It’s awards season, and the celebrities are out in full-force, showing off their designer duds on the red carpet. Inevitably there are a few celebs who wear an outfit similar to something someone wore last season, sparking those polarising “who wore it best” discussions.
Like when Zendaya and Rita Ora wore the same 80s-inspired suit. I’m team Rita, mostly because Zendaya’s hat makes her look like Jim Carrey from The Mask.
Anywho, this all got me thinking about hockey jerseys.
There’s really no limit or restrictions to what a team can do with their jerseys, so you’d think that there wouldn’t ever be much overlap when it comes to design. Nevertheless, there have been some striking similarities between hockey sweaters in the NHL, so today I’m going to show you some teams that rocked similar looks, and I’ll tell you who I think wore it best.
Pittsburgh with the nearly identical font- with a drop shadow as well! The PWHL was also a big fan of this look.
7. penguins or rangers?
When the Pittsburgh Penguins entered the NHL in the 1967–68 expansion season, their baby blue uniforms were a breath of fresh air. But, even though they had a brand new logo with a skating penguin and everything, the team opted not to put the logo on their sweaters, instead choosing to have the word “Pittsburgh” cascading diagonally across the front of the jersey from right to left, just like the New York Rangers.
So, who wore it better? I gotta go with the Rangers. It’s a classic design synonymous with the Broadway Blueshirts, and the Penguins have gone on to forge their own identity with the skating penguin logo and trademark black and gold colouring.
6. rangers or jets?
Speaking of the Rangers, in 1976, New York Rangers general manager, John Fergusson, made the bold decision to change up the Rangers’ jerseys, switching up the colour scheme for something more modern, and replacing the classic cascading “Rangers” with the club’s shield logo.
It was a fatal mistake in the eyes of Rangers fans, and after just two seasons the Rangers switched back to their classic jersey. But, just like when Billy Idol re-released Dancing With Myself after he left Gen-X, Fergusson re-released his beloved jersey design in 1980 when he took the helm as the GM of the Winnipeg Jets.
Who wore it better? This decision goes to the Jets, mostly because the Rangers’ classic jersey is too sacred to change.
One team’s rejected jersey is another team’s treasure.
Good thing Minnesota didn’t have “STARS” written across their chest!
5. Golden Seals or
north stars?
Back in 1970, the Oakland Seals’ new owner renamed the team the California Golden Seals, and along with the name change came new jerseys. These new tarps were green and gold and featured waist and arm striping stolen right from their Midwest rivals, the Minnesota North Stars.
Who wore it better? The Keener goes to… the Minnesota North Stars!
The North Stars had beautiful jerseys, especially the pro versions which featured some details that escaped the casual fan. Check out my blog about pro jersey easter eggs for more on that.
4. Kings or Wings?
The LA Kings burst onto the scene with flashy purple and gold uniforms that set them apart from the other 11 NHL franchises. But, upon closer inspection, the solid, single-colour waist and arm striping was actually the same scheme as the Detroit Red Wings’ red kits. And the following year, the Kings would raise their home jersey’s waist stripe to match the Red Wing’s white kit pattern.
Who wore it better? The Kings! This may be an unpopular opinion, but the O.G. Kings jerseys were bold and refreshing. The ‘67 Kings didn’t have a white home jersey. Instead, they used gold jerseys at home and purple jerseys on the road, which was a nice change of pace.
It wasn’t until 1982-83 when the Wings moved their crest from just the wheel being centred to the entire crest being centred.
The Leafs changed to the long-sleeve stripe the same season the Sabres entered the league; so these two jerseys never hit the ice together.
3. Sabres or leafs?
When the Buffalo Sabres broke into the league in 1970, owner Seymour Knox III — himself a huge Toronto Maple Leafs fan — lifted the striping design for his team’s jerseys from the 1967 Toronto Maple Leafs’ getup.
Who wore it better? The Toronto Maple Leafs. I really love both of these hockey sweaters, and you can get either jersey customized with Tim Horton’s number, which is a nice bonus. But, if I had to choose one, I’d go with the ‘67 Leafs version.
2. stars or all-stars?
Jersey makers went bonkers in the mid and late 1990s, giving us some new designs that bucked classic jersey sensibilities. It was then, starting in the 1997–1998 season, that the Dallas Stars abandoned their straight waist and arm stripes, and chose to reuse the 1994–1997 NHL All-Star jersey design.
Who wore it better? The Dallas Stars! Add “Hull” and number 22 to your 1999 Stars jersey, and you’ve got yourself a very controversial tarp, especially if you visit Buffalo.
Stars or All-Stars? Both Stars, but the Dallas Stars did it best!
The Blues’ waist and sleeve stripes cascade downwards in the opposite direction, but we still see what they did.
1. blues or ducks?
The Anaheim Mighty Ducks were trendsetters from the get-go, sporting a diagonal waist stripe on their original jerseys back in 1994. It was such a nice jersey that the St. Louis Blues poached the design for their new unis in 1995.
Who wore it better? The Ducks! I say this for a few reasons. First, along with the change in waist striping, the blues used diagonal numbers, which were a nightmare for jersey makers like myself to replicate, as each number had to be individually cut. Secondly, this is the jersey that Gretzky wore, and nobody wants to remember that era. Thirdly, this is the version of the Ducks uniform that Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne wore in their prime as the top scoring duo in the league.
Did I get it right?
Whether I’m right or wrong about who had the nicest sweaters, I’m always thinking about hockey jerseys, and I’ve gotta get my opinions and observations off my chest. That’s why I created the 4 Shots with Keener newsletter.
Every week I send out my thoughts and opinions on hockey jerseys and hockey culture, so if you want in, press the subscribe button, and you’ll get all my hot takes right in your inbox. It’s always fun, often controversial, and never not about hockey. And, chances are, you’ll learn something you never knew about hockey jerseys.
