Ottawa Senators and the Best Throwback Uniforms in the NHL

The Ottawa Senators unveiled their new throwback jersey in Thursday night's home opener against the Colorado Avalanche. The jersey was originally worn by the Senators during their first stint in the NHL from 1917-1934 and is affectionately known as "the barber pole jersey."

Throwback uniforms have been all the rage in NHL jerseys in recent years. Fans love them, and teams are finally listening and going back to the styles that were so popular before the RBK uniform switch.

But where does the Sens' new look rank among other retro jerseys that have been worn by teams?

Keep reading to find out.

20. Pittsburgh Penguins Baby Blue Alternates (2008-11)

When the Pittsburgh Penguins first participated in the Winter Classic in 2008, they wore a baby blue style that was worn by the team from 1968-1971.

The jersey had a round Penguins logo and white striping on the sleeves and the hem of the jersey. It looked great against the Winter Classic backdrop, especially as light snow fell over Buffalo that day. The Pens paired the jerseys with navy blue helmets and pants, as well as socks that matched the pattern of the jerseys. 

However, the Pens seemed to lose in these jerseys more often that not once they wore them indoors.

19. Toronto St. Pats Jerseys (2002)

The Toronto Maple Leafs wore known as the Toronto St. Pats from 1918 to 1927. In February, 1927, Conn Smythe purchased the team and changed the name from the St. Pats to the Maple Leafs.

During the 2001-02 season, the Leafs wore throwback Toronto St. Pats jerseys for one night. A photo around the Internet shows then-Leafs captain Mats Sundin wearing this jersey with brown pants and a helmet, as well as vintage brown gloves and green socks.

It was an interesting concept, and you wanted the look to work. But for some reason, it just didn't.

18. New York Rangers "New York" Jersey (2010-Present)

Last season, the Rangers decided to create an alternate jersey based on the uniforms of the 1980s, which had "New York" written in their famous diagonal font instead of "Rangers." The jersey was created in honor of their 85th anniversary season. 

The jersey is nice enough, especially with the white collar, but it feels weird to see the Blueshirts in a different shade of blue, and it kind of misses the mark when you see the players wearing it.

17. Detroit Red Wings Turn Back the Clock Jersey (1992)

The Red Wings joined the rest of the Original Six teams in wearing these jerseys as part of a Turn Back the Clock Night in 1992 during the NHL's 75th anniversary season.

Detroit wore this style during the 1927-28 and 1929-30 seasons. The jersey is worn with red pants and mostly white socks with some red stripes. While it is a good look, it doesn't quite make an impact like another look we'll see later in the slideshow.

16. Montreal Canadiens Centennial "C" Jersey (2008-2009)

This jersey was worn by the Canadiens as a part of their centennial season celebration in 2009. The team originally wore it from 1900-1910.

The shade of blue on this jersey is very nice, while the horizontal stripe across the chest and the "C" give it a true retro look. There are no other bells and whistles, but in today's Reebok cut, it tends to come off looking like a practice jersey.

15. Calgary Flames Alternate Jersey (2009-Present)

In 2009-10, the Flames decided to go with the jersey the team wore from their initial relocation to the NHL in 1980 through 1994. This was the uniform worn when Calgary won their only Stanley Cup in 1989.

The jersey keeps the Calgary red while swapping out black trim for yellow and white stripes. It has the popular horizontal three-stripe pattern on the hem and a white flaming "C" rather than a black one.

These are the same colors that were worn by the Atlanta Flames before the franchise moved to Canada. It still looks slick on the ice today.

14. Ottawa Senators "O" Alternate Jersey (Present)

The Ottawa Senators alternate jersey for this year was unveiled last night during their home opener. It is being worn during the Sens' 20th anniversary season and has an NHL All-Star Game patch fixed on the right chest, as Ottawa will host the festivities this year.

