The Atlanta Thrashers wore the most forgettable jersey in NHL history
By Kyle McKenna
The Atlanta Thrashers not only relocated after 11 seasons in the NHL, but also wore one of the most forgettable jerseys of all-time.
Hockey sweaters unveiled during the late 1990s and early 2000s were unique and not always for the better. Let’s face it, the ‘90s were an odd time for fashion and professional sports wasn’t an exception.
The Atlanta Thrashers not only introduced a non-traditional logo when they first hit the ice in the NHL for the 1999-00 season, but cycled through a few different jerseys in a short span.
Atlanta’s most forgettable jersey was its alternate sweater introduced for the 2008-09 campaign.
Yes, that alternate.
It’s arguable that this crimson sweater is the most forgettable in NHL history. It lasted for Atlanta’s final three seasons, and never debuted in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Thrasher’s overall uniform designs were never terrible, but they arguably had more of a Junior Hockey or collegiate appearance in comparison to other NHL teams. Let’s not forget the club’s original powder blue alternate introduced in 2003-04, which was later utilized as the team’s home sweater. The blue sweater also unique, but definitely entitled a better appearance than the team’s second alternate.
Yes, the Reebok Edge Series were questionable jersey designs for half the league when they were introduced back in 2007-08, but most teams strayed away from the original Reebook designs after less than three seasons.
However, the Thrashers didn’t.
The maroon alternate portrayed one of the team’s wordmark logos across the jersey with a player’s respective number beneath “Thrashers” and in the center of the jersey — where the crest normally rests.
This football or college hockey appearance just didn’t suit the NHL by the time 2009 arrived. It was a radical change to hockey sweaters across North America and other teams such as the Dallas Stars who wore similar designs were smart enough to ditch the trend and rebrand.
It’s safe to say that fans will always remember the Thrashers’ original sweaters, which also entailed a different primary logo for their home and away sweaters, but not the maroon jersey.
Perhaps the jersey would have improved if Atlanta just placed the secondary logo from the jersey’s shoulder patches as the primary crest. What’s also interesting is that the wide and curved stripes on the sleeves of the sweater weren’t appreciated then, but a team such as the Arizona Coyotes followed through with similar designs on their current sweaters.
Which NHL jersey do you think is the most forgettable of all-time?
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