The Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks recently decided on logo and uniform changes, embracing the past with throwback looks. While it's not the best move for every franchise, several should follow suit.
Here are three teams in need of a throwback rebrand.
.@AnaheimDucks , @LAKings unveil new jerseys, logos for next season ⤵️https://t.co/Mtmi2FTNdF
— NHL.com (@NHLdotcom) June 26, 2024
In some instances, less can be more, and maybe that was the case in 2013 when the Stars fully abandoned the logo and colors they arrived in Dallas with after moving from Minnesota 22 years earlier. However, the uninspiring blandness of their "victory green" uniforms, matched with a logo similar to a gas station sign, needs an upgrade from the past.
Aside from a total rebrand or renaming the team entirely, the next best option is to go back to what works. It's time to embrace history by returning to the style the team wore, in one shape or another, from 1993-2007, during which the franchise won its first and only Stanley Cup led by Hall of Famer Mike Modano.
In 2020, Mike Modano remembered the @DallasStars’ journey to winning the Stanley Cup in 1999: In the Conference Finals you played that great Avalanche team with the guy you saw in ’87 at the draft, Joe Sakic. They were an excellent group and after they beat you at home in Game 5,… pic.twitter.com/ClJfilpOuR
— The Players' Tribune (@PlayersTribune) May 9, 2024
Washington Capitals
In 2007, the Capitals said goodbye to the screaming Eagle logo and went old school — kind of. The franchise debuted a look reminiscent of their original uniforms worn from 1974-95 but with darker colors and a more modern approach.
The change may have scratched the itch for something new at the time. However, the Capitals' current uniforms look lifeless, and the traits that made them more up-to-date are seemingly outdated.
If you're the Capitals and want a throwback look, it's time to go all the way. There's already a recent example to go off of, like the alternate jerseys the team wore occasionally from 2011-17.
Be on the lookout for new #Caps alternates tonight! #CapsDraft picks will be rocking em. More: http://t.co/pWnm0cSDCB pic.twitter.com/K0W1mGOxGb
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) June 26, 2015
Winnipeg Jets
When the Winnipeg Jets officially returned to the NHL in 2011, they resisted the desire to bring back the team's old look, opting for fresh threads instead. It had only been 15 years since the original Jets had moved to become the Phoenix Coyotes (now the Utah Hockey Club), so going with something completely new made sense.
The logo and color combo they ultimately settled on for the team's jerseys pays tribute to the Royal Canadian Air Force and isn't necessarily a bad look. But it is a tad stale.
The franchise has recently leaned into the past, wearing WHA-era throwbacks several times in the Heritage Classic and as alternates since 2021. Maybe it's time to return to the familiar and iconic look full-time.
First look at AI in a heritage uniform @ABCFireSafetyMB | #GoJetsGo pic.twitter.com/mcKryZ1myB
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) October 25, 2023
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