Rangers Unveil Winter Classic Threads
Monday · Nov 28 · 2011 | 1:26 PM PST
Today, the New York Rangers officially unveiled their 2012 Winter Classic sweater. And I'm happy to report that every so-called "leak" along the way proved wrong, leaving us all surprised this afternoon. For the most part.
While no fan concept or Chinese knock-off scored on the details, some of the larger, more obvious ideas are on display here. For example, the jersey is vintage white — in other words, not white. It's got a tie-up collar and a traditional striping pattern.
It's a very simple design but there's something about the oversized stripes that make the players almost look like kids. Not sure if that was intentional. But if it was, it's kind of brilliant. Part of the draw of the outdoor game is to recapture that feeling of children playing on the pond in tattered old sweaters. The vintage white adds to that, making the jerseys look unwashed.
Rangers unveil Winter Classic jerseyMany are likely to cry foul at the notion of the Rangers wearing the shield on their chest. For two short seasons between 1976 and 1978, the team stepped away from the text-only sweaters they'd worn for 50 years. And then of course in the late '90s they introduced the Lady Liberty jerseys, which were quite a hit. But other than that, they've basically used the same uniform design since, well, forever.
Much like the Boston Bruins' Winter Classic jersey from 2010, the Rangers' 2012 edition isn't based on any single design from their history, but is rather a combination of elements from the past spruced up with some new ideas.
Despite that, you have to ask yourself, when you look at it, do you immediately know it's a Rangers jersey? And I'd have to say yes. Regardless of seeing the crest, how can you call this anything but a Rangers sweater? Could be the colors. Could be the shoulders. Whatever it is, it works.
Time for links. In their official release, the Rangers credit the design to a partnership with Reebok. Our friends at the Hockey Uniform Database have the Rangers' complete sweater history on display for you. And you can find a few more pictures of the new threads on the team's Facebook page. And a lot more on Blueshirts United.
And if you've been living beneath a rock, the 2012 NHL Winter Classic at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia between the Flyers and New York Rangers takes place on Jan. 2 at 1 PM ET. Both jerseys are now officially out. (For those keeping score at home, we now have all of the new uniforms expected for the 2011-12 season — that is, unless the NHL breaks out new All-Star threads, which I don't expect.)
Anyway, what are your thoughts on what the Rangers will wear to the Winter Classic? It's close to what we had been expecting. Is that a good thing or a bad thing?
Reader Comments (80)
I Like it but i too would loved to see the wordmark "Rangers" over the number on the front like the Rangers sweater from 1946..... The New york Rangers always have nice jerseys, much better then there friends from Long Island
It looks decent. I dont like the extended logo. Plus there could be places where there can be regular white like inbetween red and blue strips and most deffently the laces! But overall its an great Rangers jersey. I personally can't wait to play in these.
Hate the Rangers, LOVE these jerseys!
The Flyers WC jersey is disgusting & a disappointment. They should have went with a Quakers paced design.
It looks good but the Flyers have a better jersey.
It's kinda boring too. Good but boring.
It's OK.... The stripes at the bottom look awkward to me. They should be blue on the top, and red on the bottom like the shoulders. I also think this sweater would look super sweet with the "New York " print from their current third instead of the crest.
Not bad at all! They now have two great alt. jersey with their navy one.
Not that great. I personally prefer the Flyers over this one by a lot. I even think the Rangers current jerseys are better than this one.
well what i'm surprised nobody pointed out is that the logo looks like a hybrid of the Ranger Shield and the New York Americans logo from 1933. Its a small stretch but i get why they rounded the crest rather then go with the old shield.
This jersey has a STRAIGHT HEM AT THE WAIST!!!!! I love it.
All Reebok jerseys need to do that.
Overall, not bad. As a Ranger fan it's odd to not see the diagonal Rangers across the front but I like that they went with a crest. I like this better than the navy alternate introduced last year (it just looks like a knock off with cheaper design elements - block font, no shadow on numbers, no vertically arched names on back).
