Power Ranking the Logos of Every NHL Team
Cheer for the logo on the front, not the name on the back.
It's a common saying among misguided fans of the NHL. The overlooked problem being, what if the logo on the front is nothing to cheer about?
Just like the disparity in competition throughout the NHL, the quality of NHL logos shares a similar fate.
Ranging from the absolutely terrible to absolutely amazing, this list takes into account tradition, origin and overall design in ranking all the primary logos of the NHL hockey teams.
Where will your team place? Click through this slideshow to find out!
30. Anaheim Ducks
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The Anaheim Ducks must like losing money.
At the birth of the franchise, there wasn't a cooler logo. Born from the hit Disney movie The Mighty Ducks, the Ducks logo had a cool factor and lasting appeal with adults who grew up watching the movie and their children, who they would undoubtedly expose to the hockey classic.
In 2006, Anaheim's ownership decided it didn't like being awesome, wanting to burden its fanbase with a hideous new logo and a new name: the Anaheim Ducks. These Ducks weren't "Mighty" anymore.
That logo was refined to a stylistic footprint of a duck spelling out "D" in 2013.
Nobody wants to buy that.
For replacing perhaps the best logo in NHL history, the Anaheim Ducks' logo ranks dead last on this list.
29. Vancouver Canucks
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Sigh.
Let's have a really bad logo based on a team name that means "Canadian." Then, we'll replace decades of awful jerseys and logos with one with a killer whale just because.
Whales are in oceans near Vancouver? Is that it?
The logo itself is okay, but the amount of rage experienced through nonsense is just too much here.
28. Ottawa Senators
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History was in mind when the Senators returned to Ottawa in 1991. Maybe the team's logo should have been left in the past.
The Senators' crest has only gotten worse, with the current iteration looking like a super hero you'd find in a store-brand cereal or coloring book at the Dollar Tree.
It's just bad.
27. Dallas Stars
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Here's a situation in which creating uniformity with a popular team in the same city or state blows up in your face. The Lone Star State concept can be seen in some form on the logos of the Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, Houston Astros and Texas Rangers.
While it works for those franchises to varying degrees, it falls flat with the Dallas Stars.
Yes, I know the origin of the team is the name of the Minnesota North Stars, but you'd be hard pressed to say the inspiration for the current team in Dallas isn't a reflection of the state idea.
The original Dallas Stars logo isn't too hot, as the puke-green color and team text left a lot to be desired.
The updated version of the team logo, which began its run in 2013, isn't much better. It looks like someone spent three minutes in Photoshop pasting a bold "D" over a star. If the NHLPA created a hockey game to compete with EA's NHL franchise, I'd expect this to be the awkward logo some developer concocted to hedge a trademark.
This logo is lazy and, ultimately, awful. It can join the heap with the Anaheim Ducks and Vancouver Canucks.
26. Winnipeg Jets
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True North Sports did a great justice returning the Jets to Winnipeg in 2011.
They also did one major injustice, ditching the awesome logo of the former Jets squad with a Clipart jet superimposed over a Canadian flag.
While the logo doesn't look terrible placed on a jersey, it's leaps and bounds behind the stylistically pleasing Jets logo of yesteryear.
Winnipeg's original logo, which shows commitment to designs from the Edmonton Oilers and New York Islanders, would likely be up with those two franchises on this list.
However, its dullness is reflected in these rankings and should be shunned like the grotesque misjudgment of the Anaheim Ducks ownership.
25. Philadelphia Flyers
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This team was named in a fan vote.
Never name your team from a fan vote.
Apparently, one of the reasons the Flyers were named as such was because it would fit well in a newspaper headline. Yikes.
I don't know what the Flyers name means to people in Philadelphia. Perhaps a Flyers fan could leave a message in the comments section?
The logo itself looks like it's stuck in the 1960s.
The traffic cone jerseys the team wears doesn't help the look out much.
24. Florida Panthers
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It's a pouncing panther. The cat was apparently endangered in Florida at the time, which inspired the naming of the team.
When I think Florida, I don't think about panthers.
People in Florida don't even think about hockey, as the 14 fans who show up at the BB&T Center prove every home game.
This logo is off the mark for a team that probably should be marked in another location...somewhere in Canada.
