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Some random thoughts from your humble webmaster

June 24, 2012

Alternate jerseys: A dying breed?

In terms of uniform unveilings, this is shaping up to be a very quiet summer.

Normally by this time, we would hear grumblings about teams changing their looks for the following season. However, this summer, the news is not about which teams are adding or changing uniforms, but rather which teams are subtracting uniforms.

At the upper left of this blog post are three alternate jerseys that will never be worn again -- those belonging to Buffalo, Edmonton and Florida. Buffalo's is really the only one of the three that anyone is really sorry to see go. Panthers management was very eagerly awaiting the day when they fulfilled their obligation to their alternate uniform before putting it to pasture.

So with three alternate uniforms, the question begs -- are alternate uniforms a passing fad?

I believe when they're executed the right way, alternate uniforms can be an excellent complement to a team's look. To me, a successful alternate should fit one of two categories: a jersey of a different color while staying true to the brand, or a uniform that harkens back to a prior era in a team's history. I'm really not crazy about alternates being the same base color as primaries, such as the those worn by the Ducks, Bruins or Canucks (although all three are aesthetically pleasing, with the Ducks' looking better than their primaries, IMHO).

Using a former primary as an alternate, such as what the Kings did in their Stanley Cup-winning season, to me is a lazy way out. The Kings would be much better off using their purple throwback uniforms as their full-time alternates. While those uniforms are stunningly gorgeous, I do have a bone to pick with them. The crest does not have a white outline, while the name and numbers do. If they really wanted to be true to those historical uniforms, outlines should either go on all elements or none at all.

As of the writing of this blog post, the only unveilings I'm certain of are the Winter Classic offerings from the Detroit Red Wings and the Toronto Maple Leafs (contingent on a lack of a strike or a lockout). I've heard grumblings of a possible new alternate for the Tampa Bay Lightning, but I have not seen anything significant.

One final note -- given the lack of affection towards the newly-retired Oilers alternate (formerly their primary), I doubt that we'll see an alternate uniform for the Oilers anytime soon. That would be a real shame, because they could hark back to their very first uniform they wore in the WHA, when they were known as the Alberta Oilers, and use that as their basis for what would be, IMHO, a stunning alternate jersey. Oilers fans, make it happen! Don't let me down!