The NHL's Swell Sweaters: Ranking the Uniforms of the Eastern Conference
The standings may change from week to week, but the uniform stays the same. Sometimes.
Are all NHL fans satisfied with their favorite team's current sweaters? Some designs stick around for decades, while some teams drift from one hot trend to another.
Last week I took a closer look at the wardrobe of the the NHL Western Conference. What follows is my bottom-to-top ranking of the uniforms of the NHL Eastern Conference.
Some are classic, some...uh...not so classic, but all are worth a look. Is my list definitive? All I can say is that I know what I like.
I like classic looks.
I like simple, identifiable logos.
I like stripes on the pants.
I don't like change for change's sake.
Here is how I organized my observations:
Colors: Have they changed?
Design: Stripes, shoulder yolks, details, etc.
Logo: How it looks, how it's used.
Alternate: You know. The other sweater they want you to buy.
Tradition: Has the team stayed the course? Should they make a change?
Other Thoughts: Whatever came to mind.
15. Florida Panthers
1 of 15
Colors: Screams indecision on the sweater. Be a blue team or a red team. You don't have to please everybody. Just cut one of them loose and make the pants that color.
Design: Like several teams that converted to the Reebok Edge style of uniform, Florida chose to eliminate the stripes on the sleeves.
Logo: Really jumps out at you.
Alternate: Florida has one of the sweetest alternate uniforms in the league. These unis make a color decision (blue it is), add laces, a circular logo, and a stripe on the pants. Great look. How hard would it be to make a road sweater? Think about it...
Tradition: It's not too late to start over.
Other Thoughts: I'd make the alternate uniform standard. Put the pouncing Panther on the shoulders. Get Dale Tallon on the phone...
14. Tampa Bay Lightning
2 of 15
Colors: Black, blue, silver and white.
Design: The unique lightning bolt stripe has remained. They also kept the "victory stripes" under the arms. Good transition to the Edge style of uniform.
Logo: We lost the "Lightning" under the lightning bolt after only 15 years. How long before they remove the "Tampa Bay" and just let the logo speak for itself?
Alternate: "BOLTS" is a nice change of pace, as is the blue sweater.
Tradition: Let's wait until the franchise can legally drink.
Other Thoughts: The Lightning is one of the teams currently featuring numbers on the right side of the chest.
13. Carolina Hurricanes
3 of 15
Colors: Red, black, and silver. Completely turning their backs on Hartford green and blue.
Design: The pattern on the tail of the shirt is original, and they've stuck with it.
Logo: I have to admit that I've never liked this logo. But again, they've stuck with it. I like the secondary logo, the one that is on the shoulders and the front of the alternate sweater. Put that on the regular sweater. Then put it on a whaling ship. Note to Vancouver: this is the only team in the NHL that should be sporting a whale in their logo.
Alternate: I like the logo.
Tradition: This is a tough one. Carolina has started its own tradition rather then torture a disenfranchised city with constant reminders on its uniform. Good idea. Right, Dallas?
Other Thoughts: How about an alternate with Ric Flair on the front? Whooooooo!
12. Washington Capitals
4 of 15
Colors: After years of fighting it, back to the red, white and blue.
Design: If you want to invoke the past, how about putting the stars and stripes back on the pants? Or the sleeves? Or use the original socks?
Logo: The three stars above the logo stand for Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. This stick is no longer a different color than the rest of the word "Capitals."
Alternate: I think there's a throwback featuring red pants.
Tradition: A slight nod. At least they've gone back to the original colors.
Other Thoughts: Maybe a bit of the spirit of the old uniforms, but definitely not quite there.
11. Atlana Thrashers
5 of 15
Colors: The blue has lightened up quite a bit. Currently, the team uses their old alternate sweaters for their primary home look. Which I like. I don't like red and blue duking it out on a sweater. Again, be a blue team or a red team. Don't try to be both.
Design: I like the laces, hate the mismatched sleeves (I'm a big fan of symmetry). If you are at home, you don't need "Atlanta" running down one sleeve. Because of the side panels on the sweater, this is one pant I don't really mind lacking a stripe.
Logo: Despite the logistical issues with a three-ounce bird holding a hockey stick, I like this logo. It's Georgia's state bird, so there's the link.
Alternate: Decent-looking sweater, but again, just cast your lot with the two shades of blue.
Tradition: Well...they've outlasted the Flames in Atlanta.
Other Thoughts: Could be a really sweet uniform with a few minor tweaks.
10. Pittsburgh Penguins
6 of 15
Colors: The powder blue was changed in 1980 so that all of Pittsburgh's teams (Penguins, Pirates and Steelers) sported the same colors of black, white and gold. Now they're wearing "Vegas Gold." When do the Steelers and Pirates switch?
Design: One of the better-looking Edge-style revamps.
Logo: First the penguin lost his scarf. Then he broke out of the circle. Then he got bigger. Then he became the Flying Penguin (only penguins don't fly). The Super Mario bought the team and the penguin got his skates back.
Alternate: A throwback to the team's second-season sweater. In the original color scheme.
Tradition: I guess it depends if the alternate uniform can lead to a full-color reconciliation.
Other Thoughts: The first Penguins sweaters featured "Pittsburgh" on the front, Rangers-style. This was because their first GM refused to put the penguin anywhere on the uniform. Hey, what was wrong with a skating penguin with a scarf and gloves but no pants?
9. Ottawa Senators
7 of 15
Colors: Red, black and white, with a touch of gold.
Design: The Senators are one of a few teams whose uniforms actually improved when the league went to the Reebok Edge style. The pants got red and white stripes, the home and road sweater design now match, and they got rid of that goofy stripe on the home sweater.
