NHL Tournament of Logos

Entries in central (65)

Sunday
Jul292007

Blue Jackets vs Red Wings


vs
BLUE JACKETS
RED WINGS
8-1
4-7

The Aesthetics
The Red Wings logo is very flat. There is one color and its traditional as with any Original Six team. I think it's okay but also that there's still room for improvement. But I'll leave it there. As for the Blue Jackets logos, it's a huge improvement over the previous logo (anybody remember the electric green bee?). At the very least, it makes better use of color than the Wings logo does.
Blue Jackets

The Nickname
A Blue Jacket may carry a bayonet, but chances of him shooting a bird with Red Wings are slim.
Red Wings

The Analysis
Both teams have colors in their names and yes, those colors are prominent in each logo. In fact, red is the only color in the Red Wings logo. The Blue Jackets logo prominently features the Ohio flag wrapped around a silver star in the form of a "C" as has been mentioned. A reader also pointed out that the star signifies Columbus as the capital city. And, yes, it's that cool.
Blue Jackets


WINNER
2-1

 

Saturday
Jul282007

Wild vs Blue Jackets


vs
WILD
BLUE JACKETS
11-1
7-1

The Aesthetics
These are the league's two youngest teams, part of the most recent expansion. As far as aesthetics, this is one of the most difficult matches to judge. This incarnation of the Blue Jackets is simply the best ever devised. At the same time The Wild logo is pretty awesome. Some may not necessarily agree, but they really have to want it to see it. I don't know who to choose. I'm tempted to flip a coin. But since I can't do that, I'm going with the Blue Jackets for reasons unknown.
Blue Jackets

The Nickname
A Blue Jacket should know his way around the Wild, but if he were to face a bear, I don't know that he could necessarily hold his own.
Wild

The Analysis
A clever forest scene of Minnesota versus an Ohio flag wrapped around a silver star. How do you decide? Somebody really knew what they were doing when they designed these. However, while the Wild logo could befit any forest-laden locale, the Blue Jackets logo is very specific to Ohio. My love for the Wild logo will have to be overtaken. I'm sorry to say.
Blue Jackets


WINNER
2-1

 

Friday
Jul272007

Blues vs Coyotes


vs
BLUES
COYOTES
4-7
4-3

The Aesthetics
Let's just get this out of the way. I'm going with the Blues logo here. The Coyotes logo isn't terrible, but nor is it great. They have yet to find a great logo in my opinion.
Blues

The Nickname
Coyotes howl and so does a Blues singer for that matter. Fortunately for the Blues man, if he ever had to face a Coyote, perhaps he'd have a saxophone with which to whack it on the head. (Try not to find the logic of a Blues singer carrying a sax into the desert. You'll never get there.)
Blues

The Analysis
Even though it probably won't live on as a classic NHL logo a hundred years from now, the Coyotes logo is at least a coyote. Sometimes I think a trumpet or some other musical instrument would be a better fit for the Blues logo. Despit that, I still like the musical note, I just don't quite get the wing attached to it. Anyone?
Coyotes


WINNER
2-1

 

Wednesday
Jul252007

Wild vs Predators


vs
WILD
PREDATORS
9-0
7-4

The Aesthetics
These are two teams still working on their first decade in the NHL — though if certain billionaires have their way, the Preds won't make it beyond ten years. The most noticeable thing about these two logos is their similarities in shape. There are very distinct triangles make up the heads of some rather vicious animals. I think they are two of the league's best and that shows in the standings. Still, I think the Predators logo could use a little less minutia and final a real focus for the color scheme. The Wild logo already has all of that.
Wild

The Nickname
You might say a Predator is the king of the Wild, catching prey and dispatching of it.
Predators

The Analysis
By now, you already know the story of how the Predators got their name. Unfortunately, there's no sign of the city of Nashville in the logo, so it will be very easily transferred to Hamilton, er Kansas City, er... screw it. Anyway, I've also already talked in length about the greatness of the Wild logo in its ability to work in so much in such a small space.
Wild


WINNER
2-1

 

Tuesday
Jul242007

Avalanche vs Blues


vs
AVALANCHE
BLUES
8-1
4-6

The Aesthetics
It's been hard for any team to beat the Avalanche in this category but the Blues logo serves as stiff competition. I'm a fan of the two-toned blue in the Blues logo but with that subtle puck at the end of the Avalanche logo, I'm tempted to lean more in that direction. It's a tough call but it's gotta be made.
Avalanche

The Nickname
Not only would a Blues musician be inconsequential to an Avalanche, but you could argue that a trumpet if played loud enough could cause one. You'd have to be in a Wile E. Coyote/Road Runner cartoon, but you could.
Avalanche

