Numerous Northeast Concepts
Thursday · Apr 29 · 2010 | 11:17 PM PDTSettle in, folks. This is one of the biggest sets of concept art I've ever posted. Because I haven't had a lot of time to write new posts, obviously the artwork has been piling up. The Northeast Division seems to be the most popular for Icethetics artists, so I thought it'd be the best way to unload a dozen new designs. Here we go.
 John Fusco |
Had to start with this one. It's just phenomenal. You wouldn't think this type of design would make a good hockey sweater. Then you look at it. I'm waiting for an NHL team to jump onto an idea like this. Very sharp look. Well done, John! |
 Drew Krause |
Another great Maple Leafs concept comes from Drew. He's made some updates to the traditional leaf logos, and they look great. Even the striping on the uniforms really works. Can't believe I haven't gotten around to posting some of these sooner. |
 Matt Marczel |
By now we all know the Sabres will go back to their original uniforms next season — or at least something similar. Matt's put together a solid concept here with a nice modern flair. |
 Joni Oksanen |
However, if you want more of a throwback feel, Joni's concept is the way to go. It's much simpler and features a royal blue just like the originals did in 1970. The only thing he's changed a bit is the striping on the dark jersey. But either way you go would be a win for the Sabres and their fans, desperate for a return to the vintage uniforms. Sometimes you get it right the first time, don't you? |
 Jake Slavik |
And sometimes we mix things that probably shouldn't mix. Jake's concept plays off of every era in Sabres history. And it's not ideal. Stare into those yellow eyes. Stare deep. Frightening. Let's move onto another team. |
 Joshua Heckman
 Adam L'Italien |
Joshua and Adam have both opted to experiment with brown jerseys for the Bruins — something I half expected to see at the Winter Classic earlier this year. Joshua's could even work as a third jersey this coming season if they were up for a change. Adam's isn't bad either but doesn't lend itself well to Reebok Edge or television, for that matter. It's a very drab-looking jersey with the dark brown and the slight striping. However, I really do like the crest. |
 Dallas Hicks
 Ryan Haslett |
Got a couple of new Senators concepts here. Dallas tries his hand at a Winter Classic-insipired concept... you know, in the event the NHL decides Canada should play an outdoor version of its own sport. Ryan's isn't bad either — though without the stripes, the O just looks like a zero and nobody wants that associated with their team. Unless it's in the goals-against column, I guess. But if nothing else, this uniform has the best socks so far! |
 Ryan Haslett |
That's right, it's all Ryan all the time for the rest of this post. This is his Canadiens throwback. Unfortunately, the numbers are rather illegible on the striped back of the jersey. Other than that, it's a nice-looking sweater with an old-time feel. |
 Ryan Haslett |
Lastly, as a bonus, this concept is based off of a Quebec Nordiques logo that designed in 1995 but never implemented as the club was relocated Denver to become the Avalanche. And that is, in fact, where Ryan gets most of the elements of his design. I'll be honest. Makes more sense in the Rocky Mountains. Oh, what could have been. |
And breathe. That was a lot to take in. Up next, it's Elliott Strauss' final rebranding set. That comes this weekend. After that, I'm implementing a new element into our concept posts. Details to come.
Reader Comments (26)
The Leafs one at the top is amazing! How creative! and original (for hockey) that guy really went outside the box and it turned out to look beautiful! WELL DONE!
BY THE WAY! How do you make Reebok Edge Concepts?!?!?! I wanna design All-Star unis. I have such a good Idea!
Mine is basically the Edge-i-fication of the Bruin's first jersey ever, using their new bear logo and changing the colors to match it. In my mind it'd be a specialty jersey like the Canadiens' slew of retro jerseys for their centenial
1st leafs unis are amazing. I 100% love em. Id get one in a second. Awesome job.
The Maple Leafs by John, as a caps fan :(, I like these. The blue is great, and the simple leaf on the upper chest is just cool. And the Sabres by Matt is the best by far. I love the orginal logo with the new colors. Looks damn good.
That first Leafs' concept is based on the format soccer uniforms follow, with the crest in the top corner like that. Not sure all of them have the number, but I love this idea. It's something new that's been done before. It'll never happen in the NHL, but it's very nice.
Those Maple Leaf jerseys are absolutely beautiful! That design gets my vote! Job well done Drew. The Maple Leafs should pay you a nice sum for that design.
I am sorry, but John's Maple Leaf design screams of all of the things that are wrong with today's hockey sweater. Come on, stick with the basics - horizontal piping, bright colors and historic look and feel. John's design screams of Reebok Edge and it's terrible.
First leafs design is amazing. A bit soccerish but awesome.
I actually think Jake's are not bad. Sure they aren't the best Sabres uniforms but pro designers have done worse for them.
I think Jake's design for the Sabre's is awesome....it gives the jersey a very intimidating feel in my eyes...the colors with the logo from the late 90's really work well and its very eye catching...WHEN DO THE RANGERS CONCEPTS COME IN?
