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

 

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

 

Blue Jackets vs Ducks

	vs
BLUE JACKETS		DUCKS
3-1		0-5

The Aesthetics
Is there really a question here? Because it seems rather obvious to me.
Blue Jackets

The Nickname
Bayonet versus beak. While at war the Blue Jacket would perhaps need to go hunt for food. A Duck would make an easy meal.
Blue Jackets

The Analysis
I keep wishing the Ducks announce a change to their logo during this tournament. Just simply going to the webbed "D" would would for me. Until then, though, they'll likely continue to take a beating in this competition. Love the colors, hate the wordmark. The Blue Jackets logo, on the other hand, couldn't be more appropriate.
Blue Jackets

WINNER

3-0

 

Ducks vs Stars

	vs
DUCKS		STARS
0-4		1-2

The Aesthetics
Yikes! The similarities here are rather glaring and not at all good. Both logos spell out the entire team name and use a single letter to create what would otherwise be a decent logo. The "D" in Ducks creates a webbed foot. The "A" in Stars creates the top point in a star. It's actually almost impressive. And then there's the unique colors. But in this case, it's the horrible horizontal proportions of the Ducks logo that loses it this point.
Stars

The Nickname
Giant. Flaming. Ball of fire. Nothing stands a chance against a Star, especially not a little quacking Duck.
Stars

The Analysis
Because both logos are guilty of it, we're going to have to look past all the letters in these two logos. Now, despite being introduced in the last season of the Minnesota North Stars' tenure, the Stars logo has a rather Lonestar State feel to it — perfect for Dallas. The Ducks are in the process of rebranding the team, not too difficult a task now that the club has a Stanley Cup championship under its belt. Still, if it's going to succeed in this competition, a better logo will be required. The Ducks get swept once again.
Stars

WINNER

3-0

 

Predators vs Ducks

	vs
PREDATORS		DUCKS
2-2		0-3

The Aesthetics
You know, despite having won the Stanley Cup this year, the Anaheim Ducks sure have one lame logo. I love the colors, but ditch the wordmark you have plastered all over the front of your jerseys. The Predators, on the other hand, have one kick-ass logo. I wonder who wins if they go up against the Panthers.
Predators

The Nickname
The Predator eats the Duck. Any questions?
Predators

The Analysis
The Predators have a very appropriate name and a rather fierce logo. But the Ducks could use some help. I'm all for losing the "Mighty" from the name but let's do something with the logo, already. Even the duck foot in the form of a "D" would be better than what they have now. Another sweep against the Ducks here.
Predators

WINNER

3-0

 

Sharks vs Ducks

	vs
SHARKS		DUCKS
2-0		0-2

The Aesthetics
The Ducks' unfortunate choice to make a wordmark their primary logo may very well be their downfall in this competition. On the other hand, the Sharks logo is good enough to beat out just about anyone. Talk about fierce!
Sharks

The Nickname
A Shark could totally eat a Duck. The Duck wouldn't stand a chance.
Sharks

The Analysis
Ultimately the Sharks logo is nearly perfect for its location of San Jose, and with any California team you would expect non-traditional colors. I think it's great that the Ducks opted to go with the orange and gold after the name change, but a logo with an actual Duck or even just the footprint would be exponentially better.
Sharks

WINNER

3-0

 

Wild vs Ducks

	vs
WILD		DUCKS
0-0		0-1

The Aesthetics
It doesn't take much to see that the Wild deserves this point over the Ducks. While the Ducks logo barely features a non-letter element, the Wild manages to work in a sunset behind a forest scene with a trail in the profile head of a bear with a "north star" as its eye. It certainly makes the best use of hidden features and I love it.
Wild

The Nickname
Ducks live in the Wild and need it to survive. The Wild however, would go on without Ducks.
Wild

The Analysis
As stated, the Wild is undoubtedly one of the cleverest logos in the NHL. The inclusion of so many Minnesota-related elements makes it top notch. Even the Ducks' new colors, of which I'm a fan, are nothing compared to the color combination used by the Wild. Plus, the Ducks logo's use of words over design elements leaves me wanting more.
Wild

WINNER

3-0

 

Blues vs Ducks

	vs
BLUES		DUCKS
0-0		0-0

The Aesthetics
Simplicity abounds in design here. Both teams use a simple but attractive color scheme. The problem is the team is named the Ducks. I don't see a duck. There's a duck footprint in the shape of a "D," but it's drowned out by all the other letters. The musical note, however, is the perfect way of symbolizing the Blues.
Blues

