Ranking The NHL's Best Third Jerseys

Here is a list of the best alternate, or "third," jerseys in the NHL. Each jersey will receive a ranking from one (terrible) to 10 (best)...

Click on "Begin Slideshow" to see them all...

(First, here are the NHL teams that do not qualify because they do not officially have a third jersey...yet.)

Montreal Canadiens
New York Rangers
New Jersey Devils
Washington Capitals
Florida Panthers
Columbus Blue Jackets
Chicago Blackhawks
Detroit Red Wings
Colorado Avalanche
Dallas Stars
Anaheim Ducks

#19. Atlanta Thrashers

This Atlanta third jersey may possibly be the worst third jersey in the history of the NHL. Not only does it look like a bad basketball jersey, but it also has these two huge and ugly designed thrasher birds for the shoulder logos. The color patterns are terrible (too much white on the sleeves) and the numbers on the front add insult to injury.

1/10

Click below for a picture of the real jersey with the numbers on the front.

Better picture of jersey

#18. Ottawa Senators

This Senators third jersey is the most generic looking jersey in the NHL. The Sens across the chest looks like it was copied off of a beer can. The design on the sleeves is way too busy. I'm also not liking the big shoulder logos. They should have used something simpler and smaller instead of their primary logo for the shoulders.

4/10

#17. Tampa Bay Lightning

I like a lot of things about this Lightning jersey except what standouts most, which is the BOLTS writing across the front of the jersey. I don't like the lettering design, it's too big, and it is not diagonal enough. It destroys a jersey which looked like it had a lot of potential.

5.5/10

#16. Carolina Hurricanes

I prefer this Carolina third logo over their original toilet bowl logo. But what I don't like about this jersey are the square designs on the bottom. I'm also not crazy about the black primary shoulder logos which are almost impossible to see. Whose idea was that?

6/10

#15. Philadephia Flyers

Don't be fooled by this picture because it is the wrong color orange. I'll let a real picture do the explaining. Click here.

What were the designers thinking when they went with that neon orange color? It's definitely not the orange color the Flyers wore in the 70s.

6/10

#14. Pittsburgh Penguins

A jersey like this depends on if you like the color powder blue, which I'm not a huge fan of. The yellow triangle in the Penguins logo is a major clash of colors, even though it is so small it's very noticeable. These jerseys look a lot better from the back.

6/10

#13. Minnesota Wild

The Minnesota Wild just released this new third jersey. I''m kind of in the middle on this one. I like the colors and piping around the jersey, but I'm not sure I like the Minnesota Wild writing on the front which reminds me too much of a baseball jersey.

6.5/10

#12. Nashville Predators

Nashville has still not officially released their third jersey for this season. They are planning on doing it in the next week, but a good source online leaked this photo, as well as someone wearing the jersey, at a fan rally.

There isn't much to complain about here. It's just a black jersey with their original logo on the front, and I think it works together well.

7/10

#11. Los Angeles Kings

As a hockey fan, I was glad to see L.A. go back to their Silver and Black roots for their third jersey. The new-looking logo on the front isn't the most unique, but it works. They could have done a lot better (like going with their original early 90s jerseys), but overall, it's decent.

7/10

#10. New York Islanders

The picture doesn't do this jersey much justice because it's the entire uniforms that make it all look so good, so have a look at a full pic. here. Now you can see what I mean, they are pretty sharp looking.

7.5/10

#9. Phoenix Coyotes

This is one of the more underrated jerseys in the league in my opinion. The design is perfect. The leaping Coyote on the front is original as well as a perfect size for the jersey. I also like the two different shoulder logos.

7.5/10

#8. San Jose Sharks

The great thing about this Sharks third is how attractive the teal color looks mixed in with a dominant black jersey. Everyone who follows hockey knows San Jose's black thirds from a few years back were regarded as one of the best jerseys ever. This design isn't too far off.

8/10

#7. Boston Bruins

What I like most about this jersey is the classic Bruins logo on the front, which is one of my favorites. I also like how the designers didn't try to add any new color or crazy new design into this classic style jersey. When you have black and yellow working together, they will usually do most of the talking.

8/10

#6. Edmonton Oilers

The first thing I think of when seeing this jersey is Wayne Gretzky, then Mark Messier. This Oilers throwback third jersey is a pure classic in every sense of the word.

8/10

#5. St. Louis Blues

The Blues have had a short, yet nightmarish history of third jerseys if anyone can recall these bad boys found here.

This time around, St. Louis not only made up for those hideous jerseys, they made one of the all-time nest third jerseys. The overall design is not overdone. The St. Louis Arch done up in a retro style Blues logo gives the jersey the right amount of character.

9/10

#4. Calgary Flames

Calgary will sport these third jerseys as part of their 30th anniversary this coming season. These are their original jerseys from the 80s. I'm glad to see one of the best-looking jersey in NHL history make a comeback.

9/10

#3. Buffalo Sabres

The Sabres knew they couldn't go wrong bringing back their original style jerseys as their thirds.

But actually, they are a little different from their originals, and that's why they don't top my list. However, when any jersey dawns this logo with these colors, you really can't go wrong. Good thing these will soon be Buffalo's primary jersey, as is rumored to be the case.

9.5/10

#2. Vancouver Canucks

Hands down, these have to be the two greatest hockey colors of all-time, which will also give you flashbacks to the great Hartford Whalers jerseys that had similar colors. The rink and stick logo on the front is very unique. It is actually shaped like the letter "C" which, of course, stands for Canucks. The Johnny Canuck shoulder logos are awesome as well.

9.5/10

#1. Toronto Maple Leafs

This jersey needs very little explanation. As a hockey fan, you either are a Leaf fan or a Leaf hater, and even Leaf haters will admit this jersey is flawless.

10/10