NHL Throwback Jerseys That Should Return- Pacific Edition
In the last edition of this retro jersey series we covered the Central Division and the NHL throwback jerseys that I believed should return in that division. Now, we will discuss the last division to do in the series, the Pacific Division. All jerseys from a team’s history will be under consideration, but we will only be doing seven teams out of eight in the division. This is because the Vegas Golden Knights have only had two in-game uniforms in their brief existence.
Anaheim Ducks-D2:The Mighty Ducks
The logo really needs no explanation to hockey fans. Not only was it the look the team donned from their early days in 1993, but it was also the jersey that was donned in the iconic hockey movie “D2: The Mighty Ducks.” The Duck goalie mask logo is an iconic look in the scheme of NHL logos, and the jersey backs it up very well. Black and gray diagonal stripes run parallel to each other near the waist and sleeves, and a light blue stripe runs attached to the gray stripe.
The color scheme on the jersey is a great look, and add that to an iconic logo and it is a great retro look. The Ducks actually brought this look back with a darker blue as the primary color over the white pictured above in honor of their 25th anniversary, but it was scrapped for a revamped version. While the logo is still used today but updated to the Ducks’ color scheme of orange and black, to bring this back as a fourth would be a great decision to honor the past.
Arizona Coyotes-The Running Coyotes
Arizona didn’t have much to choose from, largely since the league wide favorite Kachina uniforms are in use today. However, the selection will be the Running Coyote jersey that was worn from 2008-2014. Even if it’s not quite the Kachina, it’s a pretty good second option. Black is the primary color of the jersey with the red and slightly off white stripes down the sides of the jersey and on the sleeves. At the center of the jersey there is the side view of a running Coyote, which is a fairly decent logo. As a result, while the jersey may not be the Kachina that the team wears often, to don this uniform for select games next season would be a nice decision since it looks pretty solid on the ice.
Calgary Flames-2011 Heritage Classic
The decision for the Flames was tough between the Fire Horse logo of the 90s and the jersey the team wore in the Heritage Classic against Montreal in 2011. However, the Heritage classic I believe would be a better choice because it is more original. The main inspiration for the uniform was the Calgary Tigers of the 1920s in the Western Canada Hockey League. The main color was a darker red shade than their normal red, and yellow stripes could be seen running down the sleeves and the middle of the jersey itself. The white “Flaming C” that still exists on the Flames’ alternate today is also present with a red outline surrounding it.
The jersey is different, and the originality was a main inspiration for this pick. Also, the Tigers became a team in 1920, so this year marks the 100th anniversary of the original Calgarian hockey team. As a result, not only would it be fun to see Calgary don the uniforms from the Heritage Classic, but it would be fitting for them to honor the roots of western Canadian hockey a century later.
Edmonton Oilers-Final Season at Rexall Uniforms
This was the jersey that inspired their uniform set of today. Back when the Oilers were set to leave their longtime home in Rexall Place in the 2015-16 season, the Oilers wanted to make a special uniform to wear for select games before they left. They ultimately chose to don their original orange uniforms they wore for their first two seasons in the WHA starting in 1972. However, the uniform proved to be a hit with their fanbase. The style of the uniform was great with orange as the base color with blue shoulders, sleeves, and waist and white piping surrounding the blue sections. It looked awesome watching the team play in that uniform, and it was widely embraced by their fans and the league in general.
While it was only supposed to be used only in their final season at Rexall, it was such a hit the jersey made the trek with them to Rogers Place for that season as well, even being worn in the 2016 Heritage Classic against the Winnipeg Jets. The jersey also became their home uniform for their surprise playoff run in 2017. Even if the jersey is still around with a navy blue color by contrast to the royal color, the royal blue should be brought back as a callback to the Oilers early days in Edmonton.
