Fan Art To Finish Your Weekend

I think I promised you guys a concept post before the weekend was out, so here it is. I've assembled some of my favorite designs from my stash. There's a lot of quality work, so let's dive in.

First, an interesting new look for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

I'd like to see the jerseys that go with it. If nothing else, the production value is through the roof on this one.

But if you want to talk excellent concept logos, look no further than this one for the Washington Capitals.

I admit I had to stare at it a while, but there it is, a "W" and a "C." And I don't know why it took us so long to realize that if you put those two letters together the right way, it forms a star! However, I'm not sold on the wordmark. I get the whole Declaration of Independence thing (been watching John Adams today), but for a sports team it's not a good idea.

I like that Thrashers jersey as well. With much thanks to Jacob at We're Revolting! for that one.

You guys always give me trouble for my aversion to yellow jerseys, but I've come across a bunch that I actually like — despite their resemblance to what I can only assume is Hillary Clinton's favorite suit.

Well, it's the Boston Bruins of course. Can any other team really do a yellow sweater?

This second set wouldn't work because yellow is still a light color. It wouldn't work as a dark home jersey. However, I am intrigued by the use of the secondary logo with a black background and yellow text.

Up next are the Chicago Blackhawks.

All those stripes do weird things to my brain. And there's not enough contrast in the other one. But I don't know, either could work as a temporary third jersey.

Finally, it's the Buffalo Sabres.

It's a nice logo on a traditional uniform design. I think you'd be hard-pressed to find nay-sayers.

That's good for now. Stay tuned for new polls going up tomorrow both here and at ToHL. Here, we'll have Cam Ward and Josh Harding going head to head and for the WHL Tournament of Logos, it'll be the Calgary Hitmen and the winner of the Americans/Thunderbirds poll which closes tonight.

Just To Freak You Out XXXII

Can you believe this is already the 32nd installment of the Freak Out series? Who knew it would go this long? What's interesting about this week's post is what comes at the end and the fact that it's real and not concocted in the freakish mind of one of the many readers of NHLToL. No, it's quite real and that's what freaks me out the most.

But first, let's talk third jerseys. We know they're making their big comeback next season after having taken a year off. We'll begin in Vancouver.

But wait, there's more!

And I'm sure this was just a case of colors lost in translation.

Doesn't make me feel any better. I'm all right with the purple on the Kings' uniforms because it's partnered with black and silver.

Here's a Lightning jersey even I wouldn't consider buying.

And a Sens sweater absolutely no one would.

But hold on, why one team at a time? Let's go for all 30 all at once.

A good try to be sure, but I'm afraid a few too many of these missed the mark in terms of what one might consider, you know, aesthetically pleasing. (What the hell kind of sentence was that?)

It's worse when you make it look real by painting it onto a player.

And now for the little thing I was teasing at the beginning of this post. I know it's not NHL, but I'm making an exception. The AHL's Lake Erie Monsters, this season, actually wore jerseys that... I'm sorry, there's no other way of putting this. They were tie-dyed. Behold the horror.

Because one photo wasn't enough...

Peace. Love. And hockey.

And now I'm just going to go put forks in my eyes. Until tomorrow, friends.

Third Jersey Ideas

I haven't written a concept art post since the weekend so I think we're due. But it's going to be a short one. One reader came up with 13 different jersey designs he'd like to see implemented for various teams at some point in the future.

I told you it'd be short, but we've got 13 different teams covered. Hope you enjoy it.

We've got a Freak Out Friday post coming tomorrow and hopefully some more concepts for the weekend. I've been keeping pretty busy with the Goalie Mask Tournament. Voter turnout is great so far. Keep 'em coming!

New Rebrand On The Way

Thought I'd let you guys know our friend Matt is hard at work on his next rebrand. His series has impressed a lot of people and shown us in a dramatic way what many teams are missing in terms of good logo and uniform design.

Back to the point, though. His next team is... (drum roll)... the Tampa Bay Lightning. Yes, my team! Expect to see the design posted here some time in the next few weeks. In the meantime, feel free to check out his previous work.

Just To Freak You Out XXXI

I began the last Freak Out post with a similar image, so this is not a repeat. Look closely.

Yes, the duck is wearing himself on his own jersey. This is like some sort of weird fractal, right?

Anyway, we've also got an odd Minnesota Wild concept that scares me.

There's a reason teams choose bright colors. I can't remember what that is at the moment.

Got some stuff for Toronto and Montreal.

Does that Leafs logo look familiar to anyone? I've always thought the Habs should try blue — but on the jersey, not the logo.

And then of course we've got a string of "If They Mated" concepts for some of the clubs that found new homes in the '90s.

The Hartford Hurricanes?

The Quebec Avalanche?

The Winnipeg Coyotes?

No, no and no. Lastly, I've got a little something to celebrate St. Patrick's Day albeit a bit after the fact.

He's got shamrocks on his shoulders! You guys absolutely slay me.

We Need A Bigger Boat...

...to hold all these concept graphics.

You know... because there are so many today. Ha ha. Ha.

Ha.

