Coming Soon: The NHL's Worst Logo!
Friday · Dec 21 · 2007 | 3:28 PM PSTAll right, yes, it may say in the header of this blog that we're on a quest to find the "best" logo in the NHL, but by popular demand, we're going to digress from that a little in the new year.
Following the Secondary Logo Tournament, we'll ring in 2008 by deciding on the worst logo in NHL history. And you will determine which logos will be part of the new bracket!
Here's how it's going to work. We'll start with a pool of 16 logos and narrow that down to the very worst ever seen in the league. Those 16 logos will be determined by nominations made by you, the readers of NHLToL. Feel free to make nominations by leaving comments. (But only comment on THIS POST. Don't email me directly and don't make your nominations on other posts. This is where I'll be looking.) I'll start tallying things up over the next few weeks and then reveal the final bracket in January.
Now as with any good competition, we have to have some ground rules. The only eligible logos include those in use from 1967-68 onward (the year the league expanded from the Original Six). While some of you may not like this limitation, I think it's fair to say that many of the NHL logos that made appearances in the 1920s and '30s aren't really up to par in terms of design as those created in the last 50 years.
Feel free to argue that point with me, though. I'm willing to do whatever you guys want, within reason, but why needlessly poke fun at the Hamilton Tigers, Philadelphia Quakers and St. Louis Eagles (and others) just because they weren't into hiring graphic designers in those days? I'm all about a fair fight.
So having said that, everything else that's ever been worn on a jersey is fair game. Primary logos, secondary (shoulder) logos, third jersey logos — whatever! You guys make your nominations here and in a few weeks we'll have our pool. Also, if you opt to nominate a more obscure logo, be sure to include an image link so that we can see it. If it's really obscure, I can't guarantee I'll be able to include it, but don't let that stop you.
Now start the nominations!
Reader Comments (82)
How about the "Dead Pigeon" logo the Pens used from '93 till 2000? http://www.chriscreamer.com/logo.php?id=3102
Other bad logos:
~The Buffaslug
~The Flyers (awful)
~Any Canucks logo (esp. that hockey stick one - just lame)
~Nordiques
~Original Coyotes logo
~Any Ducks logo
All of the Blue Jackets logos (can we have a tournament for worst team names while we're at it?)
i nominate the current sabers primary logo
the st. louis trumpet one and that dallas stars third jersey logo
The Canucks logos not among the best in the league, nor the worst. As people tell canuck fans not to vote for a mediocre logo, don't nominate a decent and classic looking shoulder crest or a classy looking primary for a worst logo contest.
This begins and ends with the Buffaslug.
I think the Av's primary is terrible. It has to be on the list. I prefer the "bigfoot" to that.
Maple Leafs 1960s
Senators 1920s (now the secondary logo)
Blackhawks 1930s
the Flames "horse on fire" logo
the Buffalo Sabres "slug" logo
Boston Bruins "bear" logo
The Colorado Rockies
The Dallas Stars 3rd jersey logo
Montreal 1930s logo
The purple ang yellow Kings logo
I nominate:
Buffaslug (Piling on here, sorry)
Mooterus
Capitals current primary (I know several ppl here love it, but c'mon, the Original 1970's logo was boring and now they made it worse! The hockey stick is upside down, for crying out loud!)
Vancouver V (Stick logo was their best)
Some of these posts require clarification or links... eg. What the heck is a charging poop smear or a rabid squirrel? (None on that post make sense to me)
Finally, lay off the Flaming Horse, that logo was intensely cool! (For those who don't know, Calgary is host to the world's largest and richest [prize money] rodeo, so the logo represents both Calgary [horse] and Flames)
1. Buffalo Slugs
2. The LA Burger Kings
3. Wild Wing flying through the ice
4. NYI Fishsticks
5. Pluckey the Whale
6. Flameing Horse
7. Dallas Stars Bull Constellation
8. Bruins Bear Head
9. Columbus Blue Jackets Insect
10. Phoenix Multicolored Coyote
11. NJ DEVILS GREEN
Nashville's current secondary logo is just awful. I agree with those who said Columbus' old secondaries and Dallas' Mooterus. But I do have to say that Vancouver's 1978 'Flying V' sweater has my vote.
I think they've all been said...
The current Anaheim Logo
The Buffaslug
The Boston Winnie-the-Poohs
The high-liner fisherman from the NY Islanders.
Cleveland Barons
Dallas "Mooterus"
Here is something original: The montreal Canadiens, in the 20s, had a globe as thier primary jersey logo because they were "world champions". I nominate that.
http://www.sportslogos.net/logo.php?id=254
you people are too harsh on the Seal (although I don't care for the 'Seals' script logo.) The original was great. I also loved the Nordique. Once I got to be a little older and realized that it was a stylized 'N', I thought it was great in the same manner that the Expos' was. Second worst ever? Cleveland Barons. Worst ever? The 'Nucks "V". The anti-logo. Conceptual masturbation.
Here's My List.
1. Mighty Ducks (Wildwing) 1995-1996
2. Thrashers (Bird Silhouette) 1999-Present
3. Bruins (Bear Head) 1976-1995
4. Sabres (BuffaSlug) 2006-Present
5. Flames (Horse) 1998-Present
6. Golden Seals (Primary) 1970-1974
7. Blue Jackets (Yellow Jacket) 2000-2004
8. Stars (Mooterus) 2003-2006
9. Oilers (Oilman)1996-Present
10. Panthers (Stick/Palm Tree)1993-Present
11. Kings (Angry King) 1995-1996
12. Predators (Skull) 2001-Present
13. Devils (Christmas) 1982-1992
14. Islanders (Fisherman) 1995-1997
15. Penguins (Original) 1967-68
16. Blues (Third Jersey) Never Used
Worst logo? Sabres Banana Slug. Second worst logo? That boring Vancouver hockey stick (how did that end up in the running for best secondary logo?)
Because it's the best secondary logo. Seriously. Simplicity is the essence of a good logo. The habs logo won best primary - why can't the canucks win secondary?
Vancouver ANYTHING!
Chicago ANYTHING
Columbus ANYTHING
Buffalo Current
Anaheim ANYTHING
Phoenix ANYTHING
IMO, when simple is good is when it lasts more than 10 seasons. For this fact Boston, Montreal, Detroit are great logos...maybe not the most creative but without a doubt solid logos because of their representation. Vancouver has the worst not because of their lack of creativity but because they keep messing with their image. Pick one and stay with it is all I suggest.
All of the Predators jerseys, Atlantas blue one, Stars 3rd jersey, lightnings 3rd jersey,sabers new jerseys(slugs),and the new sharks jerseys
Let me be the first to say the current New York Rangers logo...I hate it!
Nashville's alternate logo on the front of the mustard yellow unis....GUH. this one is hands down, and everyone who thinks otherwise is...wrong. it looks like a 4th grader drew it.
i nominate the oilers logo
HockeyFreak...I concur
i nominate the ducks and everything they stand for. pucking fronger.
I nominate the oilers primary logo it is horible
BUFFALO'S " SLUG "
EMBARRASSING!!!
The Buffaslug is the absolute worst...nothing else even comes close. And it's even more embarrassing because the Sabres' original logo is one of the BEST logos ever! Anyone associated with the creation of that sorry excuse for graphic design should be fired immediately with extreme prejudice!! And give the Predators back their color scheme, too!
i nominate the oilers primary logo it sucks
i'll vote for the Phoenix Coyotes 96 logo...
wtf was that?