Wednesday: Finally Getting Around To My Playoff Pool

So it's the third round of the playoffs and I have finally made my picks for my playoff pool. Given that 12 of the playoff series have ended, I decided to make a logo bracket! I have made my picks through the conference semi-finals. The conference finals and the Stanley Cup winning logos will be in next Wednesday's post. The winners of each round is only based on my opinion, so leave a comment and let me know who you would have picked.

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In HJC related news, I would like to welcome Phil B. to the team! I wish him luck on his first couple posts because I remember how nervous I was to join the team. Also there is the COTW vote as always, so make sure you don't miss the chance to put your favorite concept in contention for the COTY honors. The Jokerit competition has ended and the contest entries can be viewed at the top of the site. Make sure you send in your votes for that competition as well.

     

COTW May 12-18 vote (ends Friday @ 11:59pm Eastern time)

Jokerit Competition Top 5 vote (due Friday @ 11:59pm Eastern time)

     

Here are the concepts for to kick start the second half of the work week!

      

Ryan H. - Dallas Stars Alternate Concept

Design: As the newly designed Dallas Stars prepare for their sophomore season wearing their new colors, it would only make sense that they look into adding an alternate to their uniform lineup. As Ryan has described, he uses all of the colors in the original color palette to create his design. The eyes are funny sometimes, as many of us will see this uniform and assume that a darker green is used. I like this concept as it is very different from the home and away uniforms that the Stars already use. I like the inspiration for the pants, and I the fact that a different helmet and gloves is not necessary for this uniform. Using the regular helmets are very practical, therefore making this concept a very realistic option for the Stars to use.

     

Score: 8.5/10 - This is a very clean concept with very creative design intent. I like that this would give the Stars their own identity given they nearly copied the Blackhawks uniforms.

      

     

Steven G. - Detroit Red Wings Alternate Concept

Design: The month of May is significant to me, as the Indy 500 festivities take place over the course of the month. Steven's concept captures Detroit's automotive & racing heritage with this concept. I think this jersey would be well received by Detroit's fans as it represents the "Motor City" quite well. I like the use and placement of the Detroit Cougars crest. However, I don't think that placing a normal size crest in the traditional location would hurt this jersey either.

     

Score: 8/10 - The execution of this design is very good. I love the design too.

         

    

RBowling - St. Louis Blues Concept

Design: RBowling draws is inspiration for his Blues concept from the team's 1995 home uniform. That jersey was the first time that red was introduced into the team's color palette. I like that this concept has been cleaned up from the 1995 jersey, as the custom slanted numbers didn't look that great. I like the new crest as well. It would make for a great new alternate crest if the Blues do end up changing their logo to the rumored design based on their current alternate logo.

     

Score: 6/10 - There is a major execution error on this concept. The numbers and shoulder patches are mirrored from arm to arm as opposed to being flipped. This means that the text on one of the shoulder patches is backwards. The TV number on the front of the right arm is also backwards.

     

     

Stephen T. - Anaheim Ducks Concept

Design: This is one of Stephen's most creative concepts that we have seen in a while. Without destroying either the Ducks new or old identities, Stephen has found a way to combine them both. I am disappointed that the dark jersey isn't eggplant, but as I kid I completes all of my Learn-To-Skate classes in the 1997 jade alternate so I can't complain too much. I like that the current jersey striping is used with a sock design very similar to the original Mighty Ducks socks.

     

Score: 7.5/10 - I like the design of these jerseys, and I think at least the white one should come back as an alternate. I am still thinking about how I feel about the shoulder yoke on the jade jersey.

   

   

Stephen T. - Minnesota Wild Concept

Design: The Wild have used their horrid red jersey since 2003, making the current season the 10th anniversary of the design. The only jersey that has been worn longer was the old white jersey which was worn by the team for 13 years. Stephen decided that it was time to introduce more jerseys that match the red jersey, as no jersey has ever come close to matching it. As I always say, the Wild is one of the only teams that could manage to use creme as their primary away uniform.

     

Score: 7/10 - The return to the old number font looks great with this concept, but the "Blackhawks" patterned socks don't pit anywhere into the design.

     

     

Mathew M. - Boston Bruins Alternate Concept

Design: When I visited Boston a few years back, I fell in love with the city and even became a little bit of a Bruins fan. I think that this would be a really cool uniform to use to honor the historic city that the Bruins play in. I love that Boston's Coat of Arms is used as a shoulder patch. I also like that the skyline is built into the striping as opposed to being sublimated.

     

Score: 7.5/10 - I don't know the likelihood that we will ever see this jersey on the ice, but it is a great idea.

    

    

Taylor R. - BC Lions CFL Concept

Design: The BC Lions CFL uniforms really lack striping, which makes them very bland. I think that the striping pattern that Taylor has chosen goes great with a team of this identity. I also really like that the helmet isn't simply a replica of football helmet. I believe that many NCAA teams such as Michigan and Ohio State make this mistake on their hockey helmets. The end up looking very cheesy in my opinion. This concept, on the other hand, looks great.

     

Score: 7.5/10 - I can't speak for the orange pants on paper, but lets just hope they look better on the ice.

   

   
Taylor R. - Winnipeg Blue Bombers CFL Concept

Design: Taylor's Winnipeg Blue Bombers concept is very similar to the CFL team's football uniforms. I like that the pants are an exact replica of the football pants, but I think the arm striping could have been more creative. The gold helmets remind me a lot of Notre Dame's helmets.

     

Score: 7/10 - This was a very solid concept to round out the 2 CFL concepts for the day.

    

   

Josiah B. - Calgary Flames Alternate Concept

Design: It is only a matter of time before the Flames' new alternate shoulder patch makes it onto the front of a jersey. I especially like that the black in the crest blends into the black of the jersey. For whatever reason, I have always liked when this happens on concepts. The jersey is very similar template that the Flames use on their home and away uniforms. This concept could really catch on if it was used in the NHL.

     

Score: 6.5/10 - I don't think the number font really fits the concept. The back numbers are too large, and the TV numbers are missing on the back. I would also recommend moving the TV numbers further down towards the player's elbow.

     

    

Tristian M. - New Jersey Devils CCM Alternate Concept

Design: The Devils have never had a black jersey, despite using black as a primary color in their color scheme since the 1992-93 season. I think this concept would make for a great black jersey because it uses many of the popular design features from new and old Devils jerseys. It seems to me that the striping is based on the original Devils red jersey, and the signature shoulder yoke is used here as well. The pants also utilize a stripe for the first time in team history.

     

Score: 8/10 - I love when designs are well thought out. This concept could very well content for COTW. (hint, hint)

   

   

TG - Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins Concept

Design: The Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins have been hiding their identity behind the Pittsburgh Penguins uniforms for years, and it is time that they get their own jerseys. The fact that red is in their color palette should have given the team some sort of idea that they weren't fit for a black and gold design, but it looks like it is up to TG to design jerseys for them. I love how prominently red is displayed. I think this is a great way for the team to develop its own identity. The perfect amount of gold is used in this concept to complement the new logo that TG has created.

     

Score: 9/10 - COTW Nomination from me. There were a lot of good concepts, but this one is my favorite of the week.

    

   

That's all folks! I hope you enjoyed this week's post, especially my bracket. Feel free to leave a comment on it. Look out for some of my concepts now that summer has started!