Wild Mulling New Road Sweater?
Wednesday · Dec 26 · 2012 | 12:20 AM PST
There's another possible jersey redesign in the pipeline for 2013-14 — that's assuming the NHL has finally resumed by then. This lockout is well beyond absurd.
Report: Wild getting fan feedback on potential redesign
Recently an Icethetics reader emailed in to report that the Minnesota Wild are in the process of getting feedback from fans regarding a possible new road sweater design. I'm told that during a tour a couple of Wild fans were invited to take a look at two different concept designs and give their input.
The reader provided descriptions but got the information secondhand so the details are somewhat sketchy. I'm relaying them here but take them for what they're worth.
One was a white sweater with the large, Wild head crest on the front, vertical stripes are gone. Replaced with 2 horizontal green stripes on the arms. He said the "red was gone" from the shoulder yoke, but didn't specify whether the shoulders had any color left.
The other option was basically a reverse of the current alternates. Antique white base with the Minnesota Wild Script and green accents.
I'm eager to see what the Wild come up with if they do redesign the road sweater, if for no other reason than their current road uniforms are my least favorite. They just don't fit in well with the club's home and alternate jerseys. Very different look and feel. But it's one that was carried over from the team's inception in 2000 to the Reebok Edge league-wide redesign in 2007.
If this report pans out, what would be the timeline? As we've learned in the past, teams generally have until the end of December to make uniform changes for the following season. Check out the calendar. Assuming the team has its new design picked out this week, a change could certainly happen in time for next fall.
Another one to keep an eye on. Think we may need to get JerseyWatch 2013 started in the coming weeks to keep track of what's on the way because it's starting to add up.
Reader Comments (20)
Yeah, and I wanted to see what's the away jersey, so I went to the Wild's official Shop.. !! Only home and third.. No away.. http://goo.gl/qtxfe I sincerely hope they don't go with their green third reversed in "classic-white".. I hate that new style and the script logos..
The second description makes sense to me. Minnesota's AHL affiliate in Houston currently wears a white version of the Wild 3rd. Looks pretty sharp. http://content.sportslogos.net/logos/2/503/full/2iotkmdgq8rqmhiwhhfh198gm.gif
I can't get excited about a new variation on the 3rd jersey. They have a great logo and should not be ashamed to use it.
I think the Wild road uniforms do not go well with the home uniforms because they ruined the home uniforms when they deviated from the originals. The road whites are the only thing they have left that looks good. And as far as I'm concerned, antique white looks like crap, especially on TV. To me, faded with age isn't a good look.
I can verify they've been doing some research for a while. I was asked this summer by a Wild rep my input on four designs for road jerseys. Two of them where in bright white and two in a vintage "wheat" off-white color. For each color, one jersey had the crest in the middle and one had the crest with a wide green band behind it (think Habs home with the blue stripe). I can't recall the shoulders, sleeves, or bottom of the jerseys.
I believe it would be for 2013-14.
This is bad news... Especially if they go with an antique white version of the current alternate. As you said in your top 10 NHL logos post, the Wild have arguably one of the best logos in NHL history and it should not be replaced with some uninspired script. The current away jersey is the best of the entire set. They should make a green version of that, demote the red to alternate status and burn the current alternate. What is the point of going old school if you're going to ruin it with a phantom shoulder yoke?
I was also asked about the possible new jerseys for the wild this summer. They were as described by Jarick. I would like if they stuck with the original logo just due to the fact it is the original. And the fact that the wild are the only team to have three different logos on their jerseys( technically the flames also do but it's only a color variation), is a kind of cool factor in my mind. They should also keep the bright white and stay away from the vintage, just because no other teams have an off white road jersey.
I'd like to see the Wild make a green jersey based on the London Knights current green jersey with an off-white road jersey. The Wild would have a completely unique identity if they go with antique white road jerseys and a green home jersey.
I have to say the wild logo is horrible and one of the worst in the league, and probably in the history of sports. That being said, the third jersey is one of my favorites. I love the antique white and dark green. It's nice there's a green team still. We need less red uniforms.
I like their current road uniforms. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
I'm always surprised by the total disagreement people have on jersey/logo preference. I'm with you, Chris, in thinking that their current road jerseys are the weakest of all their jerseys. Their logo is fantastic. Their home jerseys are really nice. Their 3rd jersey is maybe my favorite 3rd jersey in the NHL. The script on it is classy and the design of the M is a nod to the Minneapolis Millers of the past. I'm confident they will do something great with the whites.
I love the current set they have. I really like the road uniforms too. I wouldn't be upset if they got rid of the vertical stripes, along as they keep green the focal color of their road uniform, and don't use script. Their logo is amazing. You have to use it on the away uniform in my opinion.
This is the only thing that needs to be done...
http://www.icethetics.info/storage/concepts/BrianBrideau-WildJerseyWheat.png
Don hit the nail on the head. The problem isn't their away uniforms, it's their home ones. And their third ones to a lesser extent. Their original jersey worked great! No need to change them. Lots of green and less or no red is what's needed.
Go with four jerseys...make a cream of the home and a cream of the third. Having the cream jerseys will set them apart from everyone else. All 4 of these uniforms would look fantastic. Realistically, since 4 wouldn't happen, make a cream of the third, make those the home and away, and make the red the third jersey again. Best uniform set in the league, I would buy every single one, AS A HAWKS FAN.
Here's an idea for Minnesota - go back to the North Stars name, N-Star crest, and kelly green, gold, and white colours.
As for the uniforms: kelly green with the white N-Star at home, white with the kelly green N-Star on the road, and a forest green with the white N-Star and harvest wheat accents as an alternate. A resurrected North Stars brand would be timeless.
I am hoping the new road uniforms do keep the main logo, though I am a huge fan of the Aeros' alternate whites. But I love Minnesota's logo. Also, please do start a jersey watch as I only know about this and Dallas having new uniforms next year.
@ Dustin, the only thing I ever did like about the Wild is their logo. Love the Wild name or hate the Wild name like I do, you cannot go wrong on the crest. If the North Stars name never comes back at all, it would be cool if the Nashville Predators merged with Wild and the franchise were renamed the Minnesota Predators with the same Wild crest. A team in a non-hockey market is contracted and one of pro sports' worst team names is replaced with something more classy and professional.
I hope they incorporate all of these proposed jerseys as they currenlty have terrible jersey's. Their red ones need to go as they are Christmas Elf uniforms.
Yes it is time for a change on the road whites, at least change up the number style, and loose the green sleeves, also loose the mountain due lookn shoulder patch, maybe even loose the red altogether we look to much like xmas balbs on ice, and this is the state of hockey, stick with green and off white, look at the maple leafs and red wings, 2 of the original 6 and they each use only two colors both look very sharp on the ice... butt i do like the bear head logo, one of the best in the league... simple always works in hockey sweaters and are current whites are to busy...butt GO WILD change or no change just bring us a cup to M.I.N.N.E.S.O.T.A... cause that is all us fans truly want...