for a year or two and surrender it to the pages of history. Wouldn't be the first time. Won't be the last. Yeah, maybe black was the wrong way to go, but maybe it's just bold enough to gain traction with the nontraditional fans and build up a struggling market. Or maybe I don't know anything at all. Wouldn't surprise me.
Clearly the Islanders are no longer interested in catering to the traditionalists. And good for them! They've done that for the past few years and it made everyone very happy. Myself included. Now why is it so wrong that they want to try something new? The world doesn't move forward without things trying new things.
So... I like it. A lot. I know this won't be a popular stance, but when have I ever spoken for the majority? But rather than going on, I'll just leave you with another look at the Isles' newest ugly sweater.
Reader Comments (78)
I don't think it's that horrifingly bad. The colors do work well together. I do agree with most of the comments saying that the wordmark look was unnecessary. It was a failed experiment which is why Dallas is the only team left using it. Others mentioned just putting the logo on the front instead of using it on the shoulders. That would've been the best way to go. Let's face it people, as bad as this jersey might look so far, there are/were much worse-Dallas, Buffa-slug, Atlanta's wordmark maroon alternate, SENS alternate, Panthers blue alt. jerseys.
Giving it another look, it kinda has the edge the Isles have been looking for. The jet black is a change from the old school approach. I thought maybe they'd bring back the "Fisher" design of the 90s but maybe a new identity is the refresher the team has been looking for. I love the down to earth traditional home and away. I think they are clean and simple. It's not the best looking third...not by a long shot, but it's worth a shot? Maybe it's just one of those jerseys that grows on you (Say what? Do I hear a Jets echo?).
Just Horrible!! Don't mind the logo, it's the actual jersey that sucks!
Does former owner John O'Pickett have any heirs? If so, gather up the money and put Charlie Wang out of his misery. Just stop it with the stupid, goofy, and amateurish uniforms and other so-called decisions and get on with building an arena in Queens and build on the legacy of the early 80s dynasty. Enough is enough already!
As a die hard isles fan, I don't get it! Ok you want to experiment?! Fine! But make some sort of sense! I agree with the article and it saying that 3rd jerseys are basically made for this reason, to try something new, but black?! It's been done (mets Knicks ... And it worked... About a decade ago). The scheme even tho it makes no sense and totally goes against the home and away scheme I can deal with. I can even learn to deal with the black, but the text across the front! NO! Can't except that. Hockey jerseys are the best because of.....THEIR LOGOS!!!! Why put letters on the damn jersey!!! Look at the rags unis!!! Absolutely brutal! Worst in league. Why not put the isles original logo and may e play with the colors, or put the light house, an anchor, anything but text!!! I have seen an amazing concept floating g around of an anchor combined with a light house beaming light and the ocean on the bottom within a circle that says New York Islanders on the top half and 1972 on the bottom half, it's the best alternate isles logo I've ever seen! Isles should contact that designs maker. In conclusion I give this jersey a 2 out of 10, and that's being generous.
This jersey does 2 things:
1) It makes the fish sticks jersey the second worst idea in Islander history
and
2) It violates many uniform "codes of conduct" including BFBS (and I guess grey for greys sake), word mark instead of logo (which is almost always bad unless you are the NYR), and vintage collar laces on a distinctly non-vintage looking sweater.
People are saying that it's at least better looking than the Thrasher's third jersey, but I disagree. As horrible looking as that one was, it at least used pre-existing team colors. This Islanders jersey is even worse than Mooterus, which was ugly as sin, but got points for creativity. This gets points for NOTHING.
I get that the third jersey is for trying new things, and I secretly kinda love the Coyotes third jersey for just that reason... but this Islander's jersey is below par.
It looks like something a roller hockey team would wear and was designed by that one guy "who's sorta good with computers".
I would have really liked to have seen them go with an all orange jersey instead of the black.
What's wrong with not catering to traditionalists and experimenting?!! I'll tell you: Loss of identity. Soooo many teams nowadays are moving away from their indelible markings that allow fans to identify with them or recall the old "glory days." I would imagine starting a professional sports league with only 6 teams and having all the teams chose black and a variation of blue for their uniforms. How awful! How boring! How homogenized! I realize that, with 30 teams there will inevitably be some 'cross over' (Islanders, Oilers) but I think teams should try to hold onto their identity and uniqueness as much as possible.
Part of the fun (especially for readers of icethetics) is going to the rink (say MSG in NY) on Friday night when the Red Wings are in town, then catching a game when Leafs stop by 2 nights later. It's a fun little experience to notice the contrast in color, all within the same arena. The bright red compared to the rich royal blue.
I always laugh when I think of the Montreal fans that came to see their beloved team play agaist Calgary and found the Minnesota Wild vs Calgary Flames instead. Or those (few) Panters fans that mistook their Miami team for the Pittsburgh Penguins. As recent as this week was the poor folks in Ottawa who paid to watch the "Sens" beat up on the "Avs" only to fin that the Chicago Blackhawks arrived to play Colorado in Ottawa (and subsequently get pummelled themselves).
Follow the Detroit/New Jersey philosophy of maintaining a consistent image. It has brought on-ice success year in and year out for both franchises (ok, so the Devils had a rough year last year...).
Keep it simple!
