After a successful first edition of the NHL’s Reverse Retro jerseys, the program has returned for the 2022-23 season.
The NHL and Adidas announced today all 32 teams will have a Reverse Retro jersey that remixes nostalgic elements of each team’s history for a new look on the ice.
“The first iteration of Reverse Retro was one of the most popular uniform launches of all time. Fans couldn’t get enough of not only their team’s jersey, but the nostalgia and storytelling leaguewide,” said Dan Near, the senior director of Adidas Hockey.
The uniforms will appear on the ice beginning in November and includes multiple Reverse Retro matchup nights. The Buffalo Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins kick off the first ‘RR’ night on Nov. 2.
Here’s a breakdown of each team’s new jersey:
Anaheim Ducks: The iconic Wild Wing logo has returned once again for the Ducks. This time, it’s on a white jersey with chevrons and stripes associated with the signature 1993 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim jersey. The uniform will have orange pants.
Arizona Coyotes: Arizona’s first Reverse Retro jersey had a purple base with the Kachina Coyote head and a desert landscape on the hem, a rendition of the 1998 to 2003 alternate uniform. This time, the base is “desert Sienna,” a yellowish earth-tone color that hasn’t been used before in the NHL.
Boston Bruins: The Bruins took their 1995 third jersey with the infamous ‘Pooh Bear’ logo, which the NHL announcement said is based on the legend that the Bruins image was taken from a painting of a bear on the wall of a team executive. The jersey is white this time instead of yellow.
Buffalo Sabres: Buffalo brings back the Bison/Buffalo head that was introduced in 1995. This time, the jersey uses a royal and gold color scheme instead of the black and red originally used.
Calgary Flames: The Flames bring back their pedestal jersey design from the ’90s. The original jersey had a red base while the Reverse Retro is black. The flaming ‘C’ crest is white, and the sleeves are red with angled stripes.
Carolina Hurricanes: Carolina decided to remix the Hurricanes’ history instead of throwing back to the Hartford Whalers with a new edition of its ‘Canes’ wordmark used on the aways. The jersey pays homage to the original Hurricanes uniform with the hem featuring 24 hurricane warning flags.
Chicago Blackhawks: Chicago did a color flip of the 1938 uniform, with a “Chicago” wordmark inspired by the 2019 Winter Classic jersey in the middle. The ’38 jersey had a black base with red stripes – this time, it’s a red base with black stripes.
Colorado Avalanche: The defending Stanley Cup champs honor the first Avs’ Cup-winning uniform in 1995-96. The white jersey has the multi-angled stripes from the original jersey with a ‘C’ crest representing the state flag. The jersey’s colors also represent the state flag.
Columbus Blue Jackets: The Jackets’ original alternate jersey from the early 2000s has a black base with navy blue stripes. The sleeves have white stars, taking inspiration from Ohio’s state flag.
Dallas Stars: Dallas brings back their inaugural jersey uniform with a new color twist. The black jersey has Dallas’ new “Victory Green” on the sleeves.
Detroit Red Wings: Detroit had a special NHL 75th anniversary in 1991 with a “Detroit” wordmark in the center, inspired by the Detroit Cougars of the 1920s. Detroit integrates black for the first time with stripes on the red jersey.
Edmonton Oilers: The Oilers remix their first-ever third jersey with the “dynamic gear” crest with an oil drop in the middle. The oil drop is now orange along with other stripes on the uniform.
Florida Panthers: The 1998 Panthers’ jersey had the sun and palm crest. The 2009 third jersey had a light blue body. Combine them both with the current primary colors of navy, sun yellow and red and you have Florida’s new Reverse Retro.
Los Angeles Kings: Los Angeles honors the 1982 uniform to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the “Miracle on Manchester.” The detailed crown used to be on a purple and gold jersey – now, it’s the first time the crest will be on a white jersey.
Minnesota Wild: The Wild had arguably one of the nicest Reverse Retro jerseys last time with a tribute to the North Stars with the green, yellow and white color scheme. Now, the jersey has a green body.