The Analysis
I'm still none the wiser as to the reason for a wing being attached to a blue musical note in the Blues logo. I get it in the Flyers logo but I don't get it here. Don't misunderstand, I think it's a great logo but it leaves me with questions which must be asked in this section. I can hardly think of a single complaint or question for the Avs logo. It's that good. What's sad is I don't know how the Blues logo got swept in this match.
Avalanche


WINNER
3-0

 

Sunday
Jul222007

Coyotes vs Red Wings


vs
COYOTES
RED WINGS
3-2
3-7

The Aesthetics
Visually, I'm more a fan of the Coyotes logo mainly because of its color usage. The red and white of the Red Wings logo often seems flat to me. Beyond that, it could use an upgrade.
Coyotes

The Nickname
A Red-Winged bird (or a bird of any sort) would be wise to keep itself airborne when in danger to avoid the clutches of a predator like the Coyote.
Red Wings

The Analysis
The wheel attached to the wing in the Red Wings logo has often won this point for that team. And it should be no different here as the Coyotes logo doesn't really make any reference to its home city. The desert colors and feel are nice, but what's to stop anyone from assuming New Mexico or even Las Vegas as the team's locale?
Red Wings


WINNER
2-1

 

Saturday
Jul212007

Blues vs Stars


vs
BLUES
STARS
4-5
3-4

The Aesthetics
Both logos are simple and strong if you can look past the wordmarks in the Stars logo. Unfortunately, for this point, I can't.
Blues

The Nickname
The all-consuming ball of fire we call a Star would have its way with anything on this planet. Even the Blues and those who sing them.
Stars

The Analysis
The Blues logo is a blue musical note. Very fitting. I did like the shoulder logo they wore in the '90s with the blue trumpets but I think most St. Louis fans would revolt over that one. As for the Stars, if you can go beyond the wordmarks, which I can for this point, you can't help but notice the the giant star is by itself — like the Lone Star State of Texas. The Blues logo really makes no references to the Gateway City.
Stars


WINNER
2-1

 

Saturday
Jul212007

Predators vs Blue Jackets


vs
PREDATORS
BLUE JACKETS
7-3
6-1

The Aesthetics
The top two logos in the Central Division are going head-to-head this afternoon. Both logos are rather detailed and have great colors, albeit the Predators' colors are aren't as common. For originality, this point goes the way of the Preds.
Predators

The Nickname
The Blue Jackets would be armed with bayonets so no Predator would have a chance unless it was impervious bullets and knives.
Blue Jackets

The Analysis
With the Ohio flag strewn across a silver star, there's no way the Blue Jackets logo can lose this point. I like the Predators logo and the reason behind it, but just looking at it, you wouldn't necessarily know the team was from Nashville. In fact, they could be from Hamilton and we wouldn't know the difference. All right, that's enough digs from me.
Blue Jackets


WINNER
2-1

 

Friday
Jul202007

Sharks vs Predators


vs
SHARKS
PREDATORS
4-5
6-3

The Aesthetics
Neither of these two logos are very simple in design but offer unique colors and appropriate symbols for their teams. I like the teal but the Sharks logo does not make enough use of it. There's a thin line of it in the triangle surrounding the shark. Plus, there's a hockey stick so I don't exactly love it. Meanwhile, the Predators logo is very sharp despite its minute detail.
Predators

The Nickname
This is a tricky one. In most instances, a Shark is a Predator. In part for that reason, the Sharks will slide by with this point.
Sharks

The Analysis
The Predators got their name from the remains of a saber-toothed tiger found by construction workers during the building of their arena. The Sharks don't have a story like that. All right, but I can't hold that against them. What I can say is that this outdated logo needs an update. And one is coming in just four days, as a matter of fact. Maybe it'll have a better chance then.
Predators


WINNER
2-1

 

Thursday
Jul192007

Avalanche vs Blue Jackets


vs
AVALANCHE
BLUE JACKETS
8-0
5-1

The Aesthetics
I hate it when I have to pit two really great logos against each other. And this is just such a case. They're a little similar in color and overall shape, actually — the curves, the points. As far as colors, the Blue Jackets red, white, blue and silver are somewhat overused in this league. I feel like it's appropriate here though because the team name comes from American history and the colors come from the Ohio flag. And I never liked the electric green. Believe it or not, this is a Blue Jackets point.
Blue Jackets

The Nickname
Being a Union soldier, a Blue Jacket probably wouldn't be trained to survive an Avalanche.
Avalanche

The Analysis
I'm going to forego the babbling here. The Blue Jackets win this point for the Ohio flag being draped around the star. The Avalanche logo doesn't really managed to reference Denver or Colorado in any way.
Blue Jackets


WINNER
2-1