One of the most subjective topics in hockey, and in all of sports, is jerseys. Professional athletes generally take great pride in the sweaters they wear while playing, but it has become a hot topic over the years among fans, especially with NHL jerseys.

In this article, we will be ranking all NHL home jerseys from 31-1. We excluded the NHL’s newest franchise, the Seattle Kraken, because we are only focusing on active teams. This list does not include alternate jerseys, even if some teams wear them just as much as their traditional home jerseys. For this list, the history behind the jersey, as well as the appearance of the jersey were considered. Before we begin, a final note to add is that these rankings were made by polling the writers of Drive4Five, and then the votes were used to create the list itself. Jake, Scott, Matt, and I all participated in the writing of the article, each taking a division to write about. Without any further adieu, here is the final NHL jerseys ranking!

31. Nashville Predators

The Predators dropped the ball with the new uniforms. The jersey somewhat looks like a mustard bottle with extensive use of gold and very limited navy blue on the sleeves and waist only. Some extra blue or white could make it a little better, but until it changes it sits at the bottom of the list.

30. Anaheim Ducks

The Anaheim Ducks home jersey is not great. With the majority of their jersey being black with a weird, curving stripe down the side, their jerseys are not the most eye-catching. Another turn-off is the number font with the pointy edge on the top left. Just a note to the Anaheim Ducks and their fanbase, please bring back the Mighty Ducks jerseys, and I mean the real ones.

29. New Jersey Devils

Coming in at third to last is New Jersey’s uniform. No pun intended, but they need a “New Jersey.” While it is not hideous, it is very plain and there is next to nothing going on. While simplistic can be good, this jersey’s blood red with thick white font on the back isn’t overly appealing. The Devils could certainly use a rebrand to expand the rich history of their franchise.

28. Los Angeles Kings

Back in 2011, the Los Angeles Kings stripped all purple off all of their jerseys. Purple is the color of royalty, and ironically they have won two Stanley Cups since they removed the color from their sweaters; however, Los Angeles eventually declined significantly into a rebuilder. Like the Kings’ past few seasons. the jerseys themselves are disappointing, as they are very bland. Black and white with a big stripe on both sleeves doesn’t do it for most hockey fans.

27. Ottawa Senators

Thankfully, the Senators will be getting a rebrand for the 2020-21 season. But, Ottawa had so much missed potential here. After rebranding from the side-profile Centurian to the current 3D edition, the Senators will be changing their logo already. Aside from the mediocre logo, the rest of the jersey is nothing special either, with the black, white, and red sleeves appearing generic and old-fashioned.

26. Washington Capitals

Like New Jersey’s, the Capitals home jersey is very boring. The stripes on the front and back of the jersey are very thin and don’t add much to the jersey’s concept. The main feature that puts it above some of the league’s worst is the thicker white stripe and thin blue stripe on the front sleeve. While it’s nothing special, it works. At least it’s something.

25. Carolina Hurricanes

For the second straight postseason, the Hurricanes will be wearing their black alternate jerseys with the warning flag on the crest for their “home” playoff games. There is a reason for this. Like some others at the bottom of the list, a plain, red jersey isn’t going to get much love. However, the details within the stripes are unique and bring an attractive design to the jersey, which saves it to a certain extent.

24. Florida Panthers

One of the most forgotten-about teams have one of the most forgotten-about home sweaters. The 2016 jerseys were a welcome change from the chaotic logo the team had from 1993-2016. However, these fail to create a brand of their own. The middle stripe is too large and doesn’t add much to the overall appearance. Nonetheless, the new logo is very stylistically pleasing and if combined with some real Florida flair, the Miami area team could jump up in the rankings for NHL jerseys.

23. Buffalo Sabres

Buffalo’s jerseys aren’t horrible, but certainly don’t rank among the best.  The number on the front across from the captain patch is rather ugly, and one can hope for the Sabres to remove this in their upcoming jersey change to royal blue. Otherwise, the striping is not the worst in the league, but the white stripes juxtaposed to the yellow ones makes this much busier than need be. The grey surrounding the NHL logo needs to go as well, as it is unnecessary and doesn’t look like it belongs.

22. Edmonton Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers had good home jerseys. Yes, HAD, until they made one slight change when they moved to Adidas- the shoulders. Prior to the Adidas takeover, the Oilers had royal blue shoulders, which complimented the orange jersey very well, but when the move was made, they changed over to navy blue shoulders. There is also an excessive amount of orange making it extremely bright, but maybe a few thicker stripes could fix that. But, for now, the Oilers sit in the bottom third of NHL jerseys.

