Ranking Each NHL Team's Third Jersey

Uniforms in the NHL typically follow a very traditional scheme based on the long history of the sport.

Consider teams like the Detroit Red Wings and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Two Original Six teams that don't really need to ever change their jerseys because there is so much history attached to them that they simply work. 

Many of these NHL franchises do express their creativity through alternate jerseys. These jerseys can pay tribute to historical roots like the Columbus Blue Jackets or be a new color scheme like the Pittsburgh Penguins.

It’s the creativity of these jerseys that make them so appealing to fan bases. Though, not every team has a third jersey.

Some teams, for example, do wear green jersey in honor of St. Patrick's Day, but they are not technically third jerseys.

Those teams are:

New Jersey Devils

Winnipeg Jets

Los Angeles Kings

Philadelphia Flyers

Detroit Red Wings

Montreal Canadiens

With that in mind, here’s a ranking of each team’s alternate jersey.

Judging Criteria:

Historical Value

Creativity

Color Scheme

Variation from Home/Away Jerseys (if applicable)

And, of course, personal preference

All photos are courtesy of NHL.com

24. Dallas Stars

The Dallas Stars must have missed the memo about alternate uniforms being darker colors. They are one of only two teams to have white alternates. 

There isn't much left to say about this one, except that I'd rather wear their practice jersey. 

23. Calgary Flames

The Calgary Flames used to have one of the best alternate jerseys in the NHL.

They stripped the creativity from the old alternate. 

The Flames' three jerseys are: Red with a black "C", white with a red "C" and the alternate above.

C'mon Calgary. You have too much flexibility with your mascot to have three of the same jerseys.  

22. Edmonton Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers are this low on the rankings for similar reasons to the Flames.

What happened to the creativity?

The Flames went from the fire-breathing horse to the "C". The Oilers, in similar fashion, went from the creative oil drop to three uniforms with the same layout.

I like the tradition of the Edmonton Oilers, but you already had two jerseys with the same design. Do we really need a third? It'd be easier to just run with two. 

21. Colorado Avalanche

The Colorado Avalanche are another team that decided to use their alternate uniform to simply change colors on already established uniforms. That lands them near the bottom of the list.

The one thing I do like about this uniform is the shoulder-emblems that use the traditional "A."

I don't know why they can't go back to the big foot smashing through the jersey from the late-1990s and early 2000s. 

20. New York Rangers

The New York Rangers went old school with this uniform design.

It's plain, simple and guess what? If you change out the "Rangers" from their home jerseys and make it "New York" it's the same jersey.

Creative, right? I think I miss the Statue of Liberty jersey. 

19. Washington Capitals

The Washington Capitals are the other team to use a white jersey for their alternate.

Their jersey is fairly simple but I like the additions.

Typically on the Capitals' uniforms, they have three small stars directly above the "Washington." They have made the stars larger and doubled them up, which I think is a nice touch. 

A throw-back color scheme kept the Capitals from being at the bottom of the list.

Does anyone miss the Capital building jersey? I do.

18. Florida Panthers

I like the Florida Panthers' rendition in their third jersey. The home and away jerseys for the Panthers features the large cat and strong colors.

Both the red and the white uniforms for the Panthers are solid. They use a strong navy blue compliment color and great shoulder emblems with the sun.

Where do we get this baby blue color though?

And, who designed the shoulder emblems?

Click here for a better look. 

17. Minnesota Wild

Minnesota has a great primary logo with the timberline and the fierce wild animal. I'm particularly partial to the larger image in the away uniforms.

This jersey plays on the traditional uniforms that a significant portion of the NHL use with their name or mascot scrolling across the front.

I like the change up. This is a great rendition of the alternate uniform, but is missing that x-factor attribute to push it over the top. 

16. Nashville Predators

The Nashville Predators didn't change much from their home and away uniforms, but their subtle changes are good additions.

The patterned checkerboard on the uniform is a nice touch and you have to love the fierceness of the Preds' logo. The Sabre tooth might be one of the best logos in the NHL.

However, not enough variety from the primary jerseys to earn them a top-10 spot. 

15. Phoenix Coyotes

I like this change from the howling coyote that's on the home and away jerseys of the Phoenix Coyotes.

The howling coyote is still on the uniform as a shoulder emblem, which ties the uniforms well.

The black primary color makes the typical maroon and desert sand colors stand out well.

My only question is where is the Coyote jumping to? Seattle? 

14. Toronto Maple Leafs

Tradition. Tradition. Tradition. 

The fact that the Maple Leafs have an alternate jersey is an indication of changing times.

The Leafs have an absolutely monstrous fan base (18,370 fans per game). They bring people through the doors and this alternate uniform appeals to those fans who want a new look but love the tradition of their team.

13. Boston Bruins

The Boston Bruins are another team that went vintage with their alternate uniform.

