Concept Collection VIII

You've been patient (most of you). My inbox has seen a lot of concept art over the past few weeks and I'm thrilled to finally be posting it! (Seriously, if someone can help me figure out a way to make Icethetics my only job, we'll all be a lot happier. A lot.)

All right, I've got 14 items to get to tonight, so let's not waste time. We'll begin with the Colorado Avalanche, whose brand new third jersey has recently been leaked (see the blog for more info on that).

A lot of readers have bemoaned a lack of creativity, I believe having to do with the fact that it's simply a revision of the Avs' previous third. This first concept certainly avoids drawing on past designs while simultaneously reminding us the Nordique spirit will never die.

BD

The other team soon releasing a brand new third will be the Florida Panthers. Rumor would have us believe it may look a little something like this.

Ryan Haslett

It's a return to red, which I'm sure longtime Cats fans will appreciate, and it borrows very heavily from the Wild's home uni — easily one of the best in the NHL.

Seeing all these new third jerseys the last couple of years makes me wonder who got it right and who didn't. Some teams don't have one and could really use it. Obviously, the Penguins, Wild, Sabres and Blues got it right.

I've been hoping the Rangers would one day return to the Lady Liberty jersey which at one point was my favorite in the league. Here's a re-envisioning of that.

nyr1583

The Capitals would do well to add a blue jersey. Many have suggested the Weagle take center stage, but why not a red version of the primary logo? How would it all look on a Lethbridge Hurricanes sweater?

Ryan Haslett

The Canucks dropped the ball with their third last year. It was what we all expected, but that should be their home sweater, and not an alternate. Here's one idea for an alternate with yet another brand new logo.

Matt Marczel

Now that Whalers merchandise is making its way back onto store shelves, maybe the Hurricanes could pay tribute on one St. Patrick's Day sometime.

Matt Marczel

Maybe even the Red Wings could get in on the third jersey action — even though they've never been one to follow that crowd.

Matt Marczel

The Dallas Stars dropped the ball worse than anyone two years in a row — bad home and road sweaters followed by a shockingly worse third. Since we're talking nostalgia and vintage these days, why not a trip down memory lane the heart of Texas?

Matthew Duke

Lastly, the Ducks. It seems like every concept post at some point feels the need to help out those poor Anaheim Ducks. Nobody was sad to see the "Mighty" go away, but nor were they glad to see the artistic carnage that would ensue on the sweaters to follow.

mcskilz

I'm not saying gold is the way to go necessarily, but maybe stepping outside the box isn't a bad thing. Anyway, the colors are great, but the logo could use a lift.

Jake Niehl

Hey, an actual duck. Go figure.

I enjoy ending a concept post with a little something to freak you out, if at all possible. Tonight is no exception. The Sabres and Canucks have their 40th anniversaries coming up next season. Let's get started by putting an actual saber on the Sabres' jersey.

J.B.

And hell, why not just run the gamut of past logos and colors for the Canucks? You know they never did have a red jersey.

J.B.

A little something to frighten Panthers fans. As we near Halloween, perhaps this could be a costume.

Jules

And lastly, one of the most ridiculous Atlanta Thrashers concepts ever to grace these pages.

mcskilz

Show your mcskilz! To the first person who can legitimately make the rest of the numerals out of that simple Thrash logo — bragging rights for life!

Hope the wait was worth it. I'm really trying to keep this updated. And since I know it's what you guys want, I'll make a special effort to have something new hear at least once a week — though it likely won't be in the quantity you see tonight.

Keep those concepts coming! Email them to icethetics@gmail.com.

Concept Collection VII

I have new artwork to share with you tonight from a number of artists.

We begin with Jake Niehl who has put together a new look for the Penguins. You do not want to mess with this flightless fowl.

Pittsburgh Penguins concept by Jake Niehl

Earlier this week we talked about the possibility of the Ducks placing the wordmark on their jerseys with the much less heinous "webbed D." Matt Marczel writes in with what that might look like...

Anaheim Ducks concept jerseys by Matt Marczel

...as does Jules.

Anaheim Ducks concept jersey by Jules

Both designers stuck with black jerseys but make it work much better than the Ducks currently do. But if you really want a change in Anaheim, check out this logo by Mike Notko.

Anaheim Ducks concept logo by Mike Notko

That is quite something.

Wojtek from Poland writes in with a very sharp new look for his country's national team.

Team Poland concept logos by Wojtek

Still wondering what's up for the 2010 Winter Classic? Look no further. DC Designs put together a rather smart brown uniform for the Bruins.

Boston Bruins Winter Classic concept jersey by DC Designs

And finally, tonight, we finish up with some artwork that harkens back to the days of Freak Out Friday. First, the Panthers — well, Cats?

Florida Panthers concept jersey by J.B.

Then the Stars...

Dallas Stars concept jersey by J.B.

...who I believe are on sale for $0.99 at your local grocer. Thanks to J.B. for freaking us out.

If you've got any great hockey logo and uniform concept art that you think needs to be shared to the world, you know how to get it to me. Until next time.

Concept Collection VI

That post featuring all the non-winning entries from the USF Ice Bulls logo contest is and probably will continue to stand as the LONGEST concept post in the history of Icethetics. Now it's time to get some new stuff posted.

One of my favorite artists, who I haven't heard from in a while, is Aaron Masik. He came up with these alternate logo designs for the Carolina Hurricanes.

Carolina Hurricanes concept logos by Aaron Masik

Ask any Southeasterner, myself included. That windblown palm tree is the classic hurricane image.

Ryan Haslett sent in a handful of jersey redesigns. He's put the Ducks in orange and managed to keep them from looking anything like the Flyers. How? No white and more modern striping.

Anaheim Ducks concept jersey by Ryan Haslett

He's also given the Coyotes a little something to improve their alternates. I think the lack of that brick color helps make it more different to the home and road sweaters.

Phoenix Coyotes concept jersey by Ryan Haslett

This next one starts taking us into the realm of the weird. Imagine the Nordiques lived to see the days of third jerseys. Could they have gone with red or would that simply have given the good folks in Quebec another reason to revolt?

Quebec Nordiques concept jersey by Ryan Haslett

Since we're here, we might as well go full on freak out. Jeff Kennedy considers a re-envisioning of that ridiculous bug from a decade ago.

Columbus Blue Jackets concept logo by Jeff Kennedy

Keep the concept art coming in — even if especially if its freaky. I'd like to be able to offer up new concept posts every few days. Email your work in at icethetics@gmail.com and don't forget to include your name so you can be credited! (By the way, this is just for fun so you don't have to give up any rights or anything like that. Just a way to share interesting ideas with fellow design nuts.)