My only major gripe is that they should have adjusted the stripe patterns to make them more consistent. I like the shoulder and sleeve stripes but something about the stripes at the waist doesn't look right (maybe because they look like the waist stripes on the Canadiens jerseys).
Nice, but I like the recent anniversary 3rds more.
Am I the only one who thinks it looks like Edmonton Oilers jersey from the back?
like this a lot more than the flyers WC jersey, would have a liked a bit more blue and a little less vintage white, but overall a very good effort!!
If you only look at the striping on the arms and bottom, it looks like it would be a Habs sweater.
Okay, in the photo of Lundqvist that you added in the update, the red and blue of the numbers look like they match the red and blue of the rest of the jersey... All is right in the world!
I'm sure they will release new All-Star jerseys. They do for every All-Star for obvious sales reasons, especially for the fans present in attendance. I'm sure they will look very similar to the ones in Carolina with basically the NHL shield and stars, but with more of Ottawa's colours (black, red, white).
Ugh, I absolutely DESPISE the use of the vintage white. Wait, is that vintage white? I can't tell. I love the jersey, but I don't like it if it is in fact vintage white.
Yet again, two good sets to look forward to during the winter classics. If I liked the Rangers AT ALL I would purchase this sweater... Looks nice! Well done Rangers and Flyers.
So are they going to paint the ice, boards and nets vintage white also? Dingy Yellow looks pretty gross looking.
I really like it, REALLY like the fact that its another jersey/sweater that doesn't have RBK's stupid Diaper Hem. Hopefully all teams will get the memo and go back to a straight bottom hem...my Pens included!!
@Brandon Dubinsky- your not really brandon Dubinsky, a real player wouldn't say what they don't like about the jerseys, common really?
The only thing i do not like is that the winterclassic is on one shoulder. I really like symmetry
The logo isnt new the rangers used it (with this one having minor alterations) from 1926 to 1947 its not new the rangers just used an old logo frome their early history
Can I just say one thing? I don't understand the outcry everytime vintage white is used. Some jerseys are white, some are off-white. It's just a shade. A variation of a colour. It's not the first time we've seen it. New York Rangers have blue jerseys. Last year they introduced a blue alternate. Just a different shade of blue, that's all. What's the difference? How come nobody speaks out then?
New York Rangers have blue. Toronto Maple Leafs have blue. They're different though. They're not the exact same hue. Is there one blue that's more "correct" or "ugly" or "better looking?" No. Why is this new rule applied to "vintage-white?" Well, probably because now it has a nickname and is often identified recently, making it easier to hate on a whim.
New Jersey Devils, Carolina Hurricanes, Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks. They all have red jerseys. Different shades, though. Which one is true red, and which one is off-red? Nobody can really say.
Also for the sake of argument, let's just say for a second that black and white ARE colours, not light and/or pigment.
- John Kordic
Vintage white as base color for a retro jersey works great, as an accent color on a dark jersey, not so much...
It ranks high on my Winter Classic list, better than Buffalo and Pittsburgh for sure
What the hell is everyone's fascination with "vintage" white? Let's make new jerseys, but I want them to look really old and dirty. I swear to god the next fad is going to be sublimated moth holes on the jersey. What is wrong with regular white? It's not even accurate either, if you want it to look truly vintage the shade of off-white would be different in certain places. It would look pit-stained and greasy. Great thing to replicate.
I vote we stop calling it vintage white and start calling it cream, or ivory. Aside from that, I'm not a fan. The Flyers will definitely be the sharper dressed team come January.
I like it but i dont understend why people dont like the vintage white. I like it especially on that old chicago jersey that was nice. AS fo this jersey i think that the simple design that they used looks good they bring back the past with a splash of the future. overall this jersey works well in this rangers herritage
Off topic, but since we're talking about the NY Rangers and their jerseys, why hasn't the schedule for the Heritage jersey been posted?
The team wears it for every Original Six matchup at MSG, as well as every Sunday Home game.
Absolutely perfect. I am not a Rangers fan in the least bit, but all four of their sweaters are classic and reflect what a team uniform set should be. Bravo design team...bravo!