Monday: Something Other Than a List

Hey HJC readers, welcome to another Monday post on the blog.

 While I've dropped the whole "top 5/10/7" lists and just started giving examples, I decided that today I'd try something new. I'm sure the other HJC writers have decided to do the same.

I'd like do discuss what makes a design "vintage" years after it had been originally used. It's always fun to wonder what makes a jersey worthy of getting its own CCM vintage remake 12-50 years after it had last been used full time by a team. Pittsburgh's original jerseys, though decently liked, were only worn for 1 season and both jerseys got their own remakes. On the flip side, The Dallas Stars original jerseys have yet to be remade despite I think being liked more.

What makes a jersey worthy?

Perhaps it's the slight datedness. Not dated like off white plastic yellowing away on an intellivision or a Chevrolet Chevette, but dated like New Wave or a lava lap. It's something nice to look back on every once in a while and remember it in a sort of nostalgic way, through semi-rose coloured glasses. You can appreciate the flaws but know that you might have been hard on it at the time. The Coyotes throwbacks I think are the best examples of this. I don't remember a positive thing said about them until a decade after they were gone. Now most agree the kachina design should return at least as an alternate. You can also apply this to almost any jersey from the 70s/90s and the entire WHA.

Photo from thehockeynews.com

It might be the teams themselves. Some teams were absolute garbage for many years, having dumpster fire and dumpster fire of seasons, but their iconic look is still remembered fondly. The California Golden Seals are the best example of this. Their only two playoff appearances came before Golden was added to the name, and only survive 9 seasons before a 10th in Cleveland was the final nail in the coffin. But they are one of the most iconic teams of the 70s. Most casual hockey fans couldn't name a single player on the team, but might own a Seals hat or even jersey. Of course until 1974 the team had solid jerseys imo but that's besides the point.

Photo from avalanche.nhl.com

On the flip side, some teams have entirely memorable players and have earned their place. The 1996 & 2001 Colorado Avalanche are the best example of this. We all know Sakic, Blake, Roy, Hejduk, Foote, Lemieux, Tanguay and that era of Avs jerseys. They are well loved not so much because of the jerseys, which are good, but I can think of 10 better, but I can't think of many better names on the back. The 92 Blackhawks are another good example of this.

Photo from bleacherreport.com

Finally, some jerseys are just so infamous and awful that they have to be remade for the sheer novelty. The flying V is infamous as the ugliest jersey in NHL history, which it might not be to some, but they remade both the yellow and black flying V. The Blue Gretzky jerseys, while not ugly as sin, certainly are dated, but they are so out there that both versions have been remade as vintages. The Ferguson Rangers messes have been remade, despite being arguably the worst redesign in history. How much longer before Fisherman Islander jerseys and Turdburgers get vintage cuts? Who knows?


Don't forget to fulfill your voting duty!! You've got COTW & the Buffalo 3rd jersey contest this week, it's as easy as 1,2,5 to vote. Also remember to work on your pairs competition entries!

COTW March 6-12 vote (ends Friday @ 11:59pm EST)

Buffalo Sabres 3rd Jersey Top 5 vote (ends Friday @ 10:59pm EST)

Pairs Competition (ends March 25th)

On to the concepts!

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Colorado Avalanche Concept (By: Jimmy T.)

'+ The blue and black work really well together, similarly to the Stadium Series jersey
+ The striping works excellently with the logo
+ Good colour balancing
+ Good execution

- The pants need some sort of logo on them
- A shoulder patch (The alternate mountain A logo?) would spruce up the shoulders a little bit

Rating: 9/10 COTW Nom from me

Windsor Spitfires OHL Concepts (By: Zach R.)

+ After seeing Spitfires in Hamilton back in February, I can say that this logo looks better on a navy jersey, but this certainly looks better than the Caps ripoff from the Taylor Hall days
+ A very simple Capitals like jersey that isn't a direct ripoff
+ Decent execution

- The TV numbers, shoulder patches and NOB are much too small
- Don't forget the CCM tag on the front of the jersey, under the collar, and the CHL tag on the back hem
- The striping would look better if it were two every sized stripes

Rating: 7/10

Columbus Blue Jackets Concepts (By: Lucas D.)

+ I've seen a concept similar to this from Lucas but without the Adidas thing, so you know my thoughts on the white jersey
+ The blue jersey is a good reversal of the white jersey
+ The colours are well balanced, with lots of emphasis on the Ohio flag stripes
+ Good execution

- You know my thoughts on the adidas tripe, I get that Lucas wants to be realistic, but the 3 stripes on the back of the collar would do fine
- Shoulder patch? Or better yet use the cannon logo and put that flag/star on the shoulder
- TV numbers are too small

Rating: 8.25/10

Red Deer Rebels WHL Concepts (By: Brooks F.)

+ It's kind of neat to see a set from Red Deer based around their alternate R logo, something that you'd expect in the RNH days, but not now
+ Striping is big bold and vintage, the way it should be on a throwback jersey
+ Great execution
+ The red helmets are an excellent touch
+ While the balancing would technically be better with a black middle stripe, the big bold black R and numbers make up for it an beyond

- The skull logo would look goo on the shoulders
- The piping on the hem would look good as black/beige on the opposite jersey, and be the best way to liven up the hem

Rating: 9/10

Calgary Hitman WHL Concept (By: Vaughan R.)

+ Nice to see the vintage logo on a pick jersey rather than the updated version
+ Also nice to see lots of pink on a jersey for a team that actually uses pink
+ Decent execution

- Mask shoulder patch?
- One thing that was great about the old Hitmen jerseys was that they used grey & black with the pink and made a great, gritty and iconic colour scheme. As the jersey is now, it looks like a generic Pink the Rink jersey the Leafs/Marlies/Steelheads would have

Rating: 6.75/10

Vancouver Canucks Concept (By: Dylan N.)

+ A green jersey with the stick in rink logo that isn't a direct green version of their current jersey, I like it
+ Lots of white and blue together, most green jerseys use too much of either
+ Shades are all perfect
+ Great shoulder patch logo choice
+ Excellent execution

- The striping might be a little too similar to the Kings & jets
- The numbers desperately need an outline on the back
- Helmet needs a logo

Rating: 8.75/10

Colorado Avalanche Concept (By: Zeke G.)

+ With regards to the black, this is the opposite of the concept at the beginning of the post, with minimal black but again it really works
+ The striping is very simple, but the jersey is colourful enough that it doesn't need a hem stripe, it's nice to see concept without hem stripes sometimes
+ Logo layout is perfect
+ Good execution

- Sock stripes are too thick
- Pants need a stripe or logo on them that isn't the adidas one
- The NOB might be a little too small and hard to read

Rating: 8.75/10

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That's the post

Don't forget to vote 

Have a great week

Go Jets, Moose & Mooseheads!