Thats true...Leafs one is Soccerish. BUT I still really like it. But I think a design like that would be better for a team who doesn't have as much history and age. Like Atlanta. They already have the word mark. They could change it up a bit. Someone should make that concept!
The leafs concept by John is terrific. I have been doing a lot of thinking on these lines. Taking ideas from other sports and incorporating them into hockey. I think it looks sharp, i would probably never buy a leafs jersey but this design is just looks so nice. I would contemplate a idon't know.. Gilmour or Mogilny.
Josh, your kit is pretty slick as well, its funny. I have never been a huge fan of wearing jerseys cause they are so big. But now with the new Edge ones being more fitted. I would love to buy a bunch of them now. this would be another i would get.
I love the ideas of teams going back to more color and less color and black trim or something to make them look more tough or sharper. I love the retro look that some teams have now. I can't wait to see the flames jersey next year in the rbk cut. They need to drop the black. Teams that added black in the late nineties and two thousands should drop the black.. like the yotes.
I, too, enjoy the Leafs top concept. It may be missing the horizontal stripes on the bottom we've all been asking for, but it doesn't seem to need them with the bar across the chest. Very modern stylings.
The set from Drew is also quite nice. The stripes remind me of the mid-70's North Stars (two stripes across the bottom). I think it's better than what they have now by far!
Matt's Sabres is how it should be done. Wicked.
Adam's may not lend itself to TV, but it is, as Adam says, the very first Bruins jersey, one that many have forgotton, and it's nice to see it again. The one from the year AFTER is pretty busy, but Joshua seems to have captured something like it in his design. I think the brown might be making a comeback...
I still have to watch my colours... what I get on my laptop tends to look odd on other computers! That chalk colour looked antique white to me when I made it, so sorry if it seems a bit yellow. The "box" style for the numbers carries on to the back, which is how the original Senators actually did their numbers (I've seen a real gamer from way back at the Hall of Fame and snuck a peek at the flip side). The thicker stripes will look way better than the narrow ones from the 1912 Montreal throwback.
I don't mind the Nords one, actually. I'm thinking of doing "modernizations" of the defunct teams for something to do, like the Nordiques, Whalers, Scouts, Barons, etc. just to see what they would have looked like had they survived into the 21st Century. Worth doing?
Wow. That first Leafs' design would make an incredivle third!
Ideally, I would like the Leafs' current third to become their away jersey, a modified version to become the home jersey (maybe with the current Leafs logo or the vintage one) and this one to become the third.
Great Stuff!
LOVED John's leafs concept. Only one concern around that style of jersey, where would you place the Captain's "C", or an "A"? I would love to see the Nucks switch to a modern look like that, instead of the sort of undecided modernized retro/ retro-ized modern idea they have going on right now. Also thought Joshua's Bruins jersey was fantastic.
As a Leafs IN Toronto fan it's very hard to give the thumbs up to anything that strays away from the teams origins. It's easier to accept something outside the box from teams that haven't got the history to pay homage to.
But this Leafs concept is a spot on way to change up the structure and still look classy while doing so. A++
Its about time people start thinking outside of the box and straying away from history a bit. As great as all that is theres no creativity in history. And what is the point of a concept jersey if its just another throwback? Personally id love to see more freakout friday posts then ones full of throwbacks!
Creativity people!
That Fusco Leaf's jersey is the hotness. I wouldn't want to see it replace the current classics -original six teams should always stay classic, but it would be an incredible alternate set-up.
@Dallas
Good Idea.
I'm from Hartford, so I would love to see what you can do for the Whalers.
I'm probably one of the more traditionalists on here and my thoughts on how the leafs jerseys should look have been pretty much what Drew created they are an excellent set, however John's concept has so many great things going for it despite being a little different then what we're use to. first off i love how he went back to our tougher darker blue days the white and navy really pop together because of the greater contrast. second the three stripes appear on both the socks and the sleeves. he has maintained the class and history of the organization despite putting a number on the front which i generally loathe and where to put the letters is something that needs to be worked out maybe you drop the white stripe and logo a couple inches i don't know if it would throw off the balance of the sweater. i would also put a thin white line on either side of the stripe on the chest to match the socks and sleeves. i believe the leafs are one of the few teams that can get away with the logo being smaller and in the top corner there' s not much to look at in the logo it's always been awesome based on the embroidery and detail put in to our older logo so it works. i only like this jersey though if we're the only team with the concept if every other team has it then scrap it and i would endorse this as our regular jersey along with a matching white one and then do something really old school with our thirds. as a side note i think this concept could work with any of the original six teams because they have never had stupid jerseys with too many striping concepts and stupid over done logos.
just thought of something based on John's maple leaf jersey concept what if on the players with letters jersey you replace the toronto maple leafs script with their given C or A and keep the veins running through it could be awesome.
The soccer look isn't really new to the NHL.
I don't know about anyone else, but continuous stripes on a hockey jersey sort of scare me.
The first Leaf design is very impressive, that is the first modern design that I have seen that would work as a Leaf sweater. Not easily done by any means, it's one of the harder teams to design for.
The first Leafs Jersey is awesome but where would a captain's 'C' or assistants 'A' go?