Loose Threads: The Greatest Jerseys in the History of Every NHL Team

When it comes to uniforms, hockey is different than the other three major sports. Unlike basketball and football, the front of the jersey has only a logo instead of a number taking up most of the space (well...most of the time). Unlike baseball, each hockey team has a white jersey and a colored jersey instead of a white jersey and a gray jersey.

NHL jerseys have made significant changes over the years, most drastically being after the NHL transitioned to the Reebok EDGE template before the 2007-2008 season. Some teams have had infamously bad looks, some teams have had amazingly good looks.

Here is my opinion about what the best look for all 30 NHL teams has been throughout their history.

Anaheim Ducks: 1993-2006 White Jersey (Mighty Ducks)

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ANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 14: Paul Kariya #9 of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim makes a pass against the Detroit Red Wings during round one of the NHL 2003 Stanley Cup playoffs at the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim on April 14, 2003 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Do

I still wish the Ducks kept this look: it was unique, original, and looked great at the same time. For some reason, I like the white jersey better than the eggplant version, but that's just my opinion. I'm sure a lot of hockey fans can agree with me that this jersey (especially the logo) looks better than the current one, although I'll admit that I like the new third jersey a lot (I own one with Bobby Ryan on the back). Even if the keep the "Mighty" out of their name, I still think the Ducks should go back to this look.

Atlanta Thrashers: 1999-2006 Dark Blue Jersey

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ATLANTA - OCTOBER 9: Center Kamil Piros #22 and the rest of the Atlanta Thrashers pay tribute during a ceremony to memorializes the untimely passing of Thrasher center Dan Snyder #37, before the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Philips Arena on

I was never a fan of any of the Thrashers' jerseys, but this is definitely my favorite. I think they got the colors right; the dark blue, gold, and red looks great together.

However, I was never a big fan of the logo or the arrows used for striping on the bottom of the jersey. The main logo, although I don't like it at all, would have looked better on this jersey than the secondary logo.

Boston Bruins: 2007-Current Black Jersey

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BOSTON, MA - JUNE 08: Patrice Bergeron #37 of the Boston Bruins celebrates with Gregory Campbell #11 after defeating the Vancouver Canucks in Game Four of the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Final at TD Garden on June 8, 2011 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston

We've been seeing a lot of this jersey lately, and it looks just as good every time. Boston was one of the teams that used the Reebok jersey re-modeling to their advantage as they created a throwback and Original Six feel while still keeping a modern look. I honestly don't know anyone who doesn't like this jersey, other than the people who have made some comments this past week about me wearing my Tyler Seguin jersey around.

Buffalo Sabres: 1996-2006 Black Jersey

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2 Jun 1998: Dominik Hasek #39 of the Buffalo Sabres in action during an Eastern Conference Playoff game against the Washington Capitals at the MCI Center in Washington D.C.. The Sabres defeated the Capitals 2-1.

I know a lot of people are going to disagree with me and say that blue and yellow are better for the Sabres, but there has always been something I've liked about these jerseys. The red and silver accents look great, it's an original design, the logo's pretty cool, and the black makes the jersey look tough. The white jerseys and red alternates are also two of my favorites and I, unlike most people, would love to see the Sabres back in these.

There's nothing wrong with the current jerseys, I think they look great; I've just always liked these better.

Calgary Flames: 1998-2006 Black Jersey

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WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 27: Martin Gelinas #23 of the Calgary Flames skates during warm-ups prior to the NHL game against the Washington Capitals at MCI Center on November 27, 2002 in Washington, DC. The Capitals defeated the Flames 4-2. (Photo by Mitchell

These jerseys were just awesome. The colors looked great together and the design was original.

There are only a few changes I would make to this jersey: put the red flaming C on the front and put the flaming horse on the shoulders, and make the A for assistant captain the same font as the numbers. I know it's supposed to tribute to the Atlanta Flames, but it just doesn't seem to fit.

All in all, this is my favorite jersey from the Flames: a team that has never really worn a jersey I didn't like.

Carolina Hurricanes: 1998-2007 Red Jersey

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TORONTO - FEBRUARY 18: Jeff O'Neill #92 of the Carolina Hurricanes skates during the NHL game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre on February 18, 2003 in Toronto, Ontario. The Maple Leafs defeated the Hurricanes 4-3. (Photo By Dave Sand

The Hurricanes' jerseys have not really changed much since they moved to Raleigh from Hartford in 1998; the only difference being the outline of the shoulder yoke that was added when the NHL switched to Reebok. Overall, it's a somewhat original jersey with good colors; it just looks better without a white or red line going around the shoulders.

