NHL Tournament of Logos: October 21, 2007

Sunday, October 21, 2007

Rbk EDGE Review: Maple Leafs

Part 28 of 30. All 30 NHL clubs have unveiled new jerseys under the new Rbk EDGE Uniform System for the 2007-08 season. Here at the NHLToL, we're going to review every one of them. Read up and then rate the new sweaters. We'll do a full ranking after completing all of the reviews.

Rbk EDGE Uniform System

Toronto Maple Leafs

New Uniforms

Old Uniforms

The Unveiling
Wednesday, September 12. The Maple Leafs unveiled their jerseys at a fan event in Toronto. The event was also broadcast live on the web at Leafs TV.

Home vs. Road
Home: Blue. Road: White. The two sweaters are essentially mirror images of each other.

The blue home jerseys feature two white stripes around the elbows and white piping around the wrists. The white version of the primary logo serves as the crest.

The white road jerseys feature two blue stripes around the elbows and blue piping around the wrists. The collar is blue and the blue version of the primary logo serves as the crest.

In The Details
The same numbering and lettering style has been retained.

New & Old
The biggest differences between the new and old sweaters is the lack of horizontal striping across the bottom and the the secondary "TML" logo. Also, the silver in the old jersey is now gone as well. The piping at the wrists is also new.

Standard FAQ
Numbers on the front? No.
Laces at the collar? No.

NHLToL Editorial by Chris
Did somebody order a plain jersey? Oh, yes that would be the Maple Leafs. It's like going to McDonald's and ordering the hamburger without lettuce, cheese, onions, mustard or even ketchup. (Wait, that's what my brother gets.) Off subject. While not saying I dislike this uniform, I have to say it is very plain. What doesn't help is the nine stripes found on each sock, heavily weighing down the overall design of the uniform. Still, I've been trying to stick to jersey commentary here. Thing is, there really isn't anything to say about it. Except that some people call them pajamas. Not me. Can something be "very" average? Because I think this would be. At least before it had a little personality. 3/5

View the photo gallery

Buy your new Maple Leafs jersey!

Photographic Tinkering

Amidst all the artwork I get on a daily basis, I occasionally get digitally retouched photos that I would consider to be cool concept art. So that's what this post is about.

We all know the Vancouver Canucks made an odd move by not including the dark blue of the logo in the jersey. Just as the green from the jersey isn't included in the logo. Here's something I hadn't noticed.

Despite there being black in the Coyotes logo, there's no black in the jersey. This concept was designed, I'm guessing, to give us an idea of what Phoenix would look like with a little black in their sweaters.

If you ask me, there's a third jersey right there. The dark one, at least. It's weird on the sleeves, though. Doesn't really work with the striping. But I don't mind it at the bottom of the jersey. Same as how it looks pretty sharp on the shoulders as well.

Overall, a winner. Nice work by the artist.

Uh-oh. I'm about to talk about the Canucks. Somebody's gonna have something to say about that. Anyway, this one here simply suggests a higher contrast shoulder logo for the home sweaters. The original '70s logo did have a white rink on the dark jersey, but the new one seems to come in only one form.

A little unusual but it doesn't really bother me. I could live with it either way. Though it sure stands out more in white. Just an observation.

And this one isn't so much about redesigning jerseys or logos as much as somebody spent a lot of time on it and I can't see denying them.

Of course we know Vesa Toskala minds the net for the Toronto Maple Leafs. But what if he did so for the New Jersey Devils?

Thing is almost flawless. We can play that Sunday comics game with it. Can you spot the differences. Or more appropriately, can you spot the missed changes. I have to tell you, there aren't many. And I've been staring at it for a while.

Anyway, hope you guys enjoyed that. Kudos go out to the artists. It's one thing to draw elements on a blank jersey template. It's another to doctor up photographs like this.

Remember, if you've got anything you think might be worthy of posting, please email it to me. I'd love to take a look.

Out West!

We're heading out west for some concept art this morning. I figure we'll start at the coast and work our way east.

The Anaheim Ducks concept suggests workinng green back into the color scheme. I think that would be a wise move, but maybe something a little brighter would be in order. I do like the "D" logo on the chest as well. Definitely an improvement.

Another designer has also suggested that the Sharks try out black sweaters — be it on a full-time or part-time basis. This isn't half bad. The orange works very nice in this concept. Pretty sharp.

Here's a new design created for the Dallas Stars.

It's so weird looking. You really have to stare at it a minute. The stripes around the bottom are odd. Looks like they're going to eat me. Anyway, we'll finish things off in Tennessee with the Nashville Predators.

Also weird, but not quite enough to freak me out. I sort of hope that thing in the bottom left corner isn't meant to be a logo of any sort. That would freak me out. Anyway, not a terrible jersey, but also not one I'd be a fan of.

If you've got thoughts on any of these, feel free to leave them below.