Flames vs Coyotes

	vs
FLAMES		COYOTES
4-0		2-1

The Aesthetics
In an odd twist, both of these logos feel animate to me. I can almost see the flames flickering and hear the coyote howling. That's what you call strong logos. The reason that the Coyotes are getting this point over the Flames is that it feels a little more polished. That's understandable though, when you consider the 25 years difference in the age of the logos.
Coyotes

The Nickname
Fire pretty much burns up everything and if the Coyote couldn't escape the Flames, well, he'd be... toast.
Flames

The Analysis
Here's where we determine the winner of this match. The Coyotes logo is great but on looking at it, you don't really get a feel for where its from. And while you could make the case that the obvious desert colors point us to the southwestern U.S., I'd make the case that the flaming "C" will always stand for Calgary (despite anything I might have previously said that could indicate the contrary). Find me a Calgarian who doesn't recognize it. Or any hockey fan.
Flames

WINNER

2-1

 

Thrashers vs Hurricanes

	vs
THRASHERS		HURRICANES
2-2		5-0

The Aesthetics
Both of these logos were introduced within a year of each other in the late '90s. The similarities I see are in the form of lots of sharp points. Also one has a hockey stick and the other a puck. Though the Hurricanes do a much better job of integrating the puck more subtly in that it's the "eye of the storm." I like that and the colors along with the logo's simplicity. But this wasn't an easy decision. The Thrashers logo is pretty killer too. Maybe if the Thrasher wasn't holding that dumb stick...
Hurricanes

The Nickname
A Thrasher can't fly in a Hurricane. He'll become all disoriented and what have you.
Hurricanes

The Analysis
Both teams have appropriate names for their particular locations. Both have great colors, though for a team that wears blue, the Thrashers logo doesn't make very good use of it. It's difficult to say who gets the point here, though. I see a Thrasher and I see a Hurricane and while neither makes an effort at representing Atlanta or the Carolinas, neither really needs to anyway. And though I can't say for certain exactly why, I feel this point should go to the Thrashers logo if for no other reason than that it doesn't deserve to be swept. Thus ending the series of shutouts for the Hurricanes.
Thrashers

WINNER

2-1

 

Sharks vs Stars

	vs
SHARKS		STARS
3-3		2-2

The Aesthetics
Both of these logos have lost as many matches as they've won. So it would appear we're looking at a pair of mediocre logos here. But it doesn't really feel that way. Despite the unique colors — teal and silver — the Sharks logo is complicated and rather minutely detailed. It also features a hockey stick rather prominently. As a polar opposite, the Stars logo is simple and too features unique colors with a heaping side of giant letters. Obviously both logos could use an overhaul or at least slight improvements. Ultimately the edge is going to the Sharks for actually being a logo and not a wordmark.
Sharks

The Nickname
Crazy huge, insane ball of fire hurling at lightning speed. The Star incinerates the Shark quicker than you could do half a blink.
Stars

The Analysis
Aside from its cosmetic shortfalls, the Sharks logo is rather fierce looking. It's what I think of when I think shark. It definitely captures the team's name. The Stars does a decent job too but it goes a step further, symbolizing its home state of Texas — the Lonestar State — with its single star. I'm not saying its perfect, but it gets my vote here.
Stars

WINNER

2-1

 

Flyers vs Senators

	vs
FLYERS		SENATORS
4-4		3-2

The Aesthetics
It's funny. I never noticed the similarities between these two logos until just now. Both have wing-like elements on the left side and semi-circles on the right. Anyway, the Flyers logo has the same problem as the Sharks in the West. Too much black and not enough of the primary color. Find a way to make this logo more orange and then we'll talk. Until then, despite being a little heavy-handed with the detailing, the Senators logo is so much cooler looking.
Senators

The Nickname
Within the government, the Senator holds a lot of power over what laws should be passed to, say, protect endangered species, some of which may Fly. I know, a stretch, but you come up with something better. Seriously, comment away if you feel like it.
Senators

The Analysis
I'm not entirely sure what a Flyer is meant to be — perhaps a generic bird of some sort — but this competition is about logos, not team names. And when you say Philadelphia Flyers it's difficult for me to picture anything but the winged "P." So I'd say they got it right. I'm just not as happy with the Senators logo. I've heard rumblings that the Sens will go full-time with what is currently the third jersey logo. It's light years ahead of this one and I'd love to see them do it. Maybe then they can have this particular point.
Flyers

WINNER

2-1

 

New Lightning Logo Coming!

Well, we'll just have to see if it's new. According to St. Petersburg Times Lightning beat writer Damian Cristodero mentioned the other day in the paper that the Bolts will be unveiling a "modernization" of the logo "some time this summer." No word yet on when, but I'm pretty excited.

I understand there won't be sweeping changes. Minor upgrades is what "modernization" sounds like to me. And that's fine. Just make them count. I'll have the updates here.