Chicago Blackhawks: 1965-Current Red Jersey

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CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 24: Joanthan Toews #19 of the Chicago Blackhawks watches the replay board after a call against the Vancouver Canucks in Game Six of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the United Center on A

Many people say that these are easily the best looking jerseys in all of sports. I'm not sure if I'd go that far, but I will admit that they are definitely one of the best jerseys in hockey. The logo is classic, and the jersey combines good colors with a vintage look to create a historic look.

Colorado Avalanche: 1995-2007 White Jersey

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4 May 1998: Defenseman Uwe Krupp and goaltender Patrick Roy of the Colorado Avalanche in action against center Mats Lindgren of the Edmonton Oilers during an NHL Western Conference Semi-final game at the McNichols Sports Arena in Denver Colorado. The Oil

Hey look its Uwe Krupp!

I've never been a huge fan of the Avalanche's jerseys, but I've never hated them either. I think the white-maroon before the cookie-cutter EDGE template was their best look. The turquoise that is on their colored jerseys just doesn't fit with the maroon, and this jersey looks somewhat unique and original.

Columbus Blue Jackets: 2000-2003 White Jersey

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22 Sep 2001: Goaltender Marc Denis #30 of the Columbus Blue Jackets crouches in goal during the NHL game against the Buffalo Sabres at HSBC Arena in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres edged the Blue Jackets 4-3. \ Mandatory copyright notice: Copyright 2001

This has always been the best Blue Jackets jersey. Things started to go wrong in 2003 when they switched out the Stinger logo for the star/flag logo on the shoulders, and their jerseys, which are still decent, have gone downhill since. I love how they tried to add a unique shade of yellow-green to red, white, and blue and it still worked.

Dallas Stars: 1997-2007 Green Jersey

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21 May 2000: Mike Modano #9 and Brendan Morrow #45 celebrate with Brett Hull #16 of the Dallas Stars after he scored the second goal against the Colorado Avalanche in the first period during game four of the Western Conference Finals at the Pepsi Center

These jerseys were awesome. The star design was so original and creative and the colors fit perfectly. The jersey is different, but not too flashy. I'm sure everyone can agree that Dallas probably took the biggest hit as a result of the Reebok EDGE jersey design. However, rumor has it that they will be introducing a new green third jersey for next season; which is a very good thing since I think the NHL needs a lot more green.

Detroit Red Wings: 1983-Current White Jersey

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SAN JOSE, CA - MAY 12: Henrik Zetterberg #40, Pavel Datsyuk #13, and Nicklas Lidstrom #5 of the Detroit Red Wings talk to each other before a face off against the San Jose Sharks in Game Seven of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2011 NHL Stan

In my opinion, these are the greatest uniforms in all of sports. Yes, I may be a little biased being a die-hard Wings fan, but the logo is so iconic and the colors and design are so simple that it seems like this look could not get any better.

Edmonton Oilers: 1981-1994; 2008-Current Blue Jersey

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EDMONTON, CANADA - OCTOBER 7: Ladislav Smid #5 of the Edmonton Oilers skates against the Calgary Flames on October 7, 2010 at Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Dale MacMillan/Getty Images)

This jersey has a great classic look as well an amazing color scheme to go with it. While I am one of the few people that likes the EDGE-style blue jersey (not the white one), I am very happy that the Oilers are going to use these jerseys along with a white version full-time next season.

Florida Panthers: 1993-2003 Red Jersey

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11 Jan 1997: John Vanbiesbrouck #34 of the Florida Panthers in action during a game against the Calgary Flames at the Canadien Airlines Saddledome in Calgary, Canada. Mandatory Credit: Ian Tomlinson /Allsport

I have to admit, this is one of my favorite jerseys of all time. Surprising, I know, but everything on this jersey seems to work out. Too bad the white version didn't look nearly as good as this one. There is good news, however, about the Panthers' jerseys: they will be wearing red again next year. While I do not expect them to be as good as this look, red is the right color for the Panthers and I'm very glad that they're making a change.