Montreal Canadiens: Montreal pays tribute to the 1979 uniform when they won their 22nd Stanley Cup and fourth in a row. The jersey is inspired by the city of Montreal’s light blue color by using it as the body for the first time.
Nashville Predators: The Predators released their first third jersey in 2001 with a 3D fanged Predator’s head on a mustard base. This time, the mustard is replaced with Nashville’s current shade of gold. The pants will be navy.
New Jersey Devils: While the Hurricanes have paid homage to the Whalers in the past, the Devils chose to honor the Colorado Rockies, the previous team before the relocation to New Jersey. Forty years after the relocation in 1982, the Devils will have a white base with Rockies-style gold and navy striping.
New York Islanders: The fans had their say and the fisherman is back. The most requested uniform from the initial Reverse Retro program has arrived with the fisherman crest, this time in navy and orange.
New York Rangers: “Lady Liberty” has also returned to a Rangers jersey after last appearing in the 2020-21 season’s Reverse Retro series. Previous “Lady Liberty” designs were in dark navy and white – it’s now in the Rangers’ signature royal blue currently on the home jerseys.
Ottawa Senators: Sens fans call this design the ‘Senagoth’ based on the original 3D Sens logo introduced in the 90s and remembered in the 2006-07 run to the Stanley Cup final. The jersey keeps the 2D crest but remixes the red body with a black base with two red swoosh stripes across the middle. The ‘Senagoth,” officially described as the front-facing ‘Centurion,’ is on the shoulder patches.
Philadelphia Flyers: Philadelphia honors the 1974 and 1975 Cup champs with a white and black color design. There are slight accents of orange on the sleeves.
Pittsburgh Penguins: Another 1990s throwback, Pittsburgh reintroduces the famous ‘Robo Penguin’ crest worn by Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr. This uniform was also one of the most requested Reverse Retro jerseys from NHL fans.
San Jose Sharks: Remember the 1974 California Golden Seals with their teal and gold design? San Jose brings that back and replaces the “Seals” wordmark with “Sharks.” The Seals were the first NHL team in the Bay Area.
Seattle Kraken: The Kraken are obviously a new team, but they remixed their jersey to spotlight the “sea green” color in the body. The ‘S’ crest is submerged in a navy-striped sea while the red eye peeks just above the surface.
St. Louis Blues: This is the first time the Blues will have a primarily gold jersey. This time, they take a prototype design presented in 1966 and use the Blues logo with a “St. Louis Blues” wordmark dancing around it.
Tampa Bay Lightning: The Lightning had a memorable third jersey from 1997 that featured a stormy design with waves and lightning bolts. The Reverse Retro has a white body this time, but has those storm elements once again with the classic lightning crest.
Toronto Maple Leafs: The Leafs throw it back to their 1962 Stanley Cup-winning form, originally white with royal blue accents. Now, the jersey is reversed to be royal blue with white, but the player name and numbers have a “felt” decoration.
Vancouver Canucks: ‘Johnny Canuck’ is the crest on the NHL Canucks’ jersey for the first time. The icon was originally on the 1962 Vancouver Canucks uniform when they were in the former Western Hockey League. It’s remixed in royal, green and beige colors.
Vegas Golden Knights: Instead of throwing back to a past jersey, Vegas decided to imagine what a third jersey could have looked like in 1995. The jersey has a “glitzy player and name font system inspired by vintage hotel signage on the strip” with a diagonal “Vegas” wordmark. The jersey is black – but if you bring it under black light, there are glow-in-the-dark stars incorporated in the crest.
Washington Capitals: The Capitals throw it back to 2005 with the ‘Screaming Eagle’ crest. While the initial Reverse Retro jersey had the eagle on a red jersey, this one has a “Capital Blue and Metallic Copper” color scheme with asymmetrical striping and unconventional fonts.
Winnipeg Jets: The Jets honor their past life with the 1990 jersey and logo remixed without red. This brings out the royal blue and white color base. There’s a “Goals For Kids” patch worn in the original jersey that’s also remixed this time to represent the True North Youth Foundation.
