Rbk EDGE Review: Islanders

Part 23 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

New York Islanders

New Uniforms

Old Uniforms

The Unveiling
Thursday, August 16. The Islanders unveiled their jerseys via their official web site.

Home vs. Road
Home: Blue. Road: White. The two sweaters are essentially mirror images of each other and both feature a specialty patch on the right shoulder.

The blue home jerseys feature orange sleeves with a thick blue stripe around the elbows and a thinner white stripe beneath it. White piping wraps around the shoulders and a white-orange stripe wraps around the waist. The collar and laces are orange and the primary logo serves as the crest.

The white road jerseys feature orange sleeves with a thick blue stripe around the elbows and a thinner white stripe beneath it. Blue piping wraps around the shoulders and a blue-orange stripe wraps around the waist. The collar and laces are blue and the primary logo serves as the crest.

In The Details
The patch on the right shoulder features four stripes signify each of the Stanley Cup championship the Islanders have won. The numbering and lettering style have been slightly altered.

New & Old
The biggest difference between the new and old jerseys is the sleeve design as well as the numbers on the front.

Standard FAQ
Numbers on the front? Yes.
Laces at the collar? Yes.

NHLToL Editorial by Chris
It's interesting to me the number of teams whose new jerseys have been improvements as much as not. For me, the Islanders are running on the negative side. The shoulder piping, by and large, is not a big plus on this uniform, as was the case with the Hurricanes. It seems like if teams are going to do that, they need to recolor the shoulder yoke at the same time. Furthermore, the redesigned sleeves are are also not working and the addition of the number on the front only adds to the busy look of the jersey. It's not horrible, as it has managed to retain some of the elements of the great old jerseys, but it could certainly use some more work. 2/5

View the photo gallery

Buy your new Islanders jersey!

Fan Art For Sabres, Devils

Got some good stuff to share today. We'll start with some improvements on a Buffalo Sabres concept logo I posted over the weekend.



The logo has been altered slightly and overall looks much better. The response to this over the weekend, however, has me concerned for a number of Sabres fans who won't even attempt to accept this logo in any way. I think this is better because it hides the fact that the buffalo has no legs — the primary reason for its being dubbed the "slug."

So I pose this question. A lot of people around the league have responded negatively to the use of the giant text on the front of the Vancouver Canucks' sweater. Would you guys (Sabres fans) still want to go back to the '70s logo if it meant having the name of your city floating above it?



Which element is more important to you? I'm curious to read your responses so please comment!

Next is a concept I came across recently for the New Jersey Devils. It toys with the idea of an alternate logo — though we all know Lou Lamoriello would never have it.

I think it's really cool but I'm not sure a change like this is required. I do think that black jersey would be interesting though, perhaps has an alternate in the future?

The same designer also came up with another logo concept.



The current one is definitely better.

Leave your reactions to these concept designs below if the spirit compels you. I look forward to reading your thoughts.

Poll: Flames vs Whalers

	vs
Atlanta FLAMES		Hartford WHALERS

Place your vote and then feel free to leave a comment as to how you came to your decision. Tell all your friends to drop in and vote! The more voices heard, the more accurate the results!

Poll opening date Tue Oct 16 @ 4:23 AM

Poll closing date Sat Oct 20 @ 11:59 PM

07VNTRN | #2B | ATFvHFD79

Result: Capitals vs Bruins

Washington
CAPITALS
59% 1,217 votes

Boston
BRUINS
41% 833 votes


2,050 total votes

Washington Capitals
Advancing to face Maple Leafs or Scouts

Boston Bruins
Eliminated

Click here to see the original poll

Poll opening date Thu Oct 11 @ 4:25 AM

Poll closing date Mon Oct 15 @ 11:59 PM

07VNTRN | #1F | WSH74vBOS26

AHL Logo Tournament Starts!

For those of you interested, the AHL Tournament of Logos has begun. You can vote starting today in the preliminary round bout between the Iowa Stars and the Lake Erie Monsters.

Other polls will be posted on a daily basis over there at the Tournament of Hockey Logos blog. Hope you enjoy it!

The AHL logo champion will be determined on November 23. At that point, the ECHL Tournament of Logos will start.

Rbk EDGE Review: Sharks

Part 22 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

San Jose Sharks

New Uniforms

Old Uniforms

The Unveiling
Monday, September 17. The Sharks unveiled their jerseys almost two months after unveiling their new logo. Pictures were released via their official web site.

