NHL Tournament of Logos

Entries in central (65)

Wednesday
Jul182007

Red Wings vs Wild


vs
RED WINGS
WILD
3-6
8-0

The Aesthetics
I feel like the detail in the Red Wings logo is a little too heavy-handed and unnecessary. However, I don't see any upgrades coming for it in the near future. People in Detroit love their team and their traditional logo, in 80 years, we've yet to see even a secondary logo that veers from this design. Anyway, that forest scene in the Wild logo gets cooler every time I look at it.
Wild

The Nickname
There may be a bird in the wild with Red Wings, but the Wild is an unforgiving place with plenty of predators.
Wild

The Analysis
I've given this point to the Red Wings on many occasions for the wheel attached to the wing, signifying Detroit as the Motor City. But what better scene could you have to portray Minnesota? Plus the name itself gives you a clue as to the teams geographical location. I can't really think of how you could improve upon the Wild logo. Hence the sweep.
Wild


WINNER
3-0

 

Wednesday
Jul182007

Blackhawks vs Avalanche


vs
BLACKHAWKS
AVALANCHE
2-9
7-0

The Aesthetics
I hate to say it, but look at the records, this may be a really easy one. But the tournament is winding down for the Blackhawks. Just two more matches left after today. So let's get to it. As I discussed with a reader in the comments a few days ago, I counted eight different colors in the Blackhawks logo. It desperately needs a more defined color scheme. The Avalanche logo, on the other hand, is one of those all-around sports logo classics.
Avalanche

The Nickname
I don't care how tough Chief Blackhawk thinks he is, even an Avalanche would do him in.
Avalanche

The Analysis
You could say both logos do a decent job of being logos. As much as I complain about the Blackhawks logo, there are no words or hockey paraphernalia in it. I just can't get past the colors and overall design. There are bigger and better things you can do with a name like Blackhawks. The Avalanche logo has great colors a cool design and subtle elements like the puck at the bottom end of the avalanche itself. I'm also a fan of the bigfoot secondary logo but I know this competition isn't about those.
Avalanche


WINNER
3-0

 

Saturday
Jul142007

Canucks vs Blackhawks


vs
CANUCKS
BLACKHAWKS
3-5
2-8

The Aesthetics
I like the proportions and shapes of these logos but I think the winner in this category is plain to see. With cool colors a simple, unique design, the Canucks take it.
Canucks

The Nickname
Chief Blackhawk and his savage ways. A Canuck wouldn't stand a chance.
Blackhawks

The Analysis
In this category, the first thing I look at is whether the logo properly fits the team's name. Here, the Canucks logo features an orca. Not quite what I had in mind. I then look to see if the logo in any way references the team's home city. There's a case to be made that the whale references the Pacific northwest region while the "C" could not only stand for Canucks, but Canada as well. In fact, three of the six Canadian teams have logos built from the letter "C." It might be a stretch to give the Canucks this point, but there's just too much going on in the Blackhawks logo.
Canucks


WINNER
2-1

 

Saturday
Jul142007

Stars vs Red Wings


vs
STARS
RED WINGS
3-2
2-6

The Aesthetics
The Stars logo is mostly made up of the team name with the "A" in Stars making the tip of the star. In comparison, the Red Wings logo may be more detailed but is cleaner and better-looking as logos go.
Red Wings

The Nickname
As usual, giant ball of fire versus anything yields a predictable result. The Star burns up the Red Wing.
Stars

The Analysis
This one is actually a bit more difficult to decide than it may seem. While both logos obviously portray the name well, its the way they symbolize where they're from that grabs my attention. The wheel attached to the wing references Motor City but at the same time, the big "lone star" in the Stars logo makes me thing Texas. It's kind of a toss-up but ultimately those 11 letters in the Stars logo will be the detrimental factor for it.
Red Wings


WINNER
2-1

 

Friday
Jul132007

Blue Jackets vs Blues


vs
BLUE JACKETS
BLUES
4-1
4-4

The Aesthetics
Sometimes you can feel action in a still logo and I feel it in the Blue Jackets logo — in a good way. It's a very smart logo with appropriate attention to detail. I like the two-tone blue in the Blues logo but its not quite enough to steal this point away.
Blue Jackets

The Nickname
A Blue Jacket carries a bayonet. A Blues man carries a sax. Do the math.
Blue Jackets

The Analysis
The Blue Jackets name leaves little room to screw up the logo, although you wouldn't know it based on previous logos. This one just makes sense. The Ohio flag more than references the home state of the team while the Blues logo is really little more than a musical note with a wing. I don't really get the wing, but that's not why they're getting swept. The new Blue Jackets logo is just that good.
Blue Jackets


