1000 Posts!

That's right, this post I'm writing here is my 1,000th! I began this blog on May 9 and as of today, it now has a thousand posts. I'm very proud and as always, I'm more than appreciative of you guys for continuing to drop in. Obviously, you all are the reason I keep doing this. So as a thank you, I have some third jersey news.

Well, it's not so much news as concept art. It's all the ideas we've had for next season's new third jerseys... visualized! I'll begin with our friend Gary who's emailed in every other week or so since way back in October. He came up with designs for most of the teams we're expecting to see thirds from in the fall.



Vancouver's all right. Needs more of a forest green. Chicago, San Jose and Ottawa are pretty much what I'd expect. I like the 2D logo on the Sens jersey. Nice touch. We already know the Blues will have a new logo for their third. The desert scene didn't work out to well for the Coyotes last time so I doubt they'll try it again. And I like the idea of using the Hurricanes' secondary logo as the crest.



The Islanders and Lightning designs meet expectations, but the rest are a little out there if you ask me. I can't see the Kings bringing back the gold anytime soon. They'll probably stick with silver and black. The Stars sweater is interesting but could use some work. I like the green. Speaking of green, I can't imagine the Wild using that wordmark as a crest. I'd expect to see the bear head and a much cleaner design more along the lines of the current road jersey.

Among that list but not included in Gary's designs were Thrashers and Maple Leafs. Other readers came up with some good designs for them. First, a white version of Atlanta's home sweater.



It's nice but I can't see the Thrashers adding another white jersey — especially as an alternate. As for the Leafs, we've got a lot to consider.



When you think Toronto third, you automatically think vintage/retro/throwback. These fit that bill quite well.



Anyway, I also had a lot of submissions dealing in black. For instance, take the Senators jersey above, painted on Cory Stillman.



Also a black version of a jersey with the new Johnny Canuck logo.



And a black Stars sweater with the Texas state logo.



Personally, I'm more a fan of this green version.



And finally, we'll look at a team who hasn't said a word about a third jersey in the future, but one for which it could work unbelievably well — the Washington Capitals. Imagine a uniform set that looked like this.



Now those are some nicely designed jerseys.

Remember, if you've got some quality work you'd like me to post, send it along to nhllogos@gmail.com.

Some Unconfirmed Third Jersey News

I got an email earlier in the week that I was unable to post until now. It was from a reader who wrote in that a Reebok representative has apparently confirmed which teams will be wearing third jerseys next season. I'll say right off that neither I nor this reader can completely vouch for the veracity of this information, but having said that, I see no reason not to put it out there anyway as mere speculation.

The list includes the Sabres, Oilers, Flyers and Blues, which we've already heard rumors about. However, it doesn't include the Penguins who are apparently looking to don the retro jerseys they wore at the Winter Classic.

The rest of the list shapes up like this, in alphabetical order:

• Atlanta Thrashers


• Boston Bruins


• Carolina Hurricanes


• Chicago Blackhawks


• Dallas Stars


• Los Angeles Kings


• Minnesota Wild


• New York Islanders


• Ottawa Senators


• Phoenix Coyotes


• San Jose Sharks


• Tampa Bay Lightning


• Toronto Maple Leafs


• Vancouver Canucks

From that list, all but four had third jerseys last season. One would assume most of them would stay the same.

Boston, Toronto and Vancouver wore retro threads. An obvious choice to keep. Vancouver switched back to their original colors this season. However, the introduction of a new Johnny Canuck logo leads me to wonder whether they might head in that direction for an eventual discontinuation of the whale altogether. But that may just be wishful thinking.

Chicago, San Jose and Ottawa simply wore black versions of their standard jerseys. Seems to me they'd probably do something similar with new thirds. Also, Carolina has never had a third but black seems like a smart option. And since introducing their new colors and logo, the Coyotes have yet to try out a third. But if they do, you might see it in black as well.

I wouldn't be surprised to see the Kings and Islanders stick with last year's thirds. They utilized different colors, and a different logo in Los Angeles' case. Minnesota made their red third into their regular home sweater this year but the green may well make a comeback if they go with an alternate.

Dallas' most recent attempt at a third left a lot to be desired so we might see something completely different for them. Or we might just see a green jersey with "STARS" written across it in white. Also, Atlanta recently converted its original third to the current home jersey, so I'm not sure what to expect from them. Perhaps something in dark blue reminiscent of their early days?

And finally, there's my Lightning. Very few people liked Tampa Bay's blue third with rain drops, waves and lightning bolts on the arms from the late '90s. I was one of them. But I wouldn't expect to see anything like that if we do end up with an alternate next year. I would expect to see a nice blue sweater though.

Enjoy the speculation. As hard facts become available, you can count on me to have them posted right here at NHLToL.

So if you guys want to start coming up with concepts of what you think next year's crop of third jerseys might look like, go for it! Email them to me and they may well find their way onto the blog.

Sabres Getting A Third?

A reader sent in this link to a story about the uniforms for the Winter Classic. In it, Buffalo Sabres Managing Partner Larry Quinn suggests that the team will be wearing a retro third jersey in the future. He doesn't say specifically it would be worn next season but we do know several teams will have thirds beginning in the fall. I'm going to go ahead and add it to the sidebar with an unspecified date.