The Nickname
Playing his sax, a jazz man could certainly drown out any quacking Ducks while playing the Blues.
Blues

The Analysis
Cheers to the Ducks for dropping "Mighty" from their name this season, but the logo they turned out was unfortunate. When compared to the Blues, the Blues win it by a landslide in overall design and style. If the Ducks want a better shot, they should drop the words from the logo and at least make the duck footprint the primary.
Blues

WINNER

3-0

 

HF&P, Part 24: Anaheim Ducks

I'm going to keep them coming. More fan-designed jerseys for you to look at today as part of the "Hockey Fans & Photoshop" series of posts. Now featuring the 2007 Stanley Cup Champion Anaheim Ducks.

I know, I know, it's the wrong jersey format. You want to know what happened to the Rbk EDGE. Well I didn't promise these would all necessarily be new uniform designs for the 2007-08 season. Today we have what I imagine are graphics designed last summer when the new Ducks logo was unveiled following the announcement that the team would be dropping "Mighty" from their name. The uniforms were announced at the same time, but it seems certain folks weren't impressed and wanted to take a shot at it themselves.

So I guess somebody thought this is how they'd look. Yeah, not so much. On the other hand, it also appears another designer would have preferred to see a dark green instead of black. Someone apparently called "Fonz." Thing is, I actually like the color. The design is pitiful. Horribly pitiful. But I think the colors work — not that I dislike the black. I just dislike the logo in general.

Attention NHL teams: STOP SPELLING OUT YOUR TEAM NAME IN THE FUCKING LOGO! Perhaps my message came across that time.

No, but seriously I understand why they did that this season. They're trying to re-brand the club and get people to stop saying Mighty Ducks. It's cool but I really hope they switch things up with the new Rbk EDGE jerseys next fall.

More coming today: the Dallas Stars.

Flashback: Sabres & Ducks

Okay, people, we're down to just a few weeks before the tournament begins but that doesn't mean this site is useless until then — as has been made obvious with the Hockey Fans & Photoshop series. But getting away from that briefly I wanted to take a trip down memory lane. Last year, all of us hockey fans waited and wondered about what we might see in terms of new logos and uniforms for the coming season.

Both the Buffalo Sabres and Anaheim Ducks — switching to a new moniker — got complete design makeovers. Brand new logos, even brand new colors! Some loved them and some hated them. Personally, I didn't like either new logo very much, but that's what we got. (That might give away a little bit about how the Tournament may go.)

Anyway, this relic here seen to the right is that lovely "leaked" image we were all treated to while waiting to see what the new Sabres logo might look like. The team had previously announced a return to its traditional blue and gold colors and even promised to wear the old '70s uniform for a handful of games in the new season. But as for the primary logo — fans hated it! They called it the Buffaslug, mocking the creature's lack of legs.

The whole "Confidential Until Sept. 2006" made for a pretty interesting sell as well. Still, most people were sure it was a fake. The NHL would never go for such a lame logo. But wait, this is the NHL we're talking about.

Which brings us to our other topic of discussion. No longer a minion of the Disney Corporation, the team wanted to lose that last link going from Mighty Ducks of Anaheim to — quite simply — the Anaheim Ducks. And I liked the name change. What I didn't like was the new logo put forth.

The fuzzy cell phone camera image you see to the left was apparently taken by someone who wants us to think there were better options available to the Ducks. Of the two, I prefer the top logo, so naturally the one on the bottom is what the team chose. I know it would've led to endless tirades about the "Anaheim Mallards" and yes it does look a little like a baseball logo (for some reason) but still — what have they got now? It's not even a real logo. And at least the top one features a better color scheme — not that I really have anything against the orange and gold. It works too.

As far as options go, these two also surfaced. The one on the right is the Atlanta Thrashers logo, so even though I like it, let's move on. The one on the left is nice but also prominently features a mallard along with a rather dull color scheme. So I don't know what to say. I guess they just didn't have any really good graphic design firms on the case. Which reminds me — somebody from the NHL really really needs to listen to this guy. The Sabres especially would be much better off.

All right, that's all the ranting I have for you tonight. It was a brief look back at last year as we await the massive slew of new designs expected for the 2007-08 season. Stay with us. More Hockey Fans & Photoshop tomorrow!