Los Angeles Kings: 1988-1998 Black Jersey

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21 Mar 1995: Center Wayne Gretzky of the Los Angeles Kings looks on during a game against the Anaheim Mighty Ducks at Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, California. The game was a tie, 3-3. Mandatory Credit: Glenn Cratty /Allsport

Black and silver just works for the Kings. These jerseys were simple and unique at the same time, and they will always be remembered because of The Great One. The new Kings' third jersey is somewhat of a remake of this jersey, bringing the Kings back to black and silver for the first time since 1998; and I'm very happy that they will be making it the new home jersey next season.

Minnesota Wild: 2009-Current Green Jersey

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ST PAUL, MN - MARCH 22: Clayton Stoner #4 of the Minnesota Wild skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Xcel Energy Center on March 22, 2011 in St Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Like I said before, the NHL needs more green. The Wild have always been great with jerseys and logos, but this is by far my favorite one. Green and off-white with a very slight hint of red and a lace-up collar makes up this nearly flawless jersey.

Montreal Canadiens: 1977-Current White Jersey

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BOSTON, MA - APRIL 27: Tomas Plekanec #14 of the Montreal Canadiens celebrates with teammate P.K. Subban #76 who scored a goal in the third period against the Boston Bruins in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2011 NHL Stanle

This is one of the few clubs that has never had a bad jersey (like the other five Original Six teams). There's nothing I would fix on this jersey; great colors and a great design. I'm not sure why, but I've always like the white version of the Habs' jersey better than the red one.

Nashville Predators: 2009-Current Blue Jersey

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NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 26: Joel Ward #29 and Shea Weber #6 of the Nashville Predators congratulate teammate David Legwand #11 on scoring an open net goal against the Dallas Stars on March 26, 2011 at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo

This is one of my favorites in the league. The new colors to an already great-looking logo make it even better, and the jersey has a vintage feel to it because of the simple coloring and patterns. The checkered stripes used to represent auto racing are tough to see, but an interesting idea. This is another one of the jerseys that I own; Dave Legwand on the back.

New Jersey Devils: 1992-Current White Jersey

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NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 09: Travis Zajac #19 of the New Jersey Devils skates against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on April 9, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Jonathan Klein/Getty Images)

The Devils are one of those teams whose white jersey looks better than the colored one in my opinion: I don't know why. While it's nothing special, I think that this jersey has a good, classic look to it without any obnoxious details or colors.

New York Islanders: 1972-1978; 2008-Current Blue Jersey

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UNIONDALE, NY - APRIL 08: Ty Wishart #6 of the New York Islanders skates against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Nassau Coliseum on April 8, 2011 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

The Islanders made everyone happy when they resurrected their old 70's royal blue jerseys in 2008 and made them their permanent home jerseys in 2010. They have an overall good and vibrant look to them and also fit in with the current vintage-style trend in the NHL.

New York Rangers: 2010-Current Heritage Blue Jersey

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NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 04: Brian Boyle #22 of the New York Rangers skates against the Boston Bruins at Madison Square Garden on April 4, 2011 in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Bruins 5-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

When I heard that the Rangers were bringing back a third jersey for the 2010-2011 season, I was hoping it would be the famous Lady Liberty jersey from the '90s and early '00s. I was upset when I found out that they weren't, but once I saw these new uniforms I was pleasantly surprised. Every Rangers jersey has a great look to it; I don't know why this one stands out even more than the rest to me.

Ottawa Senators: 2007-Current Home Jersey

Phillip MacCallum/Getty Images

OTTAWA, CANADA - APRIL 07: Colin Greening #52 of the Ottawa Senators waits for a faceoff during a game against the Montreal Canadiens at Scotiabank Place on April 7, 2011 in Ottawa, Canada. (Photo by Phillip MacCallum/Getty Images)

I've never been a huge fan of any of the Senators' jerseys, but this is probably my favorite. While I don't like the EDGE template, the colors and new logo worked out really well in this jersey. The "O" logo on the shoulder is good too, but this jersey could use some improvements.

Philadelphia Flyers: 1982-2001 Orange Jersey

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15 Feb 2000: Eric Lindros #88 of the Philadelphia Flyers skates on the ice during a game against the New Jersey Devils at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Devils defeated the Flyers 4-2. Mandatory Credit: David Leeds /A

The Flyers have always had basically the same look; it has never looked bad, but it seems like there is always room for improvement. While I'm not a huge fan of orange jerseys, it is different since there is no other NHL team with orange as its primary color. This still has a solid look to it although it is not one of my personal favorite jerseys.

