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The reverse retro jersey program in the NHL has proven to be one of the most interesting jersey initiatives in league history. The 2020-21 season saw the first attempt at altering classic looks, and it was brought back this November for select games in 2022-23.
Many teams have one jersey that stands out from both seasons, but only a select few have hit it out of the park in both years. Let’s take a look at 10 teams who showed off amazing uniforms both times:
Anaheim Ducks
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Once upon a time ago, the Anaheim Ducks’ original third jerseys were blasted as being some of the ugliest jerseys in NHL history. Fast forward a quarter of a century later, and the look of Wild Wing bursting out of the ice has made for an amazing reverse retro to the tune of cheers with teal and white making a return to Ducks uniforms.
The Ducks’ second crack at the reverse look is also a fan favorite with the combination of modern logos with the classic Disney primary duck head back on the front of the uniforms. It’s impossible to keep what the Ducks have worn outside of a top 10 list for their efforts in the reverse retro program.
Arizona Coyotes
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When it comes to teams that didn’t have to alter an existing look too much to come up with great jerseys, the Coyotes knocked it out of the park. Both of their reverse retros are twists on the first-ever third jersey that the franchise rolled out in the late 1990s.
For the reverse retro program, it saw green being swapped for purple in 2020-21 and then desert sienna as a base color in 2022-23, and both have looked amazing on ice. Both jerseys also maintained the distinct Arizona feel on the bottom of the jerseys with the cactus designs and the ridges.
Boston Bruins
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The Bruins went with a flip of their classic black and gold jerseys that they wore from the mid-1960s to 1995, and the gold jerseys certainly stood out in a good way during 2020-21 and at the NHL Outdoors game at Lake Tahoe against the Philadelphia Flyers. This year’s look goes back to the 1990s with the infamous ‘Pooh Bear’ look this time on a white jersey. The bear crest may have some detractors, but it looks majestic on the white base.
Colorado Avalanche
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The Quebec Nordiques logo is a near-perfect one, but the Colorado Avalanche found a way to make it look even better with their current brand. The Nordiques logo got the burgundy update, and the fleurs-de-lis along the hemline for the jersey was a nice touch. For the 2022-23 season, Colorado’s jersey does a great job representing the state of Colorado with the crest and colors but also throwing back to their 1995-96 jersey with the line template.
If you want a jersey representing multiple aspects of Colorado’s history, the 2022-23 reverse retro jersey is for you.
Florida Panthers
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The leaping panther jersey and the colors that came with it quickly became a favorite in the 1990s and 2000s, and it was great to see these come back. The red and blue swapped places as the base and accent colors on the jersey.
The new reverse retros for this season also represent a first for the Panthers as they made the palm tree and stick logo, a shoulder patch jersey for a very long time, the crest. Full credit to the Panthers for trying something different while still tying in their club’s history with the look.
Los Angeles Kings
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The Kings made their fans happy in multiple ways with their reverse retros. Not only did the franchise bring back royal purple and gold, but they also brought back the absolutely amazing crown logo.
The jerseys introduced in 2020-21 were an amazing blend of multiple eras as the two best looks the franchise ever had came together on one jersey.
Following up the original look with something just as good could have been a tough task, but Adidas was able to come back again with another amazing look for this season with the crown on a white jersey. Throughout both looks, you have to love the Kings for sticking with the purple – or “forum blue” – gloves and pants.
Minnesota Wild
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It seemed like a foregone conclusion that the Wild would be paying tribute to the Minnesota North Stars with their looks, and they picked the city’s best era when it comes to jerseys for both uniforms. Minnesota’s reverse retros are based on the same jersey era, the home and away North Stars uniforms from the late 1970s and early 1980s.
The only real change comes from the Wild logo being added, but beyond that, nothing else needed to be altered to work. It’s understandable why so many fans want to see the Wild eventually roll these out one day as their primary looks.
Montreal Canadiens
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When your jersey history is as rich as the Canadiens, you have a variety of ways to get interesting when it comes to honoring your past. Montreal’s original jersey ties in elements of what they wore from 1909, and the 1970s through to the mid-2000s, producing one of the better royal blue dominant jerseys.
Upon the news of the second edition of reverse retro jerseys, there’s most likely a zero percent chance anyone thought that Montreal would go cross-sport with their next jersey, but the baby blue uniform inspired by the MLB’s Montreal Expos (now Washington Nationals) and The city of Montreal is a fun twist. The concept is “reverse retro,” but kudos to the Canadiens for extending it so that they could honor a team that meant so much to Montreal outside of the hockey world.
New Jersey Devils
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Most of the 1980s were a trying time for the Devils franchise, but even with the lack of on-ice success, they produced some of the best jerseys in the sport.
New Jersey produced two amazing uniforms, first leaning heavily into the green to flip their original post-relocation look from Colorado and then dipping into their history as the Colorado Rockies.
If there’s a version 3.0 of the reverse retro program, how much fun would it be if the Devils find a way to take things all the way back to put a twist on the Kansas City Scouts look?
Washington Capitals
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You could hear the delight all around social media when it was announced that for the reverse retros, the Capitals brought back the screaming eagle look. The staple look of the Capitals from the mid-1990s to the mid-2000s was flipped from being on navy blue and white to being on red and black jerseys. They both look amazing.
Alexander Ovechkin getting to wear the jersey once again is a look that is beyond perfect as he passed Gordie Howe’s 801 career goals on Friday night.
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