If the team's own fans don't care about them, neither should I in this list.
23. Calgary Flames
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There's not much you can do with a name like the Calgary Flames. A flaming "C" is pretty much the extent of it.
The franchise originated in Atlanta and was named after the burning of the city in the Civil War.
This begs the question, why didn't they rename the team after relocation? Especially considering this really might be one of the worst team names in the league.
It's hard to judge the logo without taking this into account. It's an uninspired name for Calgary and an uninspired logo.
The lack of forethought in renaming the franchise makes this logo seem pointless and out of place. To the bottom of the list you go.
22.Columbus Blue Jackets
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In an homage to Ohio's contributions during the Civil War, we get the Columbus Blue Jackets. While this is a decent reason to produce a logo and team name, the concept kind of leaves the brand dead in the water.
There's an awful version of a yellow jacket with a blue coat that ran as an alternative logo for the team. The primary logo the team ran from 2000 to 2007 wasn't much better, as a ribbon spelled out "CB" while a hockey stick in the middle signified a "J."
The current logo is a bit sleeker but looks more like a side piece or a third logo more than anything.
In the end, the Blue Jackets' logo just feels kind of "meh."
21. Nashville Predators
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A saber-toothed tiger was discovered in the Nashville area during the construction of an office building in 1971. That would end up becoming the team logo when the Predators came into the league in 1998.
The saber-toothed tiger is an okay logo, but it really loses traction when combined with the awful gold, navy and white of the jersey designs.
Also, while the discovery of a saber-toothed tiger was cool and everything, I don't think it's a clear indicator of the city of Nashville. I guess a music note was already taken.
20. Arizona Coyotes
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The Coyotes keep true to the concept of being a team from a state that touches the southern border of the United States. Early jersey concepts focused on greens, reds and dark-moon colors that blended well with the area and its common association of the desert.
While the skating coyote was a bizarre design, it did at least fit into the overall concept of the team's unique, festive jerseys.
In 2003, the skating coyote was replaced by the head of a howling coyote. This is an okay look, but the accompanying brick-red home jersey color is a bit much. On the ice, it gives the appearance of a bunch of brick walls skating around.
The logo itself, like the Blue Jackets one before it, is simply just there. There's nothing special about it. At least the skating coyote had character.
19. Buffalo Sabres
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The Sabres logo is an interesting take, as the primary focus of the design is the city and not the team name.
A buffalo has been predominant in each logo since the team's inception, with the origin 1970 logo looking near identical to the design today.
There were a few hiccups through the years, such as a terrible-looking angry buffalo design in 1996 and what I call the "sluggalo" design that ran from 2006 to 2010.
The sluggalo might be the worst design in the history of any design. What were they thinking?
Making the move back to the original logo was the smartest thing the Buffalo franchise did. In the end, it's just okay. It's certainly not the best or worst.
18. San Jose Sharks
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Here's another fan-named team. Sharks are cool, though, and that at least earns some points.
I've never really seen a black shark before, but my knowledge on the species ends after a few commonly known facts.
Here, a more cartoon-like approach with a blue shark boasting a wide-toothed grin would have been awesome. Instead, the black and pacific-teal colors kind of make the shark seem robotic and cold. The odd cel-shaded look the shark received in 2007 was a weird downgrade.
Still, a shark is a shark and San Jose is close to water where I imagine sharks live, so they've got that going for them—the same inane logic they used in Vancouver.
17. Tampa Bay Lightning
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Opting for a more simplistic look in 2011, the Lightning rid themselves of the tacky lettering of their opening logo designs.
Still, the brand is stuck in space, limited to the fact that the team nickname is a lousy one. Yes, there's a lot of lightning in Florida, but did the team really have to be called that?
Tampa Bay is doing the best it can with what it has as a logo, and the current and former jersey designs really enhance the lightning bolt.
Where the San Jose Sharks failed by adding pacific teal in a similar scheme, the Lightning excelled for their use of white and blue.
As far as the logo itself, it does what it can but ultimately lacks soul.
16. Carolina Hurricanes
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Having been born in North Carolina, I'm quite familiar with hurricanes, having lived through two of them during my nine years in the state. In that aspect, I understand the concept of the team name.
The logo itself does the Hurricanes name justice, looking like a typical drawing of a hurricane system that we all see from weather forecasts.
