Best and Worst NHL Jerseys

By Andrew Miller

One of the most underrated parts of sports is the uniform. They have the ability to make or break a fan base. We have all been there before, either wondering how in the world someone produced that hideous jersey or praising the genius that designed those awesome sweaters. It’s time to take a look at the best jerseys in the league as well as the ones that should probably be burned.

Top 5

5. Rangers Home

Ah America’s red, white, and blue put to excellent use. With the exception of the 76-77 and 77-78 seasons, the Rangers have had the slanted name on the jersey since the inception of the team in 1926. The nickname Broadway Blue Shirts gives a nod to this uniform and rightfully so as the classic look has had only minor updates to keep it current.

 4. Red Wings Home

The classic red and white look features a wing and a spoke, paying homage to Motor City. Hockey Town’s team has had the same home jersey since 1932. In fact, it was their only uniform at the time. Their away sweater is simply switching the colors out for one and another and has been sported by several greats including Mr. Hockey himself, Gordie Howe.

3. Blackhawks Home

I promise it’s the last “original six” team on the list, but the Blackhawks sweaters are considered to be one of the greatest in sports even though I have them at number three. It was a coin flip between the red based home and the white away, but either way the jersey is straight up sweet. Not to mention it’s centered around one of, if not the best logos in sports.

2. Hurricanes Alternate

It’s finally time to come back to the modern creations and the Hurricanes alternate is a great place to start. Personally, I think a black-based uniform can either look very good or very bad with no middle ground. This one clearly pulls off the look the best and is in my opinion the best alternate out there. How can you not love the creativity in the hurricane flag?

1. Lightning Home

Thank Tampa Bay GM Steve Yzerman for bringing the Detroit look south. He scrapped the old uniforms and went for the same two-color appearance, except his version has a slight edge. I’m a huge fan of the oversized logo on the front as well as the single stripe. And maybe it’s just me, but the blue works better than the red. Congrats to the Lightning on claiming the best jersey in the NHL.

Bottom 5

5. Kings Away

Simple can be good, but plain black and white? That is just too simple for me. The team tried to embrace the Detroit-style look, but it doesn’t make me want to cheer for their team. Not a total train wreck, but bad enough to land the sweater at number five for the worst uniform in the league.

4. Sharks Home

 I get the whole ocean color theme going on, but teal was a poor choice. The color comes off ugly and it fills the jersey as well as the socks. I’m a bigger fan of their alternates than these and their logo is outdated and too cartoonish and uncreative. A shark biting a stick? How many times in sports do you see an animal biting equipment?

3. Kings Alt

Shortly, you will learn that alternate jerseys work or they don’t. Los Angeles tried to be retro and sport their throwback ‘uni-s’ from when the club was created, but royalty wore purple and gold in the mid-evil period. It’s the twenty-first century and it’s time to ditch these immediately.

2. Senators Alternate

Add these to the pile of bad alternates. It’s never a good idea to make multiple horizontal stripes across the entire uniform (see Canadiens’ old jailhouse jerseys). Usually I’m a fan of the crème substituting for the white, a popular appearance for Winter Classic jerseys, but putting an O as a logo tells me they didn’t put a whole lot of though into this. Shockingly enough, the worst jerseys in the NHL are in a league of their own.

1. Islanders Alternate

I’m not a big fan of the Isles’ regular jerseys, but these shouldn’t even be shipped to areas of need. I’ve heard some describe them as a motor-cross uniform gone wrong. Not only do they put together an ugly color scheme, but also the club continues the look right through the pants and socks. Far and away the ugliest sweater in the NHL, let’s hope they revamp their entire image upon arrival in Brooklyn.