Friday: Simply Blue

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This week, we've seen two of the final pieces out of the AHL jersey puzzle pieces that we've been missing for months, the IceCaps and the Gulls. One unveiled there's in regular fashion, the other had there's unveiled in the NHL16 trailer (Doesn't look like this will be the only unveiling from the video game). 

Unfortunately, as some of you may guess, I'm definitely not the biggest fan of the IceCaps copying the Habs jerseys. I really thought they would be the one team to not copy their NHL counterpart, since the Habs are such an identity that is theres, they'd do something more cookie cutter, but not an exact copy. Maybe the away jersey and a red version of it would be awesome, but not the copy of the Habs red jersey, it doesn't look...IceCaps...just...Habs. The Nova Scotia Voyageurs did something similar to that, it looked fine, why not do that? Money!

On to San Diego! Where we get what plagued the AHL for years before the recent copy trend, cookie cutter syndrome. The Gulls wear Flames/Bolts copies, with orange and blue being the main colours, which I really dig. Some people are against it, but it makes them look more separate from the Ducks and is nice a bright. We've only seen the white jersey, but right away, the black yoke looks completely out of place. Scrap that and they're solid....compared to a Ducks copy.

IceCaps: 5.75/10
Gulls: 6.25/10 (6.5/10 if the yoke is removed)

Hmm....today of course is Friday, and as you know, Fridays are important as they are the last days to get your votes in for most competitions. HOWEVER....this is no ordinary Friday! This is the LAST day to get your vote in for the HJC Open finals! The 2nd most important vote of the year, and have your say in which titan of HJC wins, CPM or Christian L

Don't let COTW get lost in the excitement however!

HJC Open Final entries (ends Friday @ 11:59pm Eastern)

COTW July 19-25 vote (ends Friday @ 11:59pm Eastern)

On to the concepts!

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Calgary Flames Concept (By: Ryan C.)

+ This is one of the best "what if the Flames had an alternate in 1995" concepts I've seen, the colours are balanced perfectly and the flames don't overtake the jersey or make it too unrealistic  

+ The new shoulder patch looks solid with the 90's logo set

+ I like that there's no hem stripe, flame or simple. The large black red space looks excellent and makes the white logo, numbers and arms pop

- The numbers are blurry on the back and too large on the arms

- It'a minor, but I would have use the 90's font (which is sort of italicized version of these numbers and more narrow) to match the era of the primary logo

Rating: 8.75/10

Chicago Blackhawks Concept (By: Jack G.)

+ I like the Hawks barber pole jerseys like most do, but a more subtle version would be better for an alternate rather than a one time jersey

+ C tomahawk on the arm striping looks solid

+ I dig the Bulls/White Sox script on the helmet

- Maybe it's the over saturation of roundel logos being unveiled these days, or that the Blackhawk have better roundel logos, and even the unroundelled logo would look better

- The numbers on the back are spread out apart and there's too much space between them

- The NOB is too large (unless that was intentional)

- The red used is too bright against the white and black, especially when the stripes are pilled on top of each other

Rating: 7.25/10

St. Louis Blues Concepts (By: Mike S.)

+ If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Now the Blue can say they're part of that category and I'm glad Mike keeps things relatively the same
+ Squared yokes are a minor change, but it looks the best of the 3 versions of these yokes I've seen (angled 98-07, rounded 14- present, and this)
+ Excellent execution, as expected from Mike

- Having double blue on the gloves looks weird, like how it would look on the pants
- Don't forget helmet logos

Rating: 8.25/10

Seattle Ice Dogs NHL Expansion Concepts (By: William B.)

+ I dig that the team isn't a Mets rehashing, but it still takes inspiration from them. The name Metropolitans is slightly out dated and shortening it to Mets...well bad luck to ya
+ Lots of teal and gray, like Arturs Irbe ran into Andrew Cassels and the combining force threw them to Seattle....the point is it looks like Hartford + San Jose
+ I always like when artists make their own logos, and this looks solid
+ Nice homage to the Mets, they did have nice jerseys

-  The white jersey should have coluoured yokes instead of gray ones to better balance colours
- Tv number s are too small, and the nob is too hard to read
- Since this is for an expansion team, do they really need a tie down, or is that trend enough to get they
- Scripts rarely work shoulder patches

Rating: 7.5/10

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That's the post!

Don't forget to get your votes in.

Go Jets Go!

Have a great weekend!