I also know the state bird is the cardinal. Cardinals are red and black. Whether this had anything to do with the Hurricanes' team color is beyond me, but if it does, that's a nice touch.
Overall, this is a solid, if unspectacular design that doesn't try to do too much. Since Golden Corral wasn't in line to name a team during the origin of the franchise, the Hurricanes is as good a team name as any for North Carolina.
This one earns a middle-of-the-pack ranking.
15. St. Louis Blues
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The Blues were apparently named after this song by W.C. Handy, which, next to another team higher on this list, is probably the coolest way to get a nickname ever.
I previously ragged on the Philadelphia Flyers logo, and this logo has a lot of elements from that design. The ruffled wing look is similar to the flying "P" seen on Philadelphia's jersey.
What differs is how well the St. Louis logo, with its yellow and blue, mixes with the team's jersey. The white road jerseys look especially sharp in this instance.
With a cool background and a decent color scheme, this logo reaches the middle of the list.
14. Minnesota Wild
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The Minnesota Wild logo is a deep one that represents the wildlife and outdoors commonly associated with the state. The colors are warm and vibrant and add a unique look when combined with jersey concepts.
In some ways, it reminds me of the thought process the Arizona Coyotes took with their original jerseys, focusing on the area around the team.
This is a pretty decent logo that stands on its own and represents the state well. For that, it earns a spot in the middle of this list.
13. New York Rangers
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The Rangers were practically named through word of mouth concerning then-Madison Square Garden president and team owner G.I. "Tex" Rickard. Many fans and media would call the team "Tex's Rangers."
The state shield logo, which has varied little since the team's inception, shares some similarities to that of the Los Angeles Kings. The association with liberty, as seen with the team's alternative logo, which featured that Statue of Liberty in 1996, mixes well with the red, white and blue color design.
This is an added touch and mixes well with the jersey designs the team has had, though the shield isn't featured on the crest of either the primary home or away jerseys of the club.
This logo will share a similar spot in these rankings as the aforementioned Kings emblem, but the darker, sleeker design of the Los Angeles logo earns the higher spot.
12. Los Angeles Kings
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The Los Angeles Kings have been working on their logo through the decades and may have finally gotten it right.
Though they stumbled for a bit in 1998, they eventually settled for the current design featuring a banner or shield look with a crown and the "LA" initials.
Though it could be argued that the overall logo design looked better during the Wayne Gretzky years, the banner design of today with the simple black and white colors of the team jersey really looks sharp.
The Kings nickname doesn't make a lick of sense with the area, but they get a pass for how well they've mixed logo design and jersey concept.
11. Montreal Canadiens
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The Habs logo went through a lot of quick, drastic changes during the team's early years before a version of the current logo was settled on in 1917.
There is always confusion when addressing the "H" that connects the top and bottom of the "C" logo. The "H" is part of the team name when said in French, Club de Hockey Canadien.
Similar to the Boston Bruins, it's really hard to put down this classic logo. The greatest hockey champions of all time, the Montreal logo is the classic of all classics.
It's simple and definitely a product of an earlier time, but it's hard to put it anywhere other than close to the Bruins on this list.
10. Toronto Maple Leafs
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The Maple Leafs logo is clear and topical and blends well with all of the team's jersey designs. A volatile member of the NHL for decades, the logo has remained relatively untouched since turning blue in 1927.
The fact it parallels the national flag of Canada is an added benefit, as it commonly represents the origin of hockey's popularity.
As is the case with most of the other classic teams in the league, the sentimental value of the logo might be giving it an unfair bump in supremacy here.
9. Boston Bruins
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The Boston Bruins logo was a bear with scoliosis in 1924. In 1932, the team changed the logo to the more widely known "B" that is displayed today, though it didn't feature the trademark circle around the "B" until 1949.
There have been minor adjustments to the lining and color of the logo, but it's remained pretty much the same since.
It's hard to poke fun at a classic, and the circularity of the logo helps it blend easily with any jersey design.
While there are definitely better logos around, the Bruins logo earns its place in the top 10.
8. Washington Capitals
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The Washington Capitals probably had the superior jersey logo with the bald eagle, but this one is pretty good too.
Perhaps the best of the logos displaying the entire team's name, it matches well with the red, white and blue color scheme.
