With the leak of jerseys for the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers, there has been a rumor about “Reverse Retros” sweaters for next season. The idea is that all 31 NHL teams will receive a 4th jersey (or 3rd) mimicking a retro design from each teams past. They are expected to add a modern twist on some classic and controversial jerseys that we have seen throughout NHL history. A plan is in place for them to be worn only a few times against rival teams.

The Islanders’ jerseys have vastly remained the same throughout their history, obviously other than the late 90’s. The only changes have been the color scheme changing from time to time. The Isles also have had many alternates throughout their history which their reverse retro uniforms could be modeled after. There are many ways the Islanders could go by either keeping it simple or going controversial. Here are some potential 4th jersey ideas for the Isles.

The Fisherman:

The Fisherman logo/jersey concept is one of the most controversial and debated topics in the NHL world. It is loved by some and hated by many. Younger fans have taken an appreciation for it, as the design has been starting to sell a lot of merchandise in the last year. The Islanders have been experimenting with the Fisherman to see if it was wanted back. The older fans dislike it due the era they were worn, as it was one of the worst stretches in Islanders history. The Fisherman concept looks great, and it is most likely the way Islanders will go with their 4th jersey.

The Wave:

The wave jersey would be a great option as it is like the fisherman, but just with a different logo. This would be a great compromise to appease the fans that despise the Fisherman logo, but also keep the same “wave” style and design with the teal. The lighthouse logo is beautiful as a shoulder patch and should be brought back full time, even on the Isles’ current set. This uniform was only worn for one season in Islanders history (1997-98), but should make a comeback.

Navy Blues:

The navy jerseys are very underrated. They were worn from 1997 to 2008. These were the jerseys that immediately followed the fisherman/wave ear. Fans don’t really bring up these jerseys and are mostly forgotten. They are nothing special and very plain, basically carbon copies of past Islander jerseys, just with navy instead of royal blue. The four stripe shoulder patch is a nice touch, which honors the ’80s dynasty. We are almost certain that the Islanders’ retro jersey will be navy, but it will most likely not be this jersey.

 Orange:

From 2002-2007 the Islanders wore these orange jerseys. The orange is unique and a perfect alternate, the only issue most people have is the strange triangular striping pattern. When the Islanders were releasing their adidas alternates, many expected them to be orange. It is very unlikely a knock-off of this uniform becomes the Islanders’ “Reverse Retro”, as it is not a very old uniform having last being worn 13 years ago.

Black:

These Islanders black jersey history is strange. Black not being one of the Isles primary colors is part of the reason fans don’t like these uniforms. Some believe the helmets don’t fit in, the gray is weird and the word mark and numbers are lazy. There is no possible way these jerseys come back as a reverse retro, as they are not loved by fans and mostly because they aren’t retro, and fairly new. They were worn from 2011-2014. Maybe they would look nicer if blue was the main color?

The Verdict:

The Fisherman is the most likely option for the Islanders’ “Reverse Retro” jersey. The rumor is that the jersey is navy blue with a classic logo, which probably means the Fisherman. It will be interesting to see each teams “new” retro uniforms and see them worn against each other. It will truly be a blast around the NHL and the Islanders.

John Smark