Monday: Rabbit, Rabbit. Rabbit, Rabbit X5

If you know the song the title is referencing and who it's by....tell me and I'll give you a thumbs up
Welcome to the Monday post!

As I sit here, on a  beautiful September day in Halifax, enjoying a nice cup of coffee and black liquorice (I can't be the only one who likes it), I can't help but this "What was the best looking Stanley Cup Final?" Some may go for nostalgia, others for classic, why not both. I'll give you my favourite Classic (Pre 1990), recent and overall.

Recent: Chicago V. Philadelphia (2010)

Photo from bigmouthsports.com 

Why would I pick this image specifically? The Flyers were wearing their 70's alternates, which were better looking right? Well...yes, but this jersey really signified the 2010 Flyers. They were a rag tag team, always playing on the road as the underdog. Michael Leighton/Brian Boucher in net, a younger Jeff Carter, Daniel Carcillo's awful moustache, this team was out of their element but they certainly played like they belonged. On the other hand the Blackhawks were the future NHL dynasty we know now, but back then, they were the first of 3 dream teams and people were still skeptical of them, saying they still needed a couple years before they would become a powerhouse. Jersey wise the Blackhawks are the Blackhawks and they've had amazing jerseys since the 60's, but again those specific Flyers jerseys were a clash of classic and modern. I like those jerseys A LOT and if they were to use an orange home jersey instead of black, it'd be my top 10 favourite looks of all time. The shark fin template (as I call it) is similar to the Flyers classic jerseys, but they were their own thing, and the orange/black were balanced perfectly on these white jerseys.

Classic: Montreal V. Calgary (1986/1989) 

Photo from calgaryherald.com

Two classic jersey collide, the rejuvenated Habs of the 80s/90s were beginning their own period of success, and Calgary faces them not once, but twice. Two years of two of the best jerseys of all time, the Habs classic sweater that's been the same since forever and that GORGEOUS Flames home jersey. Yes the red jersey is the more iconic but that white jersey is, as you probably know if you've read my posts for a while, one of my favourites ever. 

All Time: Pittsburgh V. Minnesota (1991)

Photo from hockey-blog-in-canada.blogspot.ca

The Pittsburgh jersey speaks for itself, there's a reason why the Pens brought the black jersey back as an alternate, it looks great! However, the North Stars jersey was a ground breaking jersey. It proved that you could add black to an existing colour scheme (and a well known/established one at that) and it wouldn't ruin the jersey, in fact, it made it better. This was also a Cup Final with many colours. Green, yellow, black and white were all featured in this matchup. 

Do you agree? Disagree? You tell me!!

Don't miss out on the COTW vote! 

Here are some of the Golden Blade entries that have come in so far:

Lucas D.

Ryan C.

Jack S.

Brooks F.

On to the concepts for today!!!!

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Greenville Swamp Rabbits Concepts (By: Chris W.)

+ Use of all the colours on primary logos is done properly, we don't have an Atlanta Thrashers case here 

+ Orange rainbow (or carrot rainbow if you prefer) is the perfect striping pattern for a team named after a carrot munching rabbit

+ Good choice of logos, I really like the half rabbit logo on the home jersey 

+ Great execution, aside from one problem

+ Rangers-esque alternate is BEAUTIFUL 

- The back hem stripe on the home jersey is missing the blue stripe 

Rating: 9.25/10 COTW Nom. from me 

Ottawa Senators Concepts (By: Lucas D.)

+ We've seen this idea before, but every time it looks better than the original or the current Sens jerseys
+ Good choices of logos

- The primary logo is too high up
- The font is too thin, it's fine on the TV numbers, but on the back it's too small
- Shoulder patches are too small
- I wish the design was more original, I like the idea but I've seen it several times and it doesn't really offer anything new, aside from maybe using the old shoulder patch

Rating: 6/10

Grand Rapids Griffins Concept (By: Martin L.)

+ I do like when colours/stripe #s have some sort of deeper meaning, and since the Griffins haven't done anything like this before, it makes sense they could try it since they've had recent success
+ Colours are well played out on the jersey itself

- Sizing issues, the primary logo is too small and high up, the tv numbers and NOB are too large, the chest numbers are too small and the numbers on the back are too small as well
- Collar isn't coloured in
- The stripes on the right arm are different sizes than the ones on the left
- Never go with a single shoulder patch unless it's some sort of anniversary/even patch

Rating: 5/10

Tampa Bay Lightning Concepts (By: Taylor R.)

+ Black as the primary colour, but not underusing blue and white, well balanced on both jerseys
+ Creative striping that doesn't look tack, and keeping the hem simple was a good idea
+ Tampa Bay wants to look like an original 6 team, and yoke under stripes would do that, but they are exciting enough they still look like the lightning
+ Great execution

- Not sure how I feel about blue gear, I'd need to see a mock up, it'd probably have a Kitchener Rangers look to it where the gear sticks out like a sore thumb
- Minor, but the black jersey would look better with a blue bolt under the yoke as well as the white

Rating: 9/10

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That's the post!
Don't forget to vote and get your Golden Blades entries in
Go Jets, Moose & Mooseheads
Have a great week