Metropolitan Division
Carolina Hurricanes
Use the original warning flag striping pattern on both home and road prominently
The original Hurricanes jerseys were great. They had a simple design, and used the hurricane warning flag as a striping pattern around the hem, which was a beautiful design detail. Those stripes stayed around until 2013, when they were banished to the hangar treatment for no apparent reason.
Now, the pattern is back on the hem of the home uniform but sublimated red on red. Bringing back the original hurricane warning flag stripes across the hem would really boost these uniforms, giving them that unique look that teams should shoot for.
Side note, I don’t care much for the black jersey, but it is what it is.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Have some fun with the sleeve stripes
The Blue Jackets have grown into their look nicely over the years, with their home and road jerseys pretty much the same since 2007. They look pretty good, not too much to complain about. My only quibble is that the sleeve stripe base color matches the rest of the jersey, which is fine, but it could look better somehow.
Maybe if they treated the home similar to how they did their originals, it would look better. I would have to see that for myself, of course, before making that official judgment call. I do like the star on the wrist, but it’s hard to see on TV, especially with the way hockey gloves fit. The third is perfect as far as thirds go, so I’ll leave that as it is.
New Jersey Devils
Bring back the hem stripes
Ever since their move to New Jersey, the Devils have had pretty much the same look, with some changes in 1992 (like going from green to black as a secondary color). Along came the age of Adidas, and the Devils took the opportunity to try a new look and lose the hem stripes. While the new uniform doesn’t look as bad as originally thought, the older ones were much better. Sometimes, the less is more approach isn’t the right way to go.
New York Islanders
Stop trying to make new designs. Like ever.
The Islanders’ brand has a lot in common with their days of success, for good reason. The look is clean, crisp, and aged very well. The only trouble the Isles have had is when they tried new things.
Going through the list of uniforms that didn’t stick, we have Fish-sticks on acid, orange, Reebok-ification, whatever the heck this black one was, Stadium Series mess, and brand unification with a team that shares the arena they’re moving out of. Let’s stop trying, and stick to what works.
New York Rangers
Untouchable
There are two times in history the Rangers didn’t use their current look that’s been around since 1926. In 1946, they tried a look that works for college teams, which as we’ve seen with the Dallas Stars, should be kept in school.
In 1976, they changed to something that resembles what the Winnipeg Jets would wear for their first few NHL years. These lasted a combined three seasons before returning to what worked. Their current look is classic, unique, and should never have changed, nor be changed ever again.
Philadelphia Flyers
Lose the black third jersey
The Flyers’ current home and road sets are perfect. It mirrors the iconic Broad Street Bullies uniforms, strong on orange, and has a unique feature (the contrasting name-bar on the back).
While their current black third jersey has that contrasting name-bar, it’s black on black on black, which just doesn’t flow well with the in-your-face orange the Flyers own. It also reeks of Stadium Series (which has never put forth a good uniform, ever. Debate me). Own the orange, get rid of the black-centric business.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Make that yellow third more consistent with the rest of the uniform set
The Penguins brought back their Lemieux era uniforms back full time in 2016, which was the right thing to do. While adding the yellow third jersey isn’t a bad idea, the execution was a little off. It does come close to matching the 1981 to 1983 yellow uniforms the Pens used, granted, but there are a few minor changes that could really be used to refine the third jersey to make it look that much better. If they touch it up to make it align with the rest of the uniform set, it’d look much better.
Washington Capitals
Overhaul using a modernized version of the throwback as a base
The Capitals have had the same look since the dawn of Reebok, and it’s perfectly OK. The modernized vintage logo looks solid, and the Weagle secondary logo is brilliant.
However, an issue stems from the uniforms. It smells of Reebok panels. Navy side panels, the sleeve treatment, not a great look. However, those third jersey throwbacks are beautiful. Why not make a modernized version, including the stars everywhere, to make a new great uniform based on the classic. Why shouldn’t it work?