The fact it makes sense with the team's location (a rage-inducing oddity for others) and surrounding area's history instantly shoots it up this list.
7. Chicago Blackhawks
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Unlike the Boston Bruins, who added a circle around their logo as the years progressed, the Chicago Blackhawks rid themselves of the circle that originally surrounded their emblem.
No matter what your personal belief is on team names and logos relating to Native Americans, this is a classic logo that actually serves a dual purpose.
Black Hawk was a warrior in the Sauk American Indian tribe. This makes sense with the team logo presented.
The nickname also serves another meaning. Team owner Frederic McLaughlin named the franchise after the 86th Infantry Divison, the "Black Hawk division" he was in during World War I.
The Blackhawks' logo has stood the test of time and been a constant since the Original Six days of the NHL. Like the Bruins' logo, it's hard to put down such a classic, colorful logo such as this one.
It definitely looks better than the circular logo of its beginnings and earns a top-10 ranking for familiarity and tradition.
6. Colorado Avalanche
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The Colorado Avalanche logo and team name is an obvious ode to the Rocky Mountains and the harsh winter conditions they bring.
When I think of this logo, I relive all the great teams that began the franchise in Colorado with Joe Sakic, Patrick Roy and Peter Forsberg.
The logo looks clean and matches the concept of the team name well. The "A" in the logo looks like a mountain, with a puck tumbling down the mountain like an avalanche.
It's a great concept for a logo, and the blend of burgundy and steel blue on the team's jersey looks great even today.
This one earns a top-10 ranking for sleekness of design and how well it matches the area.
5. Detroit Red Wings
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Like the logo of any good team, there's a historical precedent that comes into account and reflects the city or area around it.
This is the case with the Detroit Red Wings, who were named after the Montreal Winged Wheelers, a team owner James Norris once played for.
The logo is a wheel with wings on it, which also signified the development of the auto industry in the city.
There haven't been many changes to the Red Wings' logo, and the inversion of red and white throughout the wheel blend nicely with the colors of the team's home and away jerseys.
Blending history, tradition and a layered, effective overall design, the Red Wings own a top 10 spot on this list.
4. Edmonton Oilers
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The oil capital of Canada, Edmonton struck black gold with this simple, yet enduring design.
There have been minor color variations, but the simple circular design has held true since 1972. The way the lettering runs down like oil, creating tight spaces that look like the digs of an oil well is something I don't know was intentional or by mistake. Either way, it looks great.
The logo really looks sharp with the blue, orange and white design of the team's jersey.
3. New York Islanders
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This one reminds me a lot of the Edmonton Oilers, in both color and design. No surprise, it's a tick above Edmonton on this list.
We're all still trying to forget 1995. Thankfully, people got smart and returned the team's logo to its original glory.
The fact this team will be called the Brooklyn Islanders next season is a sad tale and an unfortunate circumstance.
Looking at it today, the logo still looks great and (for now) matches the area well.
2. Pittsburgh Penguins
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The skating penguin logo is a refreshed look of a logo the Pittsburgh Penguins have used throughout their history, but primarily the one with a closed beak used during the '80s, with the traditional gold being replaced with the team's Vegas gold.
Surprisingly, this logo remains pretty fresh after all these years and is one of the more durable looks for merchandising.
The colors also blend well with the Pittsburgh scheme of black and gold, which includes the baseball and football team. It should be noted that the gold used in the team's current rehashed third jerseys is much more appealing than the Vegas gold used in the primary jerseys.
If not for those reasons, the simple fact it is not the "robo-penguin" the team sported during the 1990s is reason enough to list it second.
1. New Jersey Devils
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This logo is absolutely incredible.
It's simple, yet has an outstanding story behind it. The legend of the Jersey Devil has been around for centuries. Naming a hockey team after a supernatural entity and urban legend is one of the coolest things anyone has ever done.
The logo features a unique looking devil encompassed by a circle. What's strange is even the green color scheme that was around from 1982 to 1991 still looks good.
Though the New Jersey Devils may have trapped us in the dark ages of hockey with the Dead Puck Era during the Martin Brodeur years, they at least looked spiffy doing it.
Agree with our list? Have anything you want to rant about? Leave a message in the comments section!
