NHL Tournament of Logos

Saturday
Jun162007

Blue Jackets vs Oilers


vs
BLUE JACKETS
OILERS
0-0
0-0

The Aesthetics
Right off the bat, the Blue Jackets gets an easy point here. Both logos use a few the same colors — blue and red — but the Oilers does not really use them its advantage.
Blue Jackets

The Nickname
A union soldier and an oilman are a couple of pretty tough fellas. Should a Blue Jacket ever have to face an Oiler in battle though, he has a bayonet and could therefore win.
Blue Jackets

The Analysis
Both teams have solid nicknames and logos. The Oilers has withstood the test of time, born in the days before the team joined the NHL. Good upgrades were made a decade ago when the bright orange was replaced with copper and red trim. It's a solid look that is hard to beat.
Oilers


WINNER
2-1

 

Saturday
Jun162007

Sabres vs Senators


vs
SABRES
SENATORS
1-1
0-0

The Aesthetics
The use of color in both logos is very appealing to the eye. There aren't too many or too few. The problem for the Senators comes in the detail. While I'm glad they removed the team name from the gold circle several years back, we're still a little heavy on the minutia. The Sabres logo features a single small element — the buffalo's red eye — it makes the logo more aesthetically interesting.
Sabres

The Nickname
A Senator is a person who makes laws. Untrained, he stands no chance against a soldier with a sharpened Sabre.
Sabres

The Analysis
It's interesting how neither logo really seems to capture the team's nickname. In the Sabres logo, there isn't a sword in sight, as I've mentioned. With the Senators, I see what seems to be a Spartan soldier. Still, the Senators logo is much stronger in portraying its nickname. I also think the color combination is better. I like the Sabres logo back when it was black and red.
Senators


WINNER
2-1

 

Saturday
Jun162007

Flyers vs Hurricanes


vs
FLYERS
HURRICANES
1-0
0-0

The Aesthetics
Both logos utilize black and white along with a primary color — red for the Hurricanes and orange for the Flyers. But the Hurricanes logo adds a silver accent. The Flyers works in a subtle "P" while the Hurricanes has a subtle puck. It's a tough one, but the Hurricanes gets the edge.
Hurricanes

The Nickname
Nothing can Fly anything in a Hurricane. It's as simple as that.
Hurricanes

The Analysis
I've always thought the Liberty Bell would make a good secondary logo for the Flyers, just like a torn hurricane flag makes a good secondary for the Hurricanes. But this competition is about primaries. Having said that, the Hurricanes name might be more appropriate for a team closer to the Gulf of Mexico, but still works for a state that has had its share of Hurricanes. I still don't really know what a "flyer" is exactly.
Hurricanes


WINNER
3-0

 

Friday
Jun152007

Maple Leafs vs Lightning


vs
MAPLE LEAFS
LIGHTNING
0-1
0-0

The Aesthetics
Both of these teams break one of my cardinal rules. Spelling out the name in the primary logo. There's no need. It should be obvious which teams these are simply by the elements (i.e.: the leaf and the lightning bolt). That aside, the Lightning gets the edge for its use of color.
Lightning

The Nickname
If Lightning struck a maple tree, all the Maple Leafs would go up in flames.
Lightning

The Analysis
Both teams are very aptly named. The leaf featured on the Canadian flag is used on a different color and Tampa, Florida is deemed by some to be the lightning capital of the world. The Maple Leafs logo has been around forever while the Lightning has only been around 15 years. The Maple Leafs has proved staying power but silhouette logos are too easy.
Lightning


WINNER
3-0

 

Friday
Jun152007

Blues vs Red Wings


vs
BLUES
RED WINGS
1-0
1-0

The Aesthetics
For one thing, both logos incorporate a wing element. So that's interesting. While the Red Wings logo has been around forever, the Blues is a little sleeker. I would almost venture to say that the same guy who designed the Flyers logo had a hand in the Blues. As far as aesthetics, the Blues logo has the edge.
Blues

The Nickname
This will be complicated. The situation here is that both teams have a color as part of their names. To determine which is superior — red or blue — we must look to the American Revolutionary War. Since the British fell, the Red Wings are obviously inferior to the Blues. (I warned you to expect some crazy nonsense.)
Blues

