0677: A Very Wild Christmas

So often the Minnesota Wild are given a hard time for their "Christmas colors." And whether you agree or not, today one is the perfect opportunity to celebrate that. First up is Mat Ware whose created home and alternate jerseys to go with the team's new road sweater.

Next is a sweater by David Parkinson who put together just the right combination of red and green for that holiday feel.

On the other hand, Justin Nahhas went with a green jersey and still achieved a similar effect.

Finally, Dylan Wonka presents a pair of jerseys. The white one is pretty solid, but the Wild but the green one has some very merry striping if you ask me.

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BONUS CONCEPT

Before you go, I've got a bonus concept that was tailor-made for today. Our favorite 8-bit artist Al McCready recreated the Stars' and Hurricanes' new uniforms in his unique style. Merry Christmas!

0659: Minnesota's Winter Classic

After a week's worth of Stadium Series concepts, the Winter Classic is probably a good subject for this Outdoor Saturday. Matt Madore wants to see the 2016 Winter Classic in Minnesota where he has the Wild hosting the Blues.

It may not be based on anything specific from Minnesota's hockey history, but it definitely has that retro feel. And the Blues jersey, well that's just superb. Job done.

Maybe next week we can find some concept artists not named Matt or Justin. (Kidding!)

0596: Winter in Denver

We recently learned that Washington, D.C. will play host to the 2015 NHL Winter Classic. But before we knew that, Jamie Robertson imagined Denver hosting a game between the Avalanche and Wild. So it won't be 2015, but maybe somewhere down the road? It has the potential to be a great-looking game.

0588: Freak Outs by Ryan Yuck

Our theme week continues into this Freak Out Friday with the guy you might call the King of Freak Outs. Ryan Yuck's tendency toward the unfamiliar can be jarring at times. You could never call his work bad, but it's definitely out there. Like this re-imagining of the Islanders' fisherman jersey — without the fisherman or the wavy stripes.

Here he merges the Canucks with the old Vancouver Millionaires. It's a strange idea for a hockey sweater, yet there's something about it you can't help but like. Maybe it's the green.

Speaking of green, Ryan's Wild concept takes a little inspiration from the Minnesota club that preceded it — the North Stars. His work is definitely creative and worth taking the time to look at, but I'm not sure I'd necessarily want to see it on NHL ice. What do you think?

0583: By Bastian Schmülling

I'm launching a brand new theme week today! We have so many artists who are so prolific that I thought they deserved their own week right before hockey season starts. So each day we'll feature a trio of concepts from a specific designer, starting here with Bastian Schmülling. His Wild jerseys may look a little dingy, but they also look like instant classics.

The Flames could use a uniform simplification and Bastian has the perfect answer and the best use of black I've ever seen on a Flames concept.

Finally, the Ducks need a way to distinguish their palette from the Flyers and that gold just isn't cutting it. So how about green? Not the first time we've seen green and orange combined in an Anaheim concept, but certainly among the better examples.

Bastian still has a ton of work that's gone unpublished to date, but I'm working to rectify that. He's got a great eye for uniform design and I, for one, am always excited to see what new ideas he's come up with.

0561: Nevermind the Early Release

Well, we're not going to let some early release rain on our parade, are we? The Wild's new road jersey showed up in official photos on their website late last night, but that won't keep me from showing some concepts anyway. Like this one from Matt McElroy, who came the closest to getting it right. Nobody planned for the squared off shoulder yoke though.

Brian Brideau has a habit of being right about these things and he too came pretty darn close. I like his take on the unlayered, solid color numbers. Gives the jersey that old-timey feel.

And Michael Baumann, well he's been here before. He submitted a concept back in January awfully similar to this. Talk about psychic, right? All three of these concepts were submitted prior to last night's reveal so they're all legitimate guesses.

No offense to these talented guys, but I'm mighty impressed with what Minnesota actually came out with. I don't think it needs to be improved upon. You?

0556: White Hot Prediction

The Minnesota Wild are unveiling their new road jersey by bits and pieces this week, with the full reveal coming Sunday. While we wait, here's what Jeff Kiesel is predicting. Not unlike the third jersey in style but with the full primary logo on the front just like always.