Kings Confirm Uniform Changes
Monday · Mar 21 · 2011 | 12:10 PM PDT
The best source for Los Angeles Kings jersey news continues to be blogger Rich Hammond of LA Kings Insider, who's talking of changes for 2011.
Sneak peek at Kings' prototypes?On Sunday, Hammond confirmed our suspicions regarding the uniform changes the Kings will undergo for the 2011-12 season, saying that the black alternate sweater will become the new home jersey. He also says there will be a white version for the road. This is the first we're hearing of it officially since photos leaked last year.
Regular readers will recall getting an early look at prototypes of white Kings jerseys back in October. This photo (right) was taken from outside Luc Robitaille's office window at the team's practice rink. Robitatille is the Kings' president of business operations.
Now as for the third jersey in 2011, there's a twist. Here's an excerpt from his post:
It seems that the vintage purple-and-gold jerseys will go into mothballs for a while now. This has been a very poorly kept secret, but the Kings are likely to change their primary uniforms next season.
The current third jersey — the black jersey with the “LA” logo — is scheduled to become the full-time home jersey, while a newly created white version of that jersey would become the full-time road jersey. The current home jersey, the black-and-purple jersey with the crown logo, would become the third jersey. Is that confusing enough?
The only thing that confuses me is the idea of dropping the purple-and-gold crown jersey instead of the purple-and-black one. (The throwback was used for the last time this season over the past weekend.) Perhaps they felt it too soon to drop a jersey they've only been wearing for four seasons. However, it does look like this will be the swan song for the current road sweater.
Promotional graphic / KingsCouple of things to note. Rich Hammond's blog is affiliated with the Kings' official website so as far as I'm concerned, his information is practically team confirmation.
And speaking of the team's official site, the marketing images being used to promote 2011 season tickets (right) prominently features the current third jersey — and no purple at all.
So I'm sure I already know what most of you think of the Kings' possibly dropping this year's throwback sweater, but do you think hanging onto the current home jersey is a good idea?
Related: Los Angeles Kings jersey gallery
Reader Comments (61)
@readbetweenthelines - History lesson - The Lakers maintained a two-tone blue color combination until 1965, when they were bought by Jack Kent Cooke. He then, two years later, secured one of the six original expansion franchises. He synched up their color combinations, and the color combination was chosen as it was emblematic of royalty.
I too would relish a chance to see a team in purple and gold again, especially with gold away jerseys, but alas, that is likely to be a pipe dream.
On the other hand, I'm also on the list of the people who want a white Kings jersey for 2011-2.
I think this sucks, the black third is an ok jersey but the logo on it stinks. And now a white jersey with the same logo? It makes me wanna puke. Kings should have a crone och their chest, take the olde one and put it on a jersey and it would rock!
I think that it's amazing that there is one whole division in the NHL that has a unifying colour, Black. Each team in the Pacific Division has at least one black jersey. This is not a surprise, as this was previously mentioned, but if you look at the opportunity of colour variance that exists, it's disappointing. The other colours that did exist were Dallas Green, Phoenix Red, Anaheim Orange, San Jose Teal, and LA Purple. If these teams actually all wore those colours as their dominant representation, they could be amazing. Instead we see Dallas Black and Gold, Phoenix Red, Anaheim Black and Gold, LA (Now) Black and Silver.... etc.
My other point, is that I do like the black Kings sweater more than their current home, but to not keep the classic purple, is a classic FAIL.
I am getting a little tired of some teams significantly changing their uniforms every couple of years. I understand if some design didn't work out the way it was orignally thought (see Islander's Fisherman's Friend jerseys), But L.A's current uni's are fine for the next while, why change (again)? Most teams changed when Reebok came in, and I actually prefered the previous (pre-Reebok) LA uni's. If they would eventually use some version of the purple and yellow as the standard, then the road jerseys should be white with purple and yellow trim (like Buffalo does with blue and yellow), not yellow with purple trim. None of the Yellow jerseys used have looked all that great (Boston seems to be the only one to get it right...might be the shade of yellow used). Pittsburgh's and LA's Yellows were horrid looking, Nashville's mustard was just YUCK...
I like Zenga Zenga's idea. The Kings are as much purple and gold as the Red Wings are red and white. Use black and silver as a third. All these black uniforms in the Pacific Division are just plain brutal and just plain, plain.
I was at a Kings Aves game a few weeks ago and they had the Pee Wees on the ice playing during intermission. One team was wearing the current black alternate and the other was wearing a white version and they looked nice on the ice.
My god, I really detest that LA logo. Give me the crown back, or better yet, the vintage crown logo.
Make it black and silver or whatever, but come on, give me a better crest!!!!
Well, let's see here. With the purple/yellow combo, they are copying the Lakers. With the black/silver combo, they are/were copying the Raiders. With the black/purple combo, they are copying the NBA Kings. Something HAS to give...so how about yellow/silver? A combination of three eras. HAHAHA. In all honesty, how about the proposed black/silver combo with the former crown from the purple/yellow days...current crown looks like the paper hat you get with a happy meal from BK....
A few other things to mull over here....I have to agree with Andre about all the black unis in the Pacific Division: DAL-primary color; S.J-Alternate Jersey; L.A-Primary color; ANA-Primary color; PHX-Alternate jersey. If Dallas went to green as their main color and black as an accent color, that would be neat. I really wish the Sharks would drop the orange trim from their uni's. Reminds me of how the TB Buccaneers kept orange as a trim color to pay "homage" to their creamsicles. Teal and black look sweet together-orange not needed, teal is vibrant.
One other thing-if the Kings completely ditch purple from their color scheme, that will leave no team wearing purple in the NHL, which is too bad. The more different jersey colors the better. I wasn't all that displeased when the Ducks chucked their eggplant unis down the garbage disposal. At times, they almost looked black. Which also reminds of the year right before and after the lockout when ANA sported black alternates to go with the purple. You had THREE teams in ONE state (L.A, ANA, SAC) donning the purple/black combo...yikes
The black/silver/white are awesome. Purple belongs in the WNBA.
I really like the old La Raider/King color scheme. Angelinos will buy them like no tomorrow.
Only change I'd make is ditch the LA shield or w/e you call it thingy, and replace it with a new school crown that they had on the old home purple/black sweaters. and put the LA patch on the shoulder if you had to keep it.