Your Sunday Concept Fix

I've been getting some great concept art submissions in the past couple weeks, but I wanted to keep Haiti at the top of the page for a little while. I just added a few new items to that post, by the way. But now I think it's time to start sharing some of the other great artwork that's been coming in.

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Mark Komondor	We'll begin with the Penguins and a concept created by an artist brand new to Icethetics. These are his first submissions and he sure seems to know what Pens fans want. Imagine Crosby in the same uniforms that Lemieux and Jagr once wore when they lifted the Stanley Cup together. Of the first one, he writes: I was going for a throwback look by incorporating elements from the late 80s/early 90s sweaters the Pens wore when they won two stanley cups. I took that uniform and simplified it, using the Wild's red home sweater as a guide. I feel like this is a good mixture of the 90s elements, and the circle logo which has found popularity on the blue sweaters. He says the other is simply a combination of the jerseys worn just prior to and since the Age of Reebok.
Adam L'Italien	Adam's Canucks concept makes some revisions to the new Johnny Canuck/V logo introduced on the third jersey last year. He says, why not use the full-body JC on the V? But the most important thing about this jersey: it's green!
Brian Brideau	Rumors that the Predators plan to launch new home and road jerseys for 2010-11 could result in something like what Brian has come up with here. In fact, these should look familiar. I posted the first two jerseys two weeks ago. What's new is the blue alternate sweater Brian has now added. For the most part, I like this one. The striping is unique but the Flyers-copycat nameplate is what I think needs to be revised. I truly hope differently-colored nameplates do not become a league-wide fad.

More concepts coming during the week.

What's in a Third?

Monday is here again. But while you guys are headed back to work or school, I'm probably in a casino wondering what time it is or something like that. Not to rub it in or anything.

Here we are at the fourth of five auto-posts featuring all new concept art from talented Icethetics artists. Today's theme is another fan favorite — third jerseys. Several of you have come up with ideas for alternate sweaters based on what's actually being worn in the league right now. Let's get started.

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Ryan Haslett	The Pittsburgh Penguins are up first because we're pretty sure they're actually getting a new third jersey next fall. Folks keep saying the powder blue sweater is on its way out. Personally, I think that paves the way for an '80s style third reminiscent of the Mario Lemieux/Jaromir Jagr days, but I digress. Ryan's got a whole new set of jerseys here which includes a black third loosely based on the team's earliest NHL days — sans the blue, of course. But it might suffer from the same problem that Bruins currently have. That being both the home and alternate sweaters are black. One of them needs to be gold (I'm speaking both about the Bruins and Penguins). Gold will solve all their problems.
Charles Cadieux	Also in the east, the Canadiens introduced — or should I say re-introduced — a handful of vintage sweaters to celebrate their 100th anniversary. They started last season and continued into this one. One of the favorites was the blue one with the big white C. I believe Charles' attempt was to turn it into a third jersey but putting the classic CH we've all come to know and love, front and center. I'm torn. Part of me likes it because it means this jersey could stick around. But the other part of me says it's just wrong.
Brian Brideau	Moving ever westward, we now land in Nashville. The Predators have discussed making wholesale uniform changes to just simplify. Brian, here, thinks they'd be wise to just make a light version of the new third jersey and go with it. He's saved them the extra steps by having already designed it. This is hard not to like and the Preds are in need of some jersey overhauls. This could just be the ticket. The only thing I'm not sure about is the triangle on the white jersey. It's not necessary to making the logo stand out and it actually takes away from the simplicity effort. That aside, these are top notch.
Chris Fraterrigo	Sticking to the direction of the sunset, Chris Fraterrigo thinks the Avalanche could use a uni redo. And ever since the Age of Reebok was ushered in, I can't say I disagree with him. In this new set, the "modern" striping elements are gone. Instead, the simple striping from the new third jersey is carried over to the home and road shirts. And the alternate here is simplified losing all striping — which actually doesn't hurt it. I'm a big fan of incorporating the black into the burgundy sweater. However it's not done as well on the white one here. Overall, though, a solid look. The only thing I might add is some striping around the bottom — just so it doesn't look like a t-shirt.
Uncleben	At last we find ourselves as close to the west coast we're going to get today. I think the Coyotes have a pretty decent third as it is and this one may be a little cluttered. Still I'm a big fan of that paw logo and traditional jersey striping. It has its pros and cons. But the largest con is probably the use of the Maple Leafs' lettering and numbering. Huge no-no. But we won't crucify anyone for it. We just don't want to see it on a real Phoenix jersey is all.