This jersey does a nice job of blending modern elements while paying tribute to the past. Sometimes, fans feel that today's jerseys are too new and lack anything that made the old CCM jerseys so popular. But the Senators heard the fans here and make it all work.

It's just a little lower because there are still jerseys that rank higher in appearance.

13. Chicago Blackhawks Alternate Jersey (2009-2011)

The Blackhawks pulled out these uniforms for the 2009 Winter Classic. The style was originally worn by the squad from 1935 to 1937. While it was also worn in 1934, that year, the Hawks had a white stripe on the center chest as opposed to a tan one.

The jersey has been popular among Chicago fans and incorporates black and red numbering on the back of the jersey for a sharp look. The uniform gets a modern touch with black pants rather than the tan ones worn in the 1930s.

12. Chicago Blackhawks Turn Back the Clock Jersey (1992)

The Hawks began wearing this jersey during the 1930s, and it went through various tweaks until it was discontinued in 1955 for the red Indian-head jersey Hawks fans know and love today.

This style was taken out again during Turn Back the Clock Night in 1992. An NHL 75th anniversary patch was added. The logo is smaller and doesn't overpower the jersey, while the stripes look nice against a solid black background.

What I like about this jersey is that it looks like a traditional sweater and not a sleek jersey. It adds to the mystique.

11. Philadelphia Flyers Road Jersey (2009-Present)

The Flyers, who were using their primarily orange jerseys when they got invited to participate in the 2009 Winter Classic, pulled out the white version for the game at Fenway Park.

The jersey has orange trim along the arms and hem with the Flyers logo against a white background. The nameplates are black with white lettering and have orange numbering.

The orange numbers look nice against the white background, but the black nameplates don't blend in quite right.

10. New York Islanders Throwbacks (Current)

This season, the Islanders went back to the white uniform style originally worn when they entered the league in the 1970s. The white uniform joined the blue jerseys the Isles were already using as an alternate.

The blue jersey features some bold coloring hardly seen on uniforms anymore. The royal blue gives the jersey a sleek and shiny look against the orange and white stripes, while the center logo remains unchanged except for no blue trim on the outer circle. 

The white version has blue and orange striping with the same crest. The success these uniforms have seen in merchandise sales is beginning to translate to success on the ice after many years of rebuilding.

9. Vancouver Canucks Stick-in-the-Rink Jerseys (2008-Present)

The Canucks began wearing the stick-in-the-rink jersey again in 2008 after it was originally worn in the 1970s. This jersey serves as the team's alternate.

The blue and green color scheme works better than any other Vancouver has tried during the years. The logo is simple and still looks vintage, even on a modern-style jersey.

Even though the Canucks added Johnny Canuck patches to the shoulder, it doesn't deter from the beauty of this jersey.

8. Toronto Maple Leafs White Alternate (2008-2011)

The Leafs wore this jersey periodically throughout recent years, most notably in 1998 for the closing of Maple Leaf Gardens. But in 2008, it was brought back as the team's alternate jersey.

The accented maple leaf is one of the most popular looks in team history. The Leafs kept all the elements of the original jerseys in today's Reebok fit.

It's one of the best jerseys worn by the Leafs. But this year, it has been discontinued for a blue jersey the Leafs wore during their 1967 Stanley Cup championship.

7. Washington Capitals Winter Classic and Alternate (Present)

The Capitals unveiled this jersey for their participation in the 2011 Winter Classic, and they decided to keep it is an alternate.

The jersey keeps every element of the style worn in the 1970s and 1980s, though it more closely resembles the 1980s model. The Caps even kept the red pants with stars up the side.

As a Penguins fan, this pains me to admit, but...I actually liked the Caps' Winter Classic uniforms more than I liked those of the Pens. In fact, I'm still trying to figure out what the Pens were thinking, designing a new uniform that they never wore to begin with instead of listening to the fans and bringing back the jerseys from the 1991 and 1992 Cup runs.