The old-school stripes and the animal logo are a nice throwback and give fans something different to wear than the typical "B."

While the jersey isn't flashy, it does change up the monotony from the every day home and away uniforms. For that, I give the Bruins props.

12. Pittsburgh Penguins

I had a hard time not putting this one at the bottom of the list. But, the more I looked at it, I grew to like it to a certain extent.

Again, I wonder where these NHL teams got the idea that this light, baby blue is ok.

Pittsburgh, your colors aren't blue.

I do like the vintage look though and the change from the day-to-day jerseys.

What about a throwback uniform paying tribute to the historic "Igloo"?

11. St. Louis Blues

The St. Louis Blues took the circular logo to a new level. For that, they earn the No. 11 spot.

As a reference to the greatest landmark in St. Louis, the logo in the center features the Gateway Arch. Beautifully done, St. Louis.

Vintage feel and the traditional color scheme but the addition of the gateway arch makes this jersey a collector's item.

I love it.

10. Vancouver Canucks

The Vancouver Canucks start the top-10 with another variation on the circular logo. They used a nearly ovular logo in the center.

If you look closely, it's actually a hockey rink. Clever, right? The item that runs through the middle is a hockey stick.

My only gripe with this uniform is: Where's the Orca? I absolutely love those jerseys.

Vancouver has had a history of great uniforms.

Check some of these out:

Early 1980s  I absolutely love this one.

Another Beautiful Orca

9. Columbus Blue Jackets

Paying tribute to the history of not only the team, but the community, the Columbus Blue Jackets pick up the No. 9 spot.

That cannon is a symbol of the Columbus military influence in the Civil War. Did anyone know that a "Blue Jacket" was a soldier for the north during the Civil War?

I had to look it up.

I love the throwback uniform. Columbus is limited because their mascot does say "Blue" in it so color choices are limited.

This is another great tribute jersey that should be a collector's item.

8. San Jose Sharks

Subtle changes to the San Jose Sharks home and away uniforms snagged them the No. 8 spot.

If you look at the home and away jerseys for the Sharks, there is no tail. The alternate uniform has one.

They also eliminate the white triangle that is typically in the background.

I love the small changes and the nearly all-black uniform makes the logo a real focal point.

Well done, San Jose.

7. Chicago Blackhawks

To be honest, I don't know why the Chicago Blackhawks jersey is this high on the list, but I love this throwback uniform.

The 'Hawks go back to a vintage logo with the circular emblem. I love the color scheme. It's plain but it works.

The Blackhawks mascot really limits the team, but I like this rendition.

6. New York Islanders

Another jersey that I don't think many people will agree on the placement. The first time I saw this uniform I thought of throwing it in the terrible AHL category.

But, the more I saw it in some game footage, the more it grew on me. The Isles ditched the typical circular emblem from their home/away jerseys and did a nice job with this alternate.

I can dig the color scheme. If you don't like it, go watch some game film of it. It looks sharp, except when paired with those ridiculous blue helmets.

5. Buffalo Sabres

The top five begins with the Buffalo Sabres. The Sabres get a bump for ditching the "slug" and going back to their old emblem.

Some people don't like the bumblebee stripes. I think they are a nice touch.

Unique use of the emblem placement and the city.

Colors are a throwback to earlier roots, before the red and black jerseys. Though, I do miss the red and black.

T-3. Ottawa Senators

You'll nice a tie here.

The Ottawa Senators embraced their team's nickname and added it to a sharp-looking color scheme.

This is a great, new-look jersey from a team with a great deal of history. They certainly knocked the Maple Leafs' alternate out of the water.

This jersey appeals to all ages and for that, is rewarded with a top-5 spot.

T-3. Tampa Bay Lightning

Much like the last uniform, the Tampa Bay Lightning get a great bonus for their creativity and embracing of their nickname.

The "Bolts" looks absolutely sharp with the color scheme. Tampa Bay doesn't have the history of the Senators, but people can identify this uniform around the league.

It's a sharp head-turning jersey that sells tickets.

I didn't like the change to the new logo. I preferred Tampa's old one but that's also what makes this jersey so appealing.

It's not my favorite alternate from Tampa, though. This one is.

2. Anaheim Ducks

You have to give the Anaheim Ducks credit for this creativity.

The "D" that is on the jersey is a duck foot. Whether the "D" stands for Ducks or not is semi-irrelevant. I think this jersey is great.

Great use of the color scheme. Another jersey that fans of all teams can recognize even though it's not a traditional logo.

Well done, Anaheim.

1. Carolina Hurricanes

Taking the top spot are the Carolina Hurricanes.

Just look at this uniform.

Hockey stick as a flag pole.

Hurricane symbol on the flag.

Sharp looking colors.

Creative.

Unique.

Recognizable.

The Hurricanes take the top spot with this beauty of an alternate.