Los Angeles Kings-Lakers Colors
These were the very first jerseys the team wore in the expansion years starting in 1967. The look is very flashy with gold taking the main color with purple numbers and stripes on the sleeves and waist. The old crown logo also takes center stage as the primary logo of the uniform as well. The Kings have worn the jersey for a few games in years before the switch to Adidas, and a lot of the Kings players from their cup years early in the decade prior have worn the jersey before, including Jonathan Quick, Drew Doughty, Dustin Brown and Anze Kopitar.
However, another primary reason for this selection would be the ties with the Los Angeles Lakers, whom they share Staples Center with. The color scheme matches perfectly with the Lakers today, and to wear it would show close ties with the team and city, especially today. The LA community has been mourning the loss of an icon in Kobe Bryant since January. If the Kings could don the Laker-colored uniforms as a tribute to the legend, it would be beautiful to see the Kings showing respects to one of the greatest people the city has ever known.
San Jose Sharks-California Golden Seals
Even if San Jose and the Bay Area have found NHL success with the Sharks, a lot of credit must go to the team that came before them. The Golden Seals were the WHL and NHL counterparts to the Sharks that played from 1961-1976 in northern California. They have taken many forms in terms of name and identity, from the Oakland Seals, California Seals, and the Bay Area Seals. Even if the initial venture was a failure, it did eventually create the possibility of bringing the NHL back in the form of the Sharks. The defunct franchise will also be 50 years old next season, so to don the Golden Seals for a game like the Hurricanes with the Whalers would be a fun choice.
The jersey is a vibrant selection with green as the base color,yellow sleeves and shoulders, and the white “Seals” crest on the front. As a result, honoring the Seals before them would be a great choice to pay homage to the heritage of Bay Area hockey, and the jersey would be fun to watch on the ice.
Vancouver Canucks-Flying Skate
The Canucks held a fan poll on which jersey from their past they should bring back for this season, their 50th anniversary, and the fans voted to bring back the Flying Skate uniform of the 90s for a few select games. After watching the Canucks in the uniform of the past for a few games, I can say it was awesome to watch, as the older color scheme of red, yellow, and black was a great touch to honor the past. The Flying Skate logo is also a great look that the team wore from 1978-1997, and it was a great look to honor the teams that made Stanley Cup Finals in 1982 and 1994. Also, the Canucks are a franchise back on the upswing with the emergence of several elite talents including Elias Pettersson, Brock Boeser, and Quinn Hughes, along vets like JT Miller, Tyler Myers, Bo Horvat, and Chris Tanev. As a result, the Canucks can not only use this as a way to honor the past and look to the future, but also use this as an inspiration to get the Canucks the illusive cup they haven’t won yet since those teams couldn’t quite get the job done.
That concludes the retro jersey series. It was a lot of fun to go through NHL history and finding unique uniforms from every team’s history. Even as this is merely speculation, some of these predictions could possibly become a reality. The Avalanche are considering bringing back the Nordiques in honor of their 25th anniversary, and the successes of present throwbacks may motivate certain teams to keep them around for a little while longer. I hope you enjoyed reading my choice throughout the series, and, like always, if you think I missed one, leave a comment on what you believe I missed.
I am a first year student at Hofstra University and an avid Islanders fan. I have been writing for Drive4Five since March 2020. My family has been season ticket holders for the team since 2016, and hockey is my favorite sport. As I expand my knowledge in the field of Journalism, I am writing to express my love for the Islanders and the NHL.
The Seals debuted in 1967, so they are well past 50 years.
They key piece is that although the Sharks deny their history and consider themselves an expansion team, they have direct lineage to the Seals. The Seals moved to Cleveland, and then merged with Minnesota. When the Sharks were formed, Minnesota was “unmerged” as part of the process, and half of the Sharks roster came from Minnesota. Thus the “unmerging” for Minnesota and the Seals/Barons.
The Seals should accept their true history as they really date to being part of the “Second Six” and the wonderful, wacky history of the California Golden Seals. Seeing the various Seals jerseys a few times a season would be a treat to hockey fans!