Ahem. Anyway...

6. Buffalo Sabres Winter Classic Jersey (2008)

For the first Winter Classic, the Sabres donned their white jerseys that were worn during the franchise's early years and up until 1996, when the team went wrong and decided to wear red and black.

The jersey has blue and gold trim and features the popular sabre head logo. The numbering style closely resembles the uniforms from the 1980s.

The snow during that first outdoor game makes this jersey stand out even more, and the white style, with some alterations, became the team's road uniform.

5. Buffalo Sabres Home and Road Uniforms (Current)

The Sabres' Winter Classic jersey was updated a little to be used as their current road uniform. The jersey has navy blue trim with a yellow color while keeping the blue and yellow stripes.

This style is also used in a navy color with white and yellow stripes. The collar on the blue jersey is also yellow.

It's a great look, but it's not ranked higher because of the Reebok piping. If the Sabres would lose that, they'd have arguably the best jerseys in the league today.

4. New Jersey Devils Red and Green Jerseys

The New Jersey Devils wore red and green when they first came into the league in 1982, and kept the style until 1992, when they switched to the red and black we know today.

While the red and black is a good look, the red and green looks pretty cool. The pants are green with red and white stripes, while the socks are mainly red with one green stripe. Red helmets complete the look to make the Devils look truly vintage. 

However, they also look like skating Christmas trees, and I'm not sure it's a look I would want to see full-time. After all, the early '90s weren't exactly the greatest time for fashion.

3. Edmonton Oilers Current Uniforms

The Oilers finally went back to their vintage uniforms on a full-time basis this year. Sure, the copper and navy was nice, but the team ruined it during the 2007-08 RBK re-design.

Edmonton's current uniforms were worn during the 1980s dynasty days, when Gretzky led the team to four Stanley Cups. The blue version with orange numbering was used as an alternate jersey from 2008 through last season, while the white version with blue numbers was first revealed this year.

The white version has a shine to it and looks very crisp on the ice, as well as on Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, pictured here. The blue jersey has been popular among Oilers fans, but it almost looks a little too '80s.

2. Montreal Canadiens 1915 Centennial Jersey (2009)

The Canadiens originally wore this jersey from 1913-1915 and also wore it as part of the centennial celebration in 2009.

An "A" is inside the "C" rather than the H, and the logo is also replicated on the left sleeve. The blue stripe in the middle complements the red nicely. This update, however, adds white and blue sleeve striping and removes the original white accent on the cuffs.

Even with the modern-day additions, it's still a great jersey. I almost got this in my own collection.

1. Montreal Canadiens 1945-1946 Centennial Jersey (2009)

With such a rich history, is there any surprise that a Canadiens jersey comes in at No. 1?

This style, originally worn in the 1945-46 season, was again brought out during the centennial season in 2009. The jersey is consistent with red and blue striping, which is featured from the chest down to the bottom of the jersey. Even the red cuffs from the early days remain.

The Habs' home uniform is similar to this style, but is primarily red.

I'm just wondering why they still use the road uniforms they do now when this beauty is just dying to be brought back.

Tie for No. 1: Detroit Red Wings Winter Classic Jerseys (2009)

While the Canadiens' 1945-46 jersey is great, I was also in love with this Red Wings style and decided it should share the No. 1 spot with the Habs.

This jersey was worn when the Red Wings were known as the Detroit Cougars in 1926-27. The Old English "D" is worn on Detroit Tigers uniforms today, but it looks good against a red chest stripe for the Wings.

For the Winter Classic, the team kept their usual red pants and helmets while adding red and white striped socks. The look blended well together and looked sharp on the ice, which is a bonus for an already-talented team like the Wings.

The red lettering and white numbers against the red stripe finished the uniform.

Since Detroit doesn't wear alternate jerseys, it's not likely this style will make a return to the ice soon, but it would be nice to see the Wings change their ways and wear it again just once.