Flyers Rbk EDGE Jerseys Up For Pre-Order

Grabbed this from the Philadelphia Flyers' official web site. They're taking orders for the team's new Rbk EDGE jerseys. The jerseys will be unveiled on September 16. So if you're a Philly fan, go ahead and get your $200 order in for a product you've never seen — and won't get to until the day it arrives at your door. I'm assuming there won't be any glaring changes to the uniforms since they're taking orders prior to the unveiling.

Either that or it's a really ugly design and they'll be taking in a lot of suckers.

Maple Leafs vs Rangers

	vs
MAPLE LEAFS		RANGERS
0-6		2-6

The Aesthetics
Don't we just love those Original Six matches? We have a combined total of 31 letters embedded in these two logos. How much worse can it get? There's no reason to spell out your team name all over a logo that is supposed to serve as a symbolic replacement for said name. I like the use of multiple colors in the Rangers logo but it's the unique maple leaf silhouette that at least gives us some graphical representation of the team name. They'll take the point.
Maple Leafs

The Nickname
If we're sticking with the whole park ranger interpretation — which is lame, I know — then its the Ranger who is in charge of protecting the Maple trees and their Leafs.
Rangers

The Analysis
Neither logo makes a real effort at city recognition but each has been in those cities for nearly a century. It's not that I hate old logos or those which have been around for many years. That's a big part of what hockey is today. These two logos are some of the most recognizable in all of sports. But that doesn't mean that graphically we still have to live in the early 20th century. Make a few upgrades to show us that these teams exist in 2007. A good example is the Bruins. Ward off staleness, folks. Now when it comes down to it, the Leafs logo takes this point for unique lettering and a very cool maple leaf outline. (Shut up! Did the Maple Leafs really just get a win?)
Maple Leafs

WINNER

2-1

 

Ducks vs Stars

	vs
DUCKS		STARS
0-4		1-2

The Aesthetics
Yikes! The similarities here are rather glaring and not at all good. Both logos spell out the entire team name and use a single letter to create what would otherwise be a decent logo. The "D" in Ducks creates a webbed foot. The "A" in Stars creates the top point in a star. It's actually almost impressive. And then there's the unique colors. But in this case, it's the horrible horizontal proportions of the Ducks logo that loses it this point.
Stars

The Nickname
Giant. Flaming. Ball of fire. Nothing stands a chance against a Star, especially not a little quacking Duck.
Stars

The Analysis
Because both logos are guilty of it, we're going to have to look past all the letters in these two logos. Now, despite being introduced in the last season of the Minnesota North Stars' tenure, the Stars logo has a rather Lonestar State feel to it — perfect for Dallas. The Ducks are in the process of rebranding the team, not too difficult a task now that the club has a Stanley Cup championship under its belt. Still, if it's going to succeed in this competition, a better logo will be required. The Ducks get swept once again.
Stars

WINNER

3-0

 

Canadiens vs Flyers

	vs
CANADIENS		FLYERS
5-2		4-3

The Aesthetics
Here, both teams have rather generic names both logos are letter-based — one a "C" and the other a "P." And there's nothing wrong with that. In fact, I'm all for it. I'm also all for the use of color, which is rather lacking in the Flyers logo. A single small circle of orange doesn't exactly spread around the color. Like I've said, I like the third jersey logo a little better.
Canadiens

The Nickname
I'm not sure how a battle between a Canadien and a Flyer would go down, but if we say a Flyer is a bird, those are nasty little pooping machines and no one is safe when they are airborne.
Flyers

The Analysis
One thing I should've mentioned in the Aesthetics section is the attractive simplicity of these two logos. There's not a lot of annoying detail here, just plain old great logos. And they're similar in a lot of ways. In fact, both are division leaders at the moment. But ultimately, it's the use of color, the subtle "H" and the Flyers logo's need for an upgrade that insures the victory for the Canadiens.
Canadiens

WINNER

2-1

 

Coyotes vs Avalanche

	vs
COYOTES		AVALANCHE
2-0		5-0

The Aesthetics
Brick red and burgundy. Not your common logo colors, but they make for some strong, cool-looking logos. And both logos represent the team name well. You've got a howling Coyote on one side and an avalanche falling down a mountain shaped like an "A" on the other. Who to choose? So I'm going to look at it from a classic perspective. I see the Avs with the same logo in 50 years. The Coyotes? Not so much.
Avalanche

The Nickname
I don't think Coyotes live in the mountains or even cold climates, but if one found himself amidst an Avalanche, it would surely do him in.
Avalanche

The Analysis
Neither logo goes out of its way to represent the home town. The Avalanche logo comes closest with the snow-capped mountain but that just means the team was named well. The Coyotes take care of Phoenix with a reference on the shoulder patch but this competition doesn't take that into account. So as you can see, this also is a very difficult point to award. For the subtle puck and clever use of the team's initial, this point goes the way of the Avs.
Avalanche

WINNER

3-0