The Colorado Avalanche and Carolina Hurricanes took the ice on Thursday night at Ball Arena wearing uniforms from their earlier histories.
Colorado donned the blue, white and fleur-de-lis of the Quebec Nordiques, while the Canes dressed in the green and blue of the Hartford Whalers.
Regardless of how you feel about the Avs and Canes wearing the uniforms that belong to the cities that they abandoned in the 1990s, there’s no doubting how aesthetically pleasing they look to the eye.
Here are five other NHL throwback uniforms that should return ASAP.
1) 1993-2003 Anaheim Mighty Ducks Jade & Eggplant
The current orange and black Anaheim Ducks’ uniforms are boring. The Ducks brought back these inaugural unis for the franchise’s 20th anniversary in 2013. It’s time to bring back jade, eggplant and the Wild Wing crest on a permanent basis.
2) 1991-98 San Jose Sharks Teal
Similar to the Ducks, the San Jose Sharks entered the league in the early 1990s with an excellent color combination. These simple yet effective uniforms made a brief return for the Sharks’ 25th and 30th anniversaries. Though there’s nothing particularly wrong with the current San Jose uniforms, it’s hard to beat a classic.
3) 1996-2007 New York Rangers Lady Liberty Navy
The New York Rangers brought back Lady Liberty twice in a slightly altered form during the Reverse Retro program, though neither design could match the Blueshirts’ alternates that debuted in 1996. If the Rangers revived to the original Lady Liberty design as alternates, Madison Square Garden team stores would struggle to meet the demand.
4) 1997-2006 Dallas Stars Green
This uniform immediately fills Dallas Stars fans with memories of the franchise’s lone 1999 Stanley Cup championship. Think Mike Modano and Derian Hatcher raising Lord Stanley. While the current shade of “victory green” is popular in “The Lone Star State,” the Stars would delight fans if these unis returned.
5) 1995-97 New York Islanders White Fisherman
When the New York Islanders debuted these uniforms in 1995, they were initially despised by fans and went on to symbolize a painful and chaotic era in team history. In more recent years, they’ve become a collector’s item and nostalgia wear. While no one doubts the staying power of the Isles’ traditional jerseys, the “Fisherman” unis would be welcomed by Long Islanders as an alternate.
Which retro jersey is your favorite?