Logo: Tougher looking than the original. He's also looking at us now.
Alternate: They left off the "e" at the end of...no, it's supposed to say "SENS" (pictured).
Tradition: Retained the colors of the old Senators club, and I think they have the "O" from that sweater on the shoulders. Nice touch.
Other Thoughts: The Canadian Senate resides in Ottawa, the nation's capital. So do Canadian senators wear that awesome headgear?
8. New York Islanders
8 of 15
Colors: It took 15 years, but they are finally back to the original orange and blue as opposed to the navy blue previously used. In the mid-'90s, they flipped out and added teal. Hey, it was the '90s. We all did things we regret.
Design: Again, took a real trippy turn there for a while.
Logo: Did you know if you follow the "I" in Islanders, it points you to the Nassau Coliseum?
Alternate: Not since they've gone back to the original sweater
Tradition: Maybe we just imagined the other sweaters. The Islanders are officially retro.
Other Thoughts: Is it more than coincidence that the Mets, Knicks and Islanders share the same colors?
7. Buffalo Sabres
9 of 15
Colors: For years it was a lighter blue, like on the alternate sweater. At least it's back to blue and gold again.
Design: I really like the road sweater, but both sweaters are nice. I could do without the gray pit stains, though.
Logo: They had a great logo, then decided to mess with it. After several epic fails, they wised up and realized that the logo they needed was right there all along. Sounds like a bad Lifetime movie.
Alternate: Original colors. Just slap the original logo on the front and make everybody happy.
Tradition: Seems like they've bucked pretty hard against it, but seem to be coming around.
Other Thoughts: Didn't this same type of thing happen with the Bills?
6. New Jersey Devils
10 of 15
Colors: The original green is now black. I think they wore green on St. Patrick's day last year. The helmet changed from red to black, too.
Design: After the change to black, the uniform has been identical, save for the change to Reebok Edge.
Logo: Simple, but says a lot. The "N," the "J" and the Devil is right there.
Alternate: Don't have one. I think the retro greens were a one-time shot.
Tradition: Coming up on 30 years in Jersey and you'd be hard-pressed to pick out one season's sweater from another. Except for the green ones.
Other Thoughts: Thanks to David Puddy, one of the more recognizable uniforms in sports.
5. Philidelphia Flyers
11 of 15
Colors: The only team in the conference that's sporting the orange. Originality points.
Design: More originality with the contrasting nameplates.
Logo: Got it right on the first try with the Flying P. The dot is a puck, you know.
Alternate: None right now. I was glad to see the black sweaters retired.
Tradition: The logo dominates the sweater, and that's been around since year one
Other Thoughts: For two seasons in the '80s, the Flyers wore long pants. Don't expect any throwback pants, though. The NHL banned the long pants in 1983 because they made players slide too fast on the ice. Only one other NHL team wore what were known as Cooperalls. That team was the Hartford Whalers.
4. Toronto Maple Leafs
12 of 15
Colors: Blue and white since the team's inception, save for a single year of a plain white sweater with a green logo and number. The blue is for the Canadian sky, the white for snow.
Design: Starting this season, the sweaters have the tail stripes back. The laces also return, giving the newer Edge-style a more traditional look.
Logo: Changed in 1967 to match the leaf on Canada's flag. I suppose that's a good reason to alter your logo.
Alternate: I like seeing the pre-1967 logo. Other than that, it's pretty similar to what they're currently wearing on the road.
Tradition: Yes.
Other Thoughts: From a distance, do the leaves on the shoulder resemble another type of leaf?
3. New York Rangers
13 of 15
Colors: Blue and red have an agreement. Blue dominates the sweater. Red gets the pants. This is how the two colors can coexist. The Rangers didn't even have a white sweater until the league forced them to adopt one in 1951.
Design: With a blip or two, it's remained the same. You can thank the Rangers for bringing back the laces to NHL sweaters, which they did in 1997.
Logo: For a while in the late '70s to about 1987, the road sweater had "New York" running in the familiar diagonal fashion. Not really a logo, but who's to argue with tradition?
Alternate: Darker blue and Lady Liberty.
Tradition: They've tried updating the look and been burned before. Lesson learned.
Other Thoughts: The nickname comes from their first president, Tex Rickard. They referred to the team as "Tex's Rangers." Could that happen with a team today?
2. Boston Bruins
14 of 15
Colors: The black and gold was originally brown and gold, but their an Original Six franchise, so we'll cut them some slack. Besides, the change occurred in 1934.
Design: Pretty traditional look. I notice that the shoulder yolk has come and gone over the years. The stripes on the pants went from white and gold to just white to no stripe. I know it's been 30 years, but how about bringing the white and gold stripes back?
Logo: The Bruins introduced the spokes logo to commemorate their 25th anniversary. In 1949. Which goes to show that there's nothing wrong with sticking with what works. Are you listening, Anaheim Ducks?
Alternate: Black with a different logo, but I don't think they need one. Why would you not want to wear the B? If it must be done, what about a gold throwback?
Tradition: I pity the unfortunate soul that tries to introduce teal into this sweater.
Other Thoughts: This is the way a uniform is supposed to work. You see it, you immediately identify the team.
1. Montreal Canadians
15 of 15
Colors: I know what I said about red and blue. But the colors have been together on the Habs togs for over 100 years. Red gets the sweater, blue gets the pants.
Design: The rock of the league. Nearly unchanged since it's debut.
Logo: The C is for Canadians. The H is for Hockey. Just tells it like it is.
Alternate: Really? Do we even have to discuss this?
Tradition: And then some.
Other Thoughts: Known as the "La Sainte-Flanelle." That's "The Holy Flannel Sweater" to you and me.
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