Home vs. Road
Home: Teal. Road: White. The two sweaters are essentially mirror images of each other and both feature secondary logo patches on the shoulders.

The teal home jerseys feature a black shoulder yoke with white trim. White-orange-black-orange-white stripes wrap around the elbows and waist. The collar is white, with orange-black trim inside and the primary logo serves as the crest.

The white road jerseys feature a teal shoulder yoke with black trim. Black-orange-teal-orange-black stripes wrap around the elbows and waist. The collar is black, with orange-teal trim inside and the primary logo serves as the crest.

In The Details
The shoulder patches feature a full-bodied version of the shark featured in the primary logo sans the triangle. A new, more traditional numbering and lettering style has been introduced.

New & Old
Not only was a new logo introduced, but sweeping changes were made to the uniforms. They are almost completely different from the old sweaters.

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

NHLToL Editorial by Chris
In a shocking twist, the Sharks ended up with one of the most traditional-looking sweaters of the new crop. I say that in reference to the striping and not the new-fangled sweater numbers on the front of the jersey — which I happen to like. I know, hang me now. Anyway, this isn't to say I wasn't a fan of the old jerseys. The Sharks have definitely been among the best-looking teams on the ice over the last decade, but numbers and especially names were often illegible on those sweaters. That's been rectified here. And the rust-flavored orange is a welcome splash of color to the jerseys. Quite possibly my favorite element is the use of the new shield logo on the pants. Overall, I'm impressed by the direction San Jose has gone. 4/5

View the photo gallery

Buy your new Sharks jersey!

Rethinking The 'Hawks

I seemed to have inadvertantly caused quite a stir with my forward-thinking approach to NHL jerseys. Specifically, the fact that I'm not in love with the New York Rangers' jerseys. But that's all right, people will never agree on everything. That's what keeps things interesting.

Just the other day a reader emailed me this idea he had to make over the Chicago Blackhawks' sweater. Prepare to be offended, ultra-traditionalists.



Don't shoot the messenger. Please.

It's not that I think this is better than the current red one, because I don't. But what about a third jersey for the future? You know, just something extra.

No? I didn't think so. Worth a shot, though.

Northwest Division Art

Wow. Keeping two blogs is a lot more work than I thought it would be. Hopefully I'll get in the rhythm of it soon so neither one has to suffer. I really apologize for the lack of posts lately. I'll get back in the groove soon enough. In the meantime, I have some concept art for you to gaze upon. And as the title of this posts suggest, these come from the Northwest Division.



I think we all recognize this as the Florida Panthers' uniform with some colors changed. Any takers? No? I can't imagine why.

Seriously though, red is definitely the way to go for the Calgary Flames' home sweater. Black makes a nice third jersey, but I don't know, I'm a fan of the black flaming "C," for one thing.

So here's something that hadn't really dawned on me before. When the Flames moved from Atlanta, they didn't really have to change their logo. They could've been named the Alberta Flames and kept the "A."



The two major problems with that would've obviously been that the team wouldn't have been able to create its own unique identity and the Oilers might've taken issue with the club claiming Alberta. Though, to be fair, the Panthers came in after the Lightning and claimed Florida. But I suppose that's different.

The irony is that today the Flames wear the Albertan flag on their shoulder and the Oilers — do not. Speaking of the Oilers, here are a couple of ideas of how the uniforms could be improved.



Wouldn't take much. Just a little will power. But what do I know, right?

And finally, I just wanted to toss this one in.



Like that "V" across the bottom. That's craziness right there. But hey, there's nothing wrong with adding a little green to the orca, right?

Poll: Sabres vs Nordiques

	vs
Buffalo SABRES		Quebec NORDIQUES

Round Two has now begun! Place your vote and then feel free to leave a comment as to how you came to your decision. Tell all your friends to drop in and vote! The more voices heard, the more accurate the results!

Poll opening date Mon Oct 15 @ 12:33 PM

Poll closing date Fri Oct 19 @ 11:59 PM

07VNTRN | #2A | BUF70vQUE

Result: Jets vs Kings

Winnipeg
JETS
73% 1,656 votes

Los Angeles
KINGS
27% 604 votes


2,260 total votes

Winnipeg Jets
Advancing to face Rockies or Penguins

Los Angeles Kings
Eliminated

Click here to see the original poll

Poll opening date Wed Oct 10 @ 4:27 AM

Poll closing date Sun Oct 14 @ 11:59 PM

07VNTRN | #1E | WPG79vLAK67