Okay I'll stop. Really, though, lots of San Jose Sharks artwork for you this afternoon. It's my attempt at winning you back after two posts in a row to which many of you responded negatively. And I'm sorry about that. I'm a man of the people and I hear what you're saying. You're saying you want something better. I'll do what I can.

I love that shield logo. (So much I'd consider marrying it if that were legal in my state.) But I also like the teal sleeves on the black jersey in general. I'd call it a serious contender for a third jersey design but then again that's not my decision to make.

There are other options.

I like the all black shark but the contrast isn't there. You need contrast to have a good logo. (I might be lying about that.)

The design on the right shows how things could work if we drop the orange. Personally I'm a fan. It adds a little something, but then you're talking to a guy who can't fathom yellow (or red for that matter) being introduced into the Lightning's logo — a topic I assure has been discussed in the past.

But getting back to the contrast thing. You could fix that problem with grey instead.

It's really not a bad idea but spare me the piping on the white jersey. At least let it serve as a border to something but don't just go willy-nilly putting it anywhere and everywhere.

Am I writing too much? Logos! That's right, I have more.

It's hard not to like that one in the circle. I'm less impressed by the triangle. Still, if you wanted to throw out the rules of visual balance altogether, try to endure this.

Though as I joke, I mean nothing bad toward these designs. They're all good. Obviously I didn't post everything I had but I felt these would represent the cream of that particular crop.

I'm interested now to see how you guys react. I think I can only write so many more bad posts before you all come to the realization of the scam I'm running and jet for the nearest exit. (Kidding, of course.) Bantering is difficult when you're all by yourself.

What do you guys think of the San Jose Sharks, anyway? Cup contenders or are they destined to the fate of the Ottawa Senators? (Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against the Sens but those guys absolutely implode come April.)

New York Fan Art

Today's concept post theme is the great state of New York. Mostly we've got Buffalo Sabres artwork, but we'll kick things off with the New York Islanders.

That's a fan-designed logo I posted a while back. I like the orange jersey.

This Sabres design makes an attempt at a new logo.

Quite unique, I must say. Also got a pair of Sabres pieces, one of which involves John Slabyk's logos.

That's all for tonight. Get your votes in by tomorrow for the goalie mask tournament. It starts soon!

Guitar Logos, Part 2 of 10

Last week I posted the first in a series of designs for guitars based on the shapes and designs of the various NHL team logos. We're going alphabetically and so began with Anaheim, Atlanta and Boston.

Today, we start with the Buffalo Sabres.

I think the primary would've worked better on the other end. You'll see what I mean in a minute.

The Calgary Flames is cool. But you've got a big hole under the strings and the logo on the other end is no longer used.

The Carolina Hurricanes is by far one of my favorites to this point.

And this is what I meant about the Sabres.

This design was submitted by a different reader but it's very effective. I like the hockey stick used in it. More guitars are on the way so keep an eye out for that.

This last thing is a quick note about the upcoming goalie mask tournament. I've got 66 mask graphics made so I'm thinking we'll do a two-poll preliminary round to decide which two goalies make the final cut for the 64-goalie competition. It's going to be the biggest thing we've done here yet. Can't wait to get it started!

Voting ends Friday. At that point we'll know which 32 goalies will be placed in the bracket first. I'll announce their opponents over the weekend and I'm anticipating posting the first poll on Monday.

Logos And More Logos

I've got some things to talk about with regard to the upcoming Tournament of Goalie Masks but I'll save that for the next post. For now, I've got concept logos, beginning with one I was sent this afternoon for the New Jersey Devils.

Looks a lot like a logo for a Japanese restaurant to me but I like it. Maybe not for a professional hockey team, but in general... I like it.

Another reader came up with a bunch of varying designs for a new Edmonton Oilers logo.

Lots of cool stuff in there. Not sure any of it is better than what the Oilers have now. Same artist simplified the look of the Florida Panthers.

They should try that on a third jersey. Sticking to the Sunshine State, I've got a couple of Tampa Bay Lightning logos to share.

If the bolt wasn't yellow and we tried a different font for the TBL, perhaps I would consider it as a secondary mark. Like that, I'm not a fan.

I've always thought about something like that. A lightning bolt between a TB. Still, it needs some beautification work or something.

That's all for now. Keep the concept work coming in. I'll have a bunch more jersey designs to post this week. Stay tuned!

UPDATE (6:53 PM): Somebody mentioned St. Patrick's Day in the comments. Somehow I'm completely forgot that was today. I actually did have one theme concept to share. All six Canadian teams puked on by the Irish.

That's some green right there. Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Guitar Logos, Part 1 of 10

A reader of the blog here named Scott has started an interesting series of his own that I've decided to feature. It probably stems from a pretty good case of boredom, but nonetheless he's turning all 30 NHL logos into ... guitars. Yes, guitars. Here's what I mean.

Presenting them alphabetically, I'll be posting three at a time as he sends them.

Scott's finished nine of the 30 teams and as long as he sends them all to me, I'll share them all with you.

Should we call that one a banjo?

Up next: Sabres, Flames and Hurricanes — as guitars!

(By the way, happy Pi Day! I'm celebrating with a key lime pie. You?)