WINNER
3-0

 

Friday
Jul132007

Kings vs Blackhawks


vs
KINGS
BLACKHAWKS
2-5
2-7

The Aesthetics
Both logos have a lot of detail but one thing I really like is their unique outlines. Imagine seeing just shadows of the logos. It's a good sign when you can place it based solely on that. More on that another day. Still, though, its the Kings with the obviously better looking logo. Defined and unique colors along with those subtle hockey sticks in the crown tip the scales in their favor.
Kings

The Nickname
I believe it was the King who ran the Indians and Chief Blackhawk out of town. He was a bastard.
Kings

The Analysis
The logos are appropriate for their teams. That's always a good start. The Kings logo, however, goes a step further in reference their home city with the suns on either side of the crown. Nothing really there in the Blackhawks logo. And it has too many colors.
Kings


WINNER
3-0

 

Thursday
Jul122007

Red Wings vs Ducks


vs
RED WINGS
DUCKS
1-6
1-6

The Aesthetics
Despite using just one color, the Red Wings logo is at least a logo. The Ducks "wordmark" — despite earning a win yesterday — is still not really a logo in my opinion. I like the colors and the webbed duck foot for the "D" as I've been saying, but that doesn't change the overriding facts.
Red Wings

The Nickname
Ducks have wings, not Red Wings, but wings and more.
Ducks

The Analysis
The Red Wings often get this point for the wheel attached to the wing symbolizing Detroit as the Motor City. Unfortunately, the Ducks logo makes only a lamely blatant attempt at referencing Anaheim by actually writing out the name.
Red Wings


WINNER
2-1

 

Thursday
Jul122007

Blackhawks vs Wild


vs
BLACKHAWKS
WILD
2-6
5-0

The Aesthetics
More times than I'd like to admit I've explained the problems inherent with the Blackhawks logo. And all the reasons I love the Wild logo. But all you really have to do is look at the two of them right next to each other to know who deserves this point. Creativity gets the Wild this point.
Wild

The Nickname
You're nuts if you don't think Chief Blackhawk knows his way around the Wild.
Blackhawks

The Analysis
What you see is what you get when it comes to these teams' names. The logos are appropriate symbols for the names but one clearly does it better than the other. Simplify the Indian head, already! You can do it, Chicago! I believe in you. Meanwhile, like I said yesterday, the Wild logo more than goes out of its way to fit in so many little bits that you can look at it a million times and see something new every time. That's what a logo really should be.
Wild


WINNER
2-1

 

Wednesday
Jul112007

Ducks vs Blackhawks


vs
DUCKS
BLACKHAWKS
0-6
2-5

The Aesthetics
While the Ducks logo is pretty much nothing more than a wordmark, at least it has a defined color scheme. Which is more than can be said about the Blackhawks logo. Aside from poor, cluttered design, the colors in the feather and face appear nowhere else on the uniform. Can it be true? Do the Ducks get their first point of the tournament here against the Blackhawks?
Ducks

The Nickname
I don't know if the Indians ate Duck, but I suppose if they did, one would be in danger around Chief Blackhawk.
Blackhawks

The Analysis
I truly wish for the Ducks' sake that the webbed "D" was the logo — by itself. It would give the team a much better overall performance. Of that I'm sure. But with all the other letters (nonsense) in this logo, it's difficult. But things aren't that much better for the Blackhawks logo. The clutter hurts my eyes. More than the letters. At the very least, the Ducks logo references its home town even if it is blatant. A win for the Ducks. Bet you never thought you'd see the day.
Ducks


WINNER
2-1

 

Tuesday
Jul102007

Red Wings vs Canucks


vs
RED WINGS
CANUCKS
1-5
2-4

The Aesthetics
Both logos are a little heavy on the detail but with the Canucks, it doesn't seem to detract. The extra colors make it look a little busier than the Red Wings logo, but color never hurt anyone.
Canucks

The Nickname
If he was a woodsman, a Canuck would perhaps hunt a Red-Winged bird.
Canucks

The Analysis
This has been the downfall of the Canucks logo throughout this tournament. The team will be getting a new one this summer but not for another three weeks. For those of you who haven't been following along, it's the misplaced whale that's giving me a problem here. A Canuck is not a whale. Anyway, we get a red wing in the Red Wings logo, which is topped off with an old-time wheel to symbolize the Motor City.
Red Wings


WINNER
2-1