30 retired NHL jerseys that need to be brought back into the light of day

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TAMPA, FL – MARCH 8: Steven Stamkos #91 of the Tampa Bay Lightning skates during an NHL game at Tampa Bay Times Forum on March 8, 2014 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Scott Iskowitz/Getty Images) /

Tampa Bay Lightning: 2008-14 alternate jersey

Tampa Bay’s current jerseys feature an incredibly sleek and streamlined logo — for the better — but the team’s third jersey (an all-black and gray affair) leaves much to be desired. The Lightning should return to a script lettering, such as they had starting in 2008, for an alternate that complemented their base jerseys quite well.

1 Dec 2001: Right wing Alexander Mogilny #89 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates on the ice during the NHL game against the Chicago Blackhawks at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. The Leafs defeated the Blackhawks 4-1. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2001 NHLI Mandatory Credit: Dave Sandford /Getty Images/NHLI /

Toronto Maple Leafs: 2000-07 jersey

The Maple Leafs have no reason to mess with perfection. However, the team rocked a unique jersey with their old logo for seven seasons during the 2000s — plus a handful of times since then. The blue shoulder pads are a nice touch, given the team has sported a clean look without them since the start of the 2010s.

16 Feb 2000: Goal Keeper Garth Snow #30 of the Vancouver Canucks rests on the goal during a game against the Detroit Red Wings at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. The Red Wings defeated the Canucks 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Tom Pidgeon /Allsport /

Vancouver Canucks: 1997-07 jersey

While the Canucks have been synonymous with blue, green and white during their history, I love this departure during the late 1990s so much. While the obvious answer here would have been their “Flying V” jerseys from the 1980s, these sweaters deserve more love than they get.

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – NOVEMBER 12: Goaltender Brent Johnson #1 of the Washington Capitals makes a save against the New Jersey Devils at Continental Airlines Arena on November 12, 2005 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Devils defeated the Capitals 3-2. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

Washington Capitals: 1995-07 jersey

Washington has figured out their look. And honestly, it’s for the better. However, the blue and black threads they wore during a redesign are worthy of being seen again after so long as an alternate or a throwback, at the very least.

ATLANTA, GA – OCTOBER 9: Marc Savard of the Atlanta Thrashers saves the game puck for the family of former teammate Dan Snyder at Philips Arena on October 9, 2003 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /

Winnipeg Jets: 1999-06 Atlanta Thrashers throwback jersey

The current iteration of the Jets leaves very little in the way of jersey history to pull from. However, their previous location in Atlanta is a perfect place to dive into the well of history. Mostly because I want to see these fierce bird jerseys grace the ice once more in the years to come, but also because they’re one of the more unique jerseys in hockey history.

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