Poll: Mighty Ducks vs Stars

	vs
Anaheim MIGHTY DUCKS		Dallas STARS

REMEMBER: You're choosing the WORST logo!

This marks the beginning of the second to last round — the conference finals, in a way. 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 Thu Feb 21

Poll closing date Mon Feb 25

Back In Action

Hi all, I'm back in action this afternoon. Got my internet up and running once again. I've got a new poll to begin the fourth round of the Quest For The Worst coming a little later. Plus we've got a killer Freak Out post coming tomorrow. The news about players pushing the ads-on-jerseys idea got a lot of people thinking this week. There's some really scary stuff in this batch. Anyway, keep the emails coming and thanks for all the support!

Quick note: I'm in the process of moving and still don't have internet access yet which should account for the lack of updates in the last two days. Just wanted to let you guys know I haven't abandoned the blog. I'll be up and running hopefully this week.

Ads On Goalie Jerseys?

I've gotten several emails this morning about an article appearing in today's Toronto Star. It discusses the possibility of a future in which NHL goaltenders don sweaters laden with corporate advertising. The article included a concept image of its own.



Yeah, in terms of aesthetics and the general will to, you know, not whore ourselves out to corporate greed, it's really rather horrific. Personally, I think there are better ways of marketing the NHL to keep the money coming in, and if Gary Bettman has any sense at all — and there's been little evidence of it so far — he won't even allow a second of consideration for this notion.

I applaud the players, however, for backing a play they know won't be popular for the sake of a game they love. Thing is, though, most hockey players don't have business degrees — nor do I. But ads on goalie jerseys? That's gotta cross a line somewhere.

By the way, if you haven't become disturbed by this idea yet, just look up again at that picture of Martin Brodeur. Then tell me he doesn't look like Jeff Gordon.

Blues Third Jersey Coming This Fall

Good news for Blues fans hoping for a third jersey next season. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Bernie Miklasz wrote today that team has apparently confirmed it.

Blues Chairman Dave Checketts, honored at the Sold on St. Louis awards luncheon on Wednesday, announced that the Blues will introduce a navy-based third jersey next fall featuring a new logo incorporating the Blue Note and the Gateway Arch on the front.

So as soon as the design is available, which likely won't be until late this summer, I'll post photos.

This news had me thinking. We've heard a number of teams including the Flyers and Oilers reference possible third jerseys for next season. I'd like to keep a running list here on the blog of teams that have announced a new third jersey for 2008-09.

To make things easier on me, I'd like to get you guys involved if you're interested. Email me or write a comment on this post any time you see a reference to a potential new third jersey for next year. Cite a credible source too. I can't accept "my best friend's uncle's mother's cousin works in a pro shop and told me so" as a source.

This list now exists as a sidebar element. Enjoy!

UPDATE (2/17 5:20 AM): Just wanted to add that back in December, I posted concept art for the Blues in the form of a third jersey that incorporated the Blue Note and Gateway Arch on a navy sweater. You can find it at the bottom of this post if you're interested.

Just To Freak You Out XXVII

It's Friday and despite the fact that I'm waist-deep in boxes and half-dead from packing them, I have Freak Out art. And lots of it. So much so that I'm saving some of it for next week. But let's get to the good stuff.



Please don't ask me what that's supposed to be. I think I get the buffalo and the swords. But I'm not sure I understand the raccoon reference found around the eyes there. Perhaps it's just me, though.

But while we're on the topic of indignities...



No, the guy wearing the crown isn't Mark Messier. But good guess. And to the right there, the ultimate Vancouver Canucks jersey. How do you improve upon perfection like that?

Couple more oddities.




I like those colors on the Islanders jersey. And I know how you guys love the asymmetry on that thing — the original coming from the actual Thrashers jersey, not to be confused with the one on the right which is a recoloring of the Hurricanes sweater. The striping is weird. Yeah.

Sticking to the irony tack, here's an idea no one ever considered for the Anaheim Ducks.



And now you know why no one ever considered it.

We're developing of list of things the Flames need.



Also on that list: trading Jarome Iginla.

And finally, with the recent introduction of the new Stanley Cup playoffs logo, one reader got to work on new East and West logos — only what if they reverted back to the old conference names?



Despite the creativity, and I have to give a lot of credit for that, they're just messing with my brain so bad. Nice work, but über freaky!

Hope you enjoyed your Freak Out Friday. If I'm unable to update the site tomorrow, just know that's it's because I'm moving to a new apartment this weekend, not that I'm lazy. Not that I'm not lazy. It's just that's not the reason. Did you follow all that?

Logo Adjustments For 'Hawks

Got a quick concept post for tonight. No new polls until Sunday when the fourth round of the Quest for the Worst begins.

You already know that I'm not a fan of what many would consider to be one of the best logos in all of sports, so I won't get into that. But I do have proof that I'm not the only one who feels that way about the Chicago Blackhawks. A couple of people made some interesting "adjustments" to the logo and uniform.

We'll start with the uniform.



And while I do recognize this particular design might be more worthy of the Freak Out Friday post, I'm putting it here. I personally wouldn't consider it an improvement, but you be the judge.

These next two logos keep mostly in the spirit of the current logo.



I'm more partial to the design on the right. It's always interesting to me to see what you guys come up with.

By the way, I'm moving this weekend so don't be too surprised if there's little to nothing posted over the next several days. I will, however, try to get a Freak Out posted at some point tomorrow.