21. Arizona Coyotes

If we were ranking alternate jerseys, the Coyotes would be much higher than 21st as the Kachina jerseys are arguably the most noticeable third jerseys in the NHL. With regards to their home jerseys, the large section of white on the end of the sleeves throws the jersey off. Their home jerseys could use an update.

20. San Jose Sharks

Despite their low ranking, the San Jose Sharks are the only team in the National Hockey League that can pull off teal as their main color on their home jerseys. The only main problem with their home jerseys is the fact that there is barely any trimming on their jerseys- just the stripe on each arm and the black on the collar. If we were ranking their entire home uniform, however, they would be much higher as the black pants and helmet make it much better.

19. Calgary Flames

This is another team that if we were ranking NHL team’s alternate jerseys, the Flames would be much higher on that list than on this list, as their current home jerseys are not the best rendition of their sweaters. The color combination of black, red, and white is not as bad as some other team’s color combinations, and the logo and font stand out on the red base of the jersey. In short, the jersey would be much more attractive with a lighter red and a white flame like the alternates, which are some of the best in the game.

18. Columbus Blue Jackets

The Blue Jackets’ sweaters are very middle-of-the-road in terms of NHL jerseys. The navy blue is very solid, but it seems to dominate the jersey. The stripes aligning the jersey are very thin and there is a lot of potential with them. However, this jersey relies too heavily on one color as its base, making it plainer than some of its competitors.

17. Tampa Bay Lightning

Tampa’s home jerseys are not ugly. The problem is that they are a knock-off version of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ jerseys with an albeit sleek Lightning logo on it. However, it still appears to be very plain as blue with thick white stripes and literally nothing else can’t be considered one of the league’s best sweaters.

16. Detroit Red Wings

Detroit’s jerseys have not changed much over the years, with the classic winged wheel changing with only minor variations over the years. There is nothing much to them, and that’s the inherent beauty with these. The arched nameplates are only another unique compliment to “Hockeytown’s” sweaters. Another terrific touch is the captain patch located on the right side of the chest. While this is due to the shape of the logo, it only adds to the unique factor of the Michigan team.

15. Winnipeg Jets

The Jets have a very underrated jersey. The logo is a great look, and the color scheme is very solid with a navy base and some powder blue and white accents. Their shoulder logo with the wings and hockey sticks is also very creative, and the look of the jersey altogether deserves much more credit. While there are much better jerseys, the Jets’ home sweaters as a whole deliver a very sharp look.

14. Dallas Stars

Another Central Division team with a solid look overall. The use of “Victory Green”, the color choice coined on the collar of the Stars’ uniform, isn’t used very often on sweaters today. The jersey also features a nice balance of white and black stripes to not make the green as overbearing, and the side patch is also a very good look. Add on the relatively new Stars logo, and you have a jersey with a very sharp look.

13. Philadelphia Flyers

Philadelphia’s orange jerseys work much better than Edmonton’s. It is a lot less vibrant and more attractive. The logo and the jersey go together like two peas in a pod, and the white block outside the player’s name is a nice touch.

12. Vancouver Canucks

The second-highest Pacific Division team on our list is the Vancouver Canucks. For their 50th season, the Canucks removed the “Vancouver” text on top of the logo, but what really sticks out for the Canucks is the combination of blue and green that they use for their home jerseys. The blue they use allows for the slick logo (that doesn’t necessarily match their team’s name) to stand out on their home jerseys.

11. New York Rangers

The Rangers have a historic jersey that dates back to the Original Six era. Rather than putting their traditional logo on the crest, the spelling out of the word “Rangers” just tends to work. Red, white, and blue go together beautifully in a patriotic fashion, and the white outline on the red numbers on the back makes them look three-dimensional, a really convenient touch when a fan is trying to quickly see what player has the puck as it is easily readable.

10. Minnesota Wild

The Wild were a team that desperately needed an overhaul when Adidas took over the jersey rights. However, when Adidas took over, they hit a home run with the Wild’s new uniforms. The use of dark green as the base color is a great look, and a cream-colored stripe down the middle of the crest and sleeves help to add a flare to it. The use of the “M” patch from their alternate logo before the change is a nice touch, and the uniform overall is a massive upgrade from what it used to be.