One more auto-post to go! You'll see right here tomorrow morning at 9. But at this point, my concept art reserves are beginning to dwindle. If you've thought at all about dipping your toe into the artistic pool, email your designs to me at icethetics@gmail.com.

Strauss NHL Rebrand III

The new concept series in which designer Elliott Strauss takes on the immense task of creating the ideal look of the NHL now continues. All 30 teams will receive his rebranding treatment — some with big changes, others small changes — all, hopefully, for the better.

In Part I, Elliott took on the Capitals, Coyotes and Panthers. Part II, saw updates for the Oilers, Red Wings and Thrashers. This time it's the Penguins, Maple Leafs and Stars.

The bold text below are Elliott's own descriptions.

Pittsburgh Penguins

The logos are all new. I tried to create a dramatic-looking penguin on Pittsburgh's signature triangle. Vegas gold is gone and yellow is back.

An igloo is featured as a patch logo and the jerseys pay tribute to the sweaters from the early '90s. The alternate brings in elements from the mid-00s triangles and also the new triangle featured in my logos.

Certainly a menacing penguin and the classic design is hard to beat. However, it does leave a little to wonder about in terms of logistics.

I like the idea of a yellow third, but is it dark enough that the opposing team could wear white? And while the two-tone jersey numbers may look cool, they don't quite meet their practical responsibility which is legibility — not to mention the nightmare for the person in charge of customizing each sweater.

Despite that critique, though, I am a fan of this look for the most part. By switching to Vegas gold, the Penguins weren't giving themselves the shinier look you'd imagine but rather desaturating their color scheme. It looks horrible and needs a change.

One thing I do like about the Penguins' current design is how they've stepped out of the box with the third jersey in using an entirely new color scheme. Even the Panthers only changed one color. The Pens went all the way.

Toronto Maple Leafs

The jerseys aren't much to speak of in terms of changes but I did come up with a new logo package. The leaf is spiky and help forms a T. The shoulder patch is a portion of the iconic CN tower behind a blue version of the Canadian flag.

This will probably end up being one of Elliott's most controversial designs if for no other reason than the sweeping logo changes.

However, the simplicity is hard to argue with and while it breaks from tradition in a big way, I don't think it's for the worse.

The one change I'd make is to dull the corners of the leaf — make them not so sharp. Then when you squint at it, it kind of looks like the Toronto Arenas shield.

Maybe it's just me.

Finishing up in the south with some not-so-sweeping changes in Dallas.

Dallas Stars

Since they seem to be more inclined toward black these days, I left black as the primary jersey color and switched up the logo a little bit. The chest mark is simply a star on top of Texas.

For the striping, I tried to make it in such a way that the gold looks best with the two colors — I'm not sure about a specific thought process.

The alternate eliminates the black and has stripes similar to their current uniforms.

I think Elliott was definitely going for a look that evokes the Stars' early days in Dallas. Apart from the sleeve stripes, it's almost a dead ringer.

I like the green third. It's something Dallas has struggled with in the Age of Reebok. I still think their best jersey was the green one with a giant star that was once an alternate.

Unfortunately, the Edge stifles that sort of creativity. Am I bitter? Never.

I'm aiming to get Part 4 posted within the next week. It will feature my Tampa Bay Lightning among others.