The wait is over for NHL fans ready to see adidas' "reverse retro" jerseys.
After weeks of speculation, and a few drool-worthy teasings by the NHL and teams alike, the homage to old-school hockey jerseys is officially here.
Released on Nov. 16,thejerseys payrespect to each franchise's history with a modern twist.
NHL team jerseys have long carried deep historical significance for avid and casual hockey fans," noted Brian Jennings, the NHL's chief brand officer and senior executive vice president in the pre s release. "Through the years, the design of each team jersey has evolved to balance history and authenticity with cultural touchpoints. The Reverse Retro program is a celebration of the hockey jerseys confluence of nostalgia, New York Giants Sleepwear Underwear style and broad appeal."
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The first time all 31 franchises were involved in creating alternate jerseys, teams will don the new looks over the course of the upcoming season. Fans can buy their ownbeginning on Dec. 1.
But as with any new jerseys, there were, of course, hitsand mi ses. Here's how they rank:
31. Vegas Golden Knights
If this list was ranking irony, oh, this jersey would most definitely skyrocket to the top. A jersey ... with swords ... weeks after the agent of one of your goalies ... as if he's being stabbed in the back.
Sure, the swordstar is the team's secondary logo but c'mon. These jerseys did go through a two-year proce s from ideation to reality but, honestly, the timing is le s than ideal.
Regardle s, the striping is a nice touch as it is a homage to the Las Vegas Thunder of the old International Hockey League. However, the red is just too strong and, well, it's just too much.
Jerrel Jernigan Jerseys Stay golden, Vegas.
30. Detroit Red Wings
Detroit's jersey is iconic. An Original Six squad, the perfect simplicity of the sweater is what makes it so special. However, this was a big mi s.
Sure, the jersey pays homage to the 1998 Stanley Cup-winning squad which current GM Steve Yzerman captained and the gray echos the Centennial Cla sic jerseys from 2016, but these have zero pizzaz.
Detroit should have reversed to1991-92 and the , which would have been red beauties with the white stripesor thrown it all the way back to the 1926-27 Detroit Cougars .
Instead, well, it's aplain white jersey.
29. Pittsburgh PenguinsYes, Mario wore this one back in 1997 and Snoop Dogg sported this style . But "with my mind on my money and my money on my mind,"this is just another bland jersey to pa s on.
A Pittsburgh retro jersey was screaming forold school powder blue or the yellow jersey sported inthe '80s. Or even, since most of the other teams' retros are from the '90s, how about the half penguin? Who doesn't think of that one when picturingJaromir Jagr and his poofy mullet in all its glory.
28. St. Louis BluesThe only color scheme that this jersey works in is the original blue one it Julian Love Jerseys 's based on from the 1995 season. As someone who grew up watching '90s hockey, those sweaters were a personal favorite with the blue and red flipped. The one solid on this is the shoulder patch, which is perfect.
Hockey Hall of Famers Chris Pronger, Brendan Shanahan, Brett Hull and even "The Great One" Wayne Gretzky wore this style of jersey. But, this version istoo red and not enough you know blue.
27. Arizona Coyotes
Kachina? Check. Bold color scheme? Check. Desert landscape like the Phoenix Coyotes' original alternate jersey back in 1999? Double-check.
But just because it's a cool throwback doesn't mean it should be brought back. Although, the purple is a much nicer look than .
26. Dallas StarsThe Stars had one thing to do: take the 1999 Stanley Cup sweater and make it "victory green." It would have been magnificent.Instead, they just outlined the star in it. Disappointing.
While "Stars" in silver is a nice touch since the jersey is in honor of the team that won the Cup the crest almost disappears into the icy all-white background.Like Detroit and Pittsburgh, it's justanother nicejersey lacking punch.
25. New York James Bradberry Jerseys Islanders
OK, fine. The "Fish Sticks" jersey will never see the light ofday again. Bummer. But would it have been too much to ask foran orange Islanders jersey like in the early 2000s? With Lou Lamoriello in charge as the team's GM, it's a conservative one for the squad from Long Island.
Now, not for nothing, it's not a bad jersey ora bad era to reverse to. This design paysrespects to the home whites of the 1980 teamthat kicked offthe Isles run to four consecutive Stanley Cups. The striping on this jersey is spot on although it would have been a nice touch if it had the shoulder stripes from the late 1990s-early 2000s that marked those four Cup wins.
24. Washington CapitalsA rebrand of the jersey sported by the 1997-98 team that made the Stanley Cup Final in the current Capitals color scheme, it's a nice jersey. However, for whatever reason, it doesn't scream, "winner." The shoulder patch, on the other hand, which is the team's logo from the 2000s,is and will always be on point.
23. Boston Bruins
No "Pooh Bear" is a major thumbs down. But, the loveably anointed "Meth Bear" or as the pre s release calls it, a "fan-favorite bear crest" from the '70s to '90s is present!
Honestly, a yellow jersey is always a solid choice for the Bruins, as is the reversal to the logo that Bruins legends like Derek Sanderson, Johnny Bucyk, Cam Neely and one Raymond Bourque wore is also a nice touch. Speaking of Neely and Bourque, this retro jersey is based off ofthe one they wore in 1988 and 1990 when Boston went to Stanley Cup Finals and the one the team wore at the old Boston Garden for 15 years.
22.Columbus Blue JacketsThe year is 2020 and everyone gets a red jersey. A first-time dive Riley Dixon Jerseys for this young franchise into red as the primary color, this reverse retro sports the original jersey logo from the team's 2000 season. It's got clean lines and is a good looking sweater but, let's be honest, that shoulder patch would be pure fire as the crest instead.
21. Ottawa SenatorsAnother red jersey, but the best red jersey. This sweater pays homage to the Senators' inaugural season back in 1992, which is actually the design the team has revertedto when it comes to their everyday home and aways. It's a nice complement to the white and black jersey and sports the modified 2D logo.
It is time for the Senators to return to our roots, said ownerEugene Melnyk back when the team announced its rebrand in October. The fans of this great franchise have high expectations. ... It is time to return to our heritage, but in a bold, new manner.
This jersey is definitely an extension of that.
