After revisiting our predictions for the Reverse Retro NHL jerseys in the Metropolitan Division, we now turn our attention to the Atlantic division. With three of the “Original Six” teams falling in this division as well as several other storied franchises, there was a lot of potential for jersey choices here. Like last time, we will share our initial prediction, compare it with the actual result, and give our thoughts on the new uniform.

Boston Bruins:

Predicted: Yellow “B”

Actual: Yellow “B”

This one we came fairly close to hitting right on the nose. The jersey we predicted was the yellow jersey the Bruins wore in the 1970’s, and it came very close to matching that exact design. Although the shoulders on the new uniform are all gold by contrast to the original which was black, it still looks very sharp. The yellow isn’t very overbearing, and there are enough black and white stripes to help break it up. The team also brought back the vintage “B” and bear head logos, adding a sense of nostalgia to the uniform. Although it may not be a top Reverse Retro in the Atlantic or the NHL itself, the jersey is a fine look that harkens back to the days of Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito.

Buffalo Sabres:

Predicted: Black and Red Buffalo

Actual: Updated Swords

The Sabres had several fine options available when picking the jersey. Our initial selection was the black and red buffalo head jersey, and it was highly requested among the fanbase. However, the team went with a different uniform from that era, and that jersey was the sword-only alternate logo from that same era of Buffalo hockey.

The jersey is updated with the new royal blue and yellow color scheme and stays consistent to the original. The crossed-sword logo takes centerstage with blue and yellow stripes on the sleeves and waist, and the city’s name takes the waist stripe. Also, the aforementioned buffalo head does make a return as a shoulder patch with the new color scheme. As a result, it may not be the best of the bunch, but the jersey does add a modern twist on a vintage look pretty well.

Detroit Red Wings:

Predicted: 2016 Stadium Series

Actual: White and Grey

Although the Winged Wheel is an iconic logo in the history of hockey and sports in North America, Detroit had several interesting choices for their Reverse Retro. The vintage look of the Detroit Cougars was on the table, as well as one of their Stadium Series uniforms. In particular, we predicted their 2016 Stadium Series uniforms would make a comeback in this scenario. However, Detroit went way off the board, and essentially chose to make a slight modification to their road uniforms.

The Red Wings took the road jersey and placed grey stripes where the red stripes are on the current road uniform. A lot of NHL fans have compared them to practice jerseys, and they do give off that vibe. As a result, Detroit had a lot of fine options on the table, but they just failed to deliver here with a very bland jersey.

Florida Panthers:

Predicted: Navy Blue Leaping Panther

Actual: Updated Leaping Panther

When Florida’s Reverse Retro was unknown, some aspects of the jersey were already somewhat expected. The Panthers had been rumored to get a navy blue alternate for a while, and the crest of the uniform was likely to be some variation of the “Leaping Panther” logo from their early history, whether it was based off their old or new branding. As a result, we predicted that a play on their navy blue jersey from the late 90’s and early 2000’s were coming back. However, the team delivered on that prediction with a better than expected jersey.

The team brought back the original “Leaping Panther”, and the surrounding details are fantastic. For one, the team didn’t use a bright yellow like the original, rather a darker shade that matches the logo. That use of color matches the jersey with the logo much better, and the red and white stripes on the sleeves and waist are used very well here. Add red shoulders with a returning alternate logo on the shoulders, and the Panthers likely have one of the best Reverse Retros in the Atlantic and the NHL.

Montreal Canadiens:

Predicted: 1909-1910 Blues

Actual: Inverted Homes

Montreal has a rich history of uniforms, and it was on full display during their centennial season of 2008-09. That year, the team donned several past uniforms, from the “Barber Poles” to the “Green Leaf” jerseys. However, we initially predicted that the blue uniforms from the 1909-10 season were coming back. However, the team went with a blue uniform as their choice but with a very simple approach.

With the jersey, Montreal took their current home jerseys but inverted the blue and red. The blue is used as the primary color and the stripe down the middle of the sleeves and chest remain but in red and white instead. The blue feels like the perfect color for Montreal’s color scheme, and the red and white complement it on the stripes and numbers perfectly. As a result, Montreal made a simple change to their uniform, and it works perfectly as the team boasts one of the best Reverse Retros in the league.

Ottawa Senators:

Predicted: Black “O”

 

Actual:

Ottawa had several interesting choices available for their uniform. Although the team had abandoned the old, front-facing Senator, that logo could have been in play for the uniform. Also, the team may have considered keeping the “O” logo from the Heritage and NHL 100 Classics around, as we predicted in our selection. However, the team took the quick route and made a slightly modified version of their new uniforms.

The team used red as the primary color of the uniform, and the returning 2D logo remains on the forefront. The use of stripes remains the same as their new uniforms as well, as black stripes are laid out just like the new jerseys. However, although those uniforms are nice, the Reverse Retro over emphasizes on the red. If there was some white spots between the black stripes or in some other ares, it could add some pop to the uniform, but it fails to capitalize, and the jersey can be considered an “almost.”

Tampa Bay Lightning:

Predicted: The Original

Actual:

Other than their current logo, Tampa didn’t have much to choose from for their reverse retro. It was possible the “Bolts” text could make a return, but it was more likely for the original logo to make a comeback. The team went with the latter logo, and did so with a brand new concept.

Unlike the jersey we predicted which uses black as the primary color, royal blue is the primary color here. There are white and black stripes, each in a formation like the original, and the white shoulders from the uniform still remain. Although it can be said that the original may be superior to the modern variation, the Lightning did well here in making a unique play on a vintage look. As a result, Tampa taps back to their early days in the city well with a unique twist on their original jersey.

Toronto Maple Leafs:

Predicted: Centennial Classic

Actual:

Like the Red Wings, Toronto had several plays on an iconic logo to choose from for their Reverse Retro. The St. Pats uniforms are already their third jersey, and the team used several other variations of the Maple Leaf logo in their history. With our prediction, we predicted the jersey from the 2017 Centennial Classic would make a comeback, but the team went a different route.

With the actual jersey, Toronto went with a crossover between two prior jerseys. The layout of the jersey is similar to the uniforms from the 1970’s, with white stripes running down the sleeves and around the waist. However, the team didn’t use the crest from that era, rather the logo from 1967-70 when they last won the Stanley Cup. Although the team brought the logo back as an alternate in the 2010’s, this logo feels slightly different than the logo that was revived. The lettering on the crest is a little different, and the overall jersey just feels odd. Toronto went with a fine concept here, but it just feels like the two eras don’t match and something is missing to put it among the great jerseys in this line.

As a result, the Atlantic had a mixed back of jerseys. Some of them were great, but a few were also rather iffy as well. With the Eastern Conference jerseys analyzed, we can now turn our attention to the Western Conference. The Central Division will be our next topic of this conversation, so stay tuned for more discussions on the Reverse Retro uniforms!