9. Toronto Maple Leafs

Toronto’s fans went into panic mode when Adidas said they were changing their jerseys. Contrary to what many supporters of the Original Six team had worried about, Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment hit this one out of the ballpark. The new logo is a perfect clash of modern with traditional. Every minor detail has a meaning. The leaf has 31 points, representing the 1931 opening of Maple Leaf Gardens. There are also 17 veins to commemorate when the team was founded, 1917. 13 of those veins are at the top, representing the team’s 13 Stanley Cup championships. In relation to the jersey, it is a perfect successor to the old sweaters, finally giving Toronto fans that defining look that their club has lacked for some time.

8. New York Islanders

For our eighth-best NHL home jersey, we have none other than the New York Islanders. Blue and orange is a gorgeous color combination, and the Isles utilize it well in their home jerseys. The orange collar and the stripes on the sides are nice additions. As a whole, the Islanders jerseys are beautiful and undoubtedly rank among the top NHL jerseys.

7. Pittsburgh Penguins

Rated the highest out of the Metropolitan Division jerseys, the Penguins’ black and gold are some of the league’s prettiest sweaters. The black and gold have become iconic in the city of Pittsburgh, as the Steelers and Pirates also both wear the same color combination. The stripes on the side of the jerseys are also a great addition, as all of the team’s colors are brought out in a non-overwhelming way while still maintaining a sharp look.

6. Boston Bruins

Boston’s black, white, and yellow home sweaters are a classic staple in the NHL. Stylistically, the alternating yellow and white piping helps to tone down an all-black jersey. The white collarbone area piping is a welcome addition as well. The Bruins also include a throwback logo to their original jerseys on their shoulders, creating an all-around beautiful jersey that is bound to be a must-have for any collector.

5. Chicago Blackhawks

Despite their logo’s controversy, the Blackhawks’ uniform will always be one that is well known in hockey circles. The black and white stripes between the waist and sleeves help to cancel out the red a bit, and the balance of colors is perfect. While the collar of the uniform was slightly modified this past year, the jersey still looks stellar and earns a spot in the top five.

4. Vegas Golden Knights

The NHL’s newest team in the Vegas Golden Knights is ranked as the highest-rated jersey in the Pacific Division, and rightfully so. The jerseys of Las Vegas’s hockey team display all aspects of their home. The charcoal base has become more popular lately, and the red and gold are a great touch to represent the city’s nickname, the “Sin City”. Also, the subtlety of the logo encompassing a “V” in the shadow of the Knight helmet adds another feature that makes the Knights jerseys one of the top sweaters in the league.

3. St. Louis Blues

The Blues sit inside the top three NHL jerseys with one of the best jerseys in the Central Division. The jersey has a perfect balance of royal blue as a base color with navy blue, white, and yellow accents on the shoulders, sleeves, and waist. The use of those colors compliment each other very well, and it’s a perfect balance of the scheme in general. A nice hidden feature on the uniform, however, is the collar where a design of the St. Louis flag can be found inside the collar, a nice connection to the city they play in. Combine all these features together, and you have a uniform that makes up one of the best jersey sets in the league.

2. Montréal Canadiens

Montréal’s home sweaters are by far the most recognizable in the hockey world. Their design has remained relatively untouched since the Habs’ founding in 1909, with variations coming in their first two decades. The “CH”, standing for their official name, “Le Club de hockey Canadien”, meaning “The Canadian Hockey Club” is one of the most famous logos in the hockey world. These jerseys have a special place in Québécois culture, with it being recognized as “The Holy Flannel”. A short story written about the jersey, simply called “The Sweater”, even had excerpts on the Canadian $5 note from 2001 to 2013. The stripe spanning across the body and sleeves is just as iconic as the logo, with both the Florida Panthers and the Minnesota Wild taking obvious inspiration. Simply put, this jersey has made some of the biggest contributions to both Canadian culture and hockey culture around the world.

1. Colorado Avalanche

Topping off the list of NHL jerseys, by the slimmest of margins, is the Colorado Avalanche, who had a very good transition from Reebok to Adidas. The concept was the same with a maroon base color and a lighter shade of blue running down the sleeves and around the waist. However, what makes the uniform much better than what it was the use of piping between the blue and red. The way it’s used is an homage to their first uniforms in 1996, and it helps to create a clear contrast between the two sections. Add some clean logos with the Colorado flag logo and their primary “A” logo, and the Avalanche will take the top spot on our list.
*All jersey images from coolhockey.com