What I find most hysterical is those who practically in the same breath say that this jersey is "unoriginal, uninspired, et cetera" and also say they should have "gone with something traditional, from their past." I guess I'm not very smart, since I don't get how rehashing old ideas is original or creative. I haven't seen this jersey on ice, so I'll reserve my final judgement, but as is I don't love it. And as far as using a wordmark, look up the history of hockey. Ever heard of the Toronto St. Pats? Detroit Cougars/Falcons? New York Americans? Pittsburgh Penguins? New York Rangers? Those are few examples of teams that at one point only wore wordmarks on their sweaters. For those who want to be traditionalist, that could be considered more traditional than a logo crest on the front (or you could go even more old school and have nothing on them at all!). I can understand if the fans themselves aren't happy; they have that right as fans. For the rest of us, maybe we should wait and see how this plays out.
Garbage. If the Islanders are resigned to wearing a bad uniform for their 3rd look, they might as well go back to the fisherman look. At least there's some history there.....
Is it just me or does River City Sports seem to constantly leak jersey designs when they are not supposed to? I remember even last time for one of the jerseys (I forgot which one) I think it was either Anaheim or Tampa Bay, they leaked the jerseys in the catalog.
To be honest there isn't much you can do with an Islanders jersey. The name itself is so hard to design a symbol for. But if I had my way, I would use the "light house" shoulder patch they had a couple years back and make that as my primary logo for the 3rd jersey and then go from there.
You would think someone is forcing most of these post-ers to wear this black jersey 7 days a week. I whole heartedly agree that the home and away uniforms are spot on with the traditional nod to the dynasty years. But in case anyone hasn't noticed people my age (22 or younger) have absolutely NO connection with the dynasty years. Why is a 3rd jersey such a bad thing? It'd be naive to say that a 3rd jersey will forge a sense of identity between younger fans and the team, I think things such as the blue-vs-white scrimage help create that, but I think there are far worse things to happen to a team (let's say, oh, I don't know, moving!?) than a bad black ALTERNATE jersey. Let's not forget that this jersey will be worn, what, 6-10 times the entire year? 15 is the maximum and with the reaction it's getting I doubt it will see 15 games.
Why would you make an alternate jersey if it contained basically the same colors, logos, and schemes as the regular jerseys? The NFL employs this but it only works when the third color stands out a la the Panthers blue, Bears orange, Giants red. Some of you might say "Why not make the same jersey just with orange as the primary color?". If you think the backlash for a black jersey is bad, what would happen if the Islanders trotted out in Hazard Orange jerseys? Not to mention it would basically be putting the Flyers on a pedastol in regard to their uniforms.
For those who ask, "Why make an alternate jersey in the first place?" do the cons really outwiegh the pros? Not selling well and being the butt of jokes has, unfortunately, been a long tradition of the Islanders. Chalk it up to another bad jersey if everyone hates it, but don't damn the entire concept of the 3rd jersey just because old angry folks dont like it.
I still can't bring myself to like this jersey. The wordmark is what kills this design on what is otherwise, an okay design.
I don't care, this one is just awful.
Would have been tolerable with the crest--maybe even the old alternate lighthouse patch. The font is terrible and ruins the jersey--its very boring and looks like the design was made by someone on a home computer with access to only a handful of fonts.
DOUG711,
Just so you know, someone older than you (albeit only by a couple of years) agrees. Whole-heartedly!
they should of went with a different font style and made it diagonal.
I'm an Islanders fan ... and I just don't like it, I hope and pray that they don't put the players numbers under "ISLANDERS." Please don't make it worse!!!
hideous
It's absolutely horrible, I'm an Islanders fan here and I will not be buying this particular Jersey. Our team gets enough disrespect as it is, we could so without yet another reason for the rest of the Hockey world to bash us. Honestly I was hoping that would bring back an updated Fishermans jersey this season.
Someone should really take that template, add white where grey is and add the Isles normal logo on there, and it might look like a decently acceptable jersey
Just kinda BLAH,, I agree with the comment ,, Looking like the NY Mets ,, Would like to see the lighthouse make a comeback
I agree, Chris, in that the Isles having the stones to actually try another 3rd jersey idea after the horror of the Captain Highliner jersey (as some of us Canadians call it; we don't have Gorton's around here), and they have gotten it right before (the throwback 3rds have finally become the primary jerseys again). In my opinion, the problem is (and it seems many agree) is that they didn't really try too hard here. The reason most of us are fans of this site is because we like to see some creative or interesting designs; that is, we really CARE about what teams put on themselves, and I would bet dollars to donuts that most of us think we could do better. This isn't bragging... it's a genuine feeling that the Isles brass really mailed this one in and most of us could come up with something a lot more aesthetically pleasing. Maybe that should be the next contest?
I completely understand that the Islanders are trying to experiment with new colors, but I don't understand why there isn't an orange sweater in the isles uniform lineup. Us Islander fans used to love the all orange third, something similar would have been a hit on the island.
It's obvious!!! -- the Isles want to cater to the hip-hop and gangsta crowd LOL!! (Unfortunately, i might be accidentally correct.)
Simply awful. It looks like they spent exactly ten minutes designing this turd - Anaheim template, ugly font that looks like it came from a 90's computer, terrible colour scheme - and they completely ignored their fan-base that said NO BLACK. How does this ownership group survive when they continually make stupid decisions like this? It must be absolute hell to be an Islanders' fan.
Its pretty ugly, but far from being the ugliest jersey in history.