30 best NHL jerseys of all-time

The National Hockey League is about to turn 99 years old. That means for nearly a century teams have been sporting NHL jerseys and other gear to represent their franchise.

In that time there have been a collection of great, iconic even, jerseys. There have also been downfalls that made fans and analysts alike question every step of the decision-making process that resulted in such a catastrophe.

While the highly famed Original Six teams have a number of jersey renditions to choose from and the newer franchises may only have a few, the NHL is home to some of the best jersey designs in sports. Each team has had its ups and downs as far as its brand image on jerseys, but here are the best designs of all time team-by-team, in reverse alphabetical order.

30. Winnipeg Jets

This jersey was the Winnipeg Jets’ design used from 1980-90. While it was a part of the original Jets franchise, that later relocated to Phoenix, it is a beautiful jersey. The color palette is vibrant and eye-catching without being overwhelming, which is a difficult line to avoid.

The overall cohesion of the design attracted people to it and the use of the bright orange-red to back the numbers is a detail that could be overlooked. Sometimes more simple designs are lost in the crowd, but the Jets were able to add just enough interest to this concept to make it appealing. All in all this jersey is one that paid special attention to detail and stood out at the time of its conception in the early 80s.

Although this version of the Jets franchise in the NHL was rather unsuccessful, having won only three division titles during their 24 year existence, these sweaters are one of the highlights of their time in Canada. In 2011 when the former Atlanta Thrashers made the move to Winnipeg, they were welcomed with open arms.

The jerseys that came with them weren’t bad, but they are missing the old time charm that the original Jets franchise brought to the table.