Phoenix Coyotes: 1998-2003 Green Jersey

Harry How/Getty Images

24 Apr 2002: Teppo Numminen #27 of the Phoenix Coyotes looks on against the San Jose Sharks during game four of the Stanley Cup playoffs at America West Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. The Sharks won 2-1. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Harry How/Getty Image

By now, you've probably noticed that I'm a fan of '90s jerseys. While there isn't really anything wrong with the current jerseys, I have always liked these unique jerseys. To be honest, I think the current logo is much better and I think (with some color changes of course) it would look better on this jersey than the "Picasso" coyote. While a lot of people hate this jersey, I don't really see what's so bad about it.

Pittsburgh Penguins: 1992-2002 White Jersey

Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images

01 Feb 2002: Mario Lemieux of the Pittsburgh Penguins during the NHL Allstar Skills competition at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The World Team defeated North America 21-11. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images/NHLI

Continuing with the '90s jerseys, these are easily my favorite jerseys the Penguins have ever worn. The robo-pen logo is awesome and the yellow looks so much better than the current Vegas gold.

San Jose Sharks: 1997-2007 Teal Jersey

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CALGARY - MARCH 1: Vincent Damphousse #25 of the San Jose Sharks waits during the NHL game against the Calgary Flames on March 1, 2003 at the Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary, Canada. The Flames won 4-3. (Photo by: Ian Tomlinson/Getty Images/NHLI)

These were my favorite Sharks jerseys; they have their own creative template to them as well as their own unique colors. These are much better than the current jerseys (even though I own one of the current ones) because the gray goes much better with teal and black than the current orange.

St. Louis Blues: 1995-1998 Blue Jersey

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22 Mar 1998: Defenseman Al MacInnis of the St. Louis Blues in action during a game against the Calgary Flames at the Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta Canada. The Flames defeated the Blues 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Ian Tomlinson /Allsport

Nobody seems to like these jerseys a lot, but I really wish the Blues would have stuck with them. The shades of blue and red fit perfectly with each other, and the thin gold stripes add an accent to the design of the jersey. Altogether, I think that this was a very underrated jersey and that the Blues should have stuck with it for at least a few more years.

Tampa Bay Lightning: 2001-2007 Black Jersey

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TAMPA, FL - JUNE 7: Dave Andreychuk #25 of the Tampa Bay Lightning skates with the Stanley Cup after defeating the Calgary Flames in game seven of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals on June 7, 2004 at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida. The Lightning w

These jerseys were better than the jerseys that the Bolts used after the EDGE re-designing and they're also better than the jerseys that Tampa will wear next year. The logo is less cartoon-ish and the whole design looks more professional. You have to love the victory stripes too.

Toronto Maple Leafs: 2000-2007; 2008-2011 White Third Jersey

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NEWARK, NJ - APRIL 06: Matt Lashoff #29 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on April 6, 2011 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

These are some of the greatest jerseys I've ever seen. The jagged Leaf logo looks tough and vintage at the same time, and the color scheme and stripes are perfect. This looks like a classic Maple Leafs jersey and I'm sad that they're retiring it after this season.

Vancouver Canucks; 1989-1997 White Jersey

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11 JUN 1994: CANUCKS'' DEFENSEMAN BRENT HEDICAN CARRIES HANDLES THE PUCK DURING THE THIRD PERIOD IN GAME SIX OF THE STANLEY CUP FINALS IN VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA. SURROUNDING HEDICAN ARE, FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, GLENN ANDERSON, PAVEL BURE, ADAM GRAVES AN

A lot of people will disagree with me here since everyone is a huge fan of the current blue and green Canucks jerseys, but in my opinion, these were my favorites. The red-gold-black color scheme looks great, but the best part is the skate logo, which is busy but still very creative.

Washington Capitals: 1995-2000 Blue Jersey

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9 Jun 1998: Adam Oates #77 of the Washington Capitals in action during the NHL Stanley Cup Finals game against the Detroit Red Wings at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. The Red Wings defeated the Capitals 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Robert Laberge /

While I was never a big fan of the striping on these jerseys, I have always loved the color as well as the eagle logo on the front. I'm sure a lot of people would agree with me when I say that the Caps look better in blue instead of the current red jerseys.