Monday: Voyage Through the AHL

Welcome to another HJC Monday post!

I've moved to the maritimes permanently, now going to school in Halifax and when not in school with the family in our new home of Charlottetown, PEI! Nothing changes really with this move, I've been writing posts out this way since September 2014, and I even received the news I was accepted as an HJC writer in August 2012 while in Halifax.

Logo/Jersey News: Still no Vegas Updates, but honestly, just watch as one day they announce a press conference and BAMM! Logos!

This week begins the HJC Open Finals. Brooks vs. J3, two of HJC's best and brightest going head to head. Their entries are due Tomorrow at 5pm EST, and then begins the voting phase.This is the 2nd most important vote all year, aside from the COTY finals so be sure to get that vote in, I expect a very close final! Good luck to both competitors!

COTW obviously resets for the week and we have another head to head, though this time between two relative COTW rookies, with Lucas winning 1 this year, and I think this being Tyler's first COTW vote, with it being an all Original 6 match up.

HJC Open Final entries (due Tuesday @ noon Eastern)

COTW July 15-21 vote (ends Friday @ noon Eastern) 

On to today's concepts!

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Hartford Wolfpack AHL Concepts (By: Ryan C.)

+ While I've seen this striping pattern from Ryan before, it isn't the first time the Wolfpack have worn this pattern. A very similar pattern was used 6 years ago for Scout Night, with grey stripes in-between the stripes

+ Darker blue looks a lot better, and helps the red standout 

+ Great execution and layout

- As I said before I've sen this pattern a few times from Ryan, and while it looks great with the Wolfpack, I would have added grey somewhere to make it their own

- Why don't the numbers on the have a red outline?

Rating: 8.25/10

Hartford Wolfpack AHL Concept (By: Ryan C.)

+ Seeing as the Wolfpack until recently have stuck to script jerseys, it makes sense going with a Whalers/Rangers cross over

+ I'm impressed that a lack of a hem stripe worked here, it was the right choice to make

+ Good choice for shoulder patch

+ Great execution and layout 

- It's not Ryan's fault, but I can't help but think of the Plymouth Whalers script jerseys when I look at this, just poor association. I will say this jersey is A LOT better colour balancing wise and I just generally like this more

Rating: 9/10

Edmonton Oilers Concepts (By: Kalin S.)

+ I get a really big WHA vibe from the white jersey, and it works really well

+ Great to see a recoloured version of the oil worker, that'd make an excellent shoulder patch/helmet logo 

+ Some may dislike them, but I like the squared off modern numbers

+ Good execution & Layout

- While it works on the white jersey, the single coloured stripe/yoke does not work on the blue jersey as well. It isn't bad, but it lacks the WHA tie. 

- Would have been nice to keep the numbers in the yoke on the orange jersey 

Rating: 8.5/10

Laval Voyageurs AHL Concepts (By: Lucas D.)

+ For those who don't know the Nova Scotia Voyageurs were the Montréal Canadiens AHL affiliate from 1971-1984, winning 3 Calder Cups and breeding such future stars as Larry Robinson, Guy Carbonneau, Keith Acton & Mike McPhee. In short, the name has ties to champions and having a modernized version of the original logo and bring the name back is a huge plus for me

+ The striping for both jerseys are excellent variations of the Canadiens jerseys

+ Perfect execution

- I like the simplified logo, but keeping the two fur traders on the logo would have made them perfect

Rating: 9.5/10 COTW Nom from me 

New Jersey Devils Concept (By: Tristan M.)

+ While some may not like the Devils logo in white, I really like it with the red circle 

+ Striping is a good mix of old & new Devils

+ Good colour balancing 

+ Great execution

- TV numbers are a little too small

- It's minor, but I would have gone with the Devils 80s collar, not a tie down 

Rating: 9.25/10

New York Rangers Concept (By: Lucas D.)

+ I get a really big Stadium Series vibe from this jersey, tell me if I'm wrong but this would be a great SS jersey in the near future

+ One of the reasons that's the case is that the jersey mixes the Ferguson jerseys along with various classic Rangers jerseys

+ Good execution

- NOB is too small and if this isn't a Stadium Series jersey, then the tv numbers should be smaller

- Collar needs some red on it 

Rating: 9.5/10

Grand Rapids Griffins AHL Concepts (By: Bradley D.)

+ While I appreciate the grey in the Griffins actual jerseys, sticking to red, black and white is a good move on all parts, and adding a little bit of gold is a nice touch
+ Striping is simple but works
+ Ditching the red pants is a good move

- Primary logos are too small
- Phantom yoke on the black jersey doesn't work
- I don't hate the name bar on the home jersey, but doing for an oversized yoke would have worked better

Rating: 7.5/10

Grand Rapids Griffins AHL Concept (By: Bradley D.)

+ Since the Red Wings didn't keep the 1926 jerseys, why not let the Griffins toy around with them? it works
+ The black isn't overwhelming, but there's enough to tie it to the Griffins instead of being a Red Wings copy
+ Good execution

- Watch the loose pixels on the gear
- Going with an actual logo instead of a script would work better, likely the GRG shield
-  Sock stripes are too large

Rating: 7.25/10

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That's the post!

Don't forget to vote for COTW and keep an eye out for the HJC Open Finals vote tomorrow

Have a great week!

Go Jets, Moose, Mooseheads!