The Analysis
As I mentioned, both logos have elements attached to a wing. In the Red Wings case, it is the primary element, the wheel being there to represent the Motor City of Detroit. In the case of the Blues, the musical note is the primary element. The attached wing — I'm not really sure about why it's there.
Red Wings


WINNER
2-1

 

Friday
Jun152007

Predators vs Blackhawks


vs
PREDATORS
BLACKHAWKS
1-1
0-2

The Aesthetics
Looking at the two logos side by side, my eye keeps getting drawn to the Predators logo. Unfortunately, I've looked at the Blackhawks three times in the last four days and nothing's changed. I still feel like it's from the 1940s. And it pretty much is.
Predators

The Nickname
Chief Black Hawk needs a break. First a giant ball of fire and then a deep-sea shark. But I'm rather sure he would be able to take out the Predator with a throw of his trusty tomahawk.
Blackhawks

The Analysis
We know the histories of both logos and while I think the Predators have the advantage, both cities utilize their history well in coming up with a name and logo design. Ultimately, though, it just comes down to which one is better and the Predators have the edge.
Predators


WINNER
2-1

 

Friday
Jun152007

Sabres vs Flyers


vs
SABRES
FLYERS
1-0
0-0

The Aesthetics
The Flyers logo is almost overly simplistic but is a classic. Upgrades are always welcome, however, for logos that have existed for 30 years or more. The third-jersey logo is a good example of what can be done. The Sabres logo features nice colors but no sword.
Flyers

The Nickname
Are we to assume a Flyer is a bird of some type or an informational sheet? Either way, if it were to get in the way of a Sabre, its days would be over.
Sabres

The Analysis
Flyers is one of those generic team names that doesn't mean anything but its long, storied existence strikes fear into the heart of opponents. Unfortunately for them, this game doesn't work that way. Still, the weak logo design for the Sabres gives the Flyers the edge.
Flyers


WINNER
2-1

 

Thursday
Jun142007

Sharks vs Blackhawks


vs
SHARKS
BLACKHAWKS
0-0
0-1

The Aesthetics
The Sharks use a very nice teal as the primary color in their uniforms, but unfortunately it barely shows in the logo. We see it only in a simple outline of the triangle behind the shark. And while I feel that the Blackhawks use too many colors, at least they use color.
Blackhawks

The Nickname
I've said before that Chief Black Hawk was one tough son of a bitch, but if he ever found himself in the ocean surrounded by Sharks, he wouldn't stand a chance.
Sharks

The Analysis
The Blackhawks name is very fitting for its location and so is the Sharks, with its home city being found along the coast of California. And despite the Sharks logo's lack of color and incorporation of a hockey stick, I still think the fierce-looking shark is an awesome icon. The Blackhawks logo could stand an upgrade.
Sharks


WINNER
2-1

 

Thursday
Jun142007

Predators vs Canucks


vs
PREDATORS
CANUCKS
0-1
0-0

The Aesthetics
I've always thought the Canucks had one of the coolest color schemes in the league. Now I understand they have plans to change it — again. The Predators logo makes use of color well also, but its minute detail loses it another point.
Canucks

The Nickname
Were a Canuck to happen upon a Predator during a walk in the woods, it wouldn't be surprising if he got eaten.
Predators

The Analysis
Aside from its parent company being named Orca Bay, I can't quite work out how a killer whale ended up in the Canucks logo. Frankly, I've never been a fan of any of the Canucks logos as far as symbolizing the team name. The Predators logo does a lot better job with that.
Predators


WINNER
2-1

 

Thursday
Jun142007

Thrashers vs Panthers


vs
THRASHERS
PANTHERS
0-1
0-0

The Aesthetics
Both logos have very appealing color schemes but the Panthers logo is just a little too detailed for a good embroidery on a hat. The Thrashers logo incorporates a hockey stick which can be irritating in NHL logos. The Panther, however, is a lot more fierce-looking than the Thrasher. It gets the edge there.
Panthers

The Nickname
You might assume that since the Thrasher flies way above the Panther's head, it would easily take the cake. But the bird has to come down some time, perhaps for a worm dinner. That's when the cat gets its bird dinner.
Panthers

The Analysis
The Florida panther is an endangered species. The Thrasher is a songbird. The Panther was an easy choice for the south Florida-based team. But as a Lightning fan, I sometimes wonder why they went with Florida over Miami when naming the team. But then again, their cat is called the Florida panther.
Panthers


WINNER
3-0