Now that a handful of NHL teams have experimented with wearing colored helmets with their white road uniforms, I decided to see how that would look for all 32 teams and then write about it for this week’s Uni Watch Premium article on Substack. For many of the teams (including the Wild, shown above), I think it’s a big upgrade!
You can read the first part of the article here. In order to read the entire thing, you’ll need to become a paid subscriber to my Substack (which will also get you full access to my Substack archives). My thanks, as always, for your consideration.
Respectfully, with the green shoulder yoke on their road jerseys, I don’t think it works as well for the Wild as it does for other teams. I prefer the look of the contrasting white helmet.
Absolutely no disrespect taken, Ryan! I strongly disagree, but it’s a subjective aesthetic assessment, obviously. Thanks for chiming in!
It’s funny how tastes can differ: In almost all instances, I’m surprised to find that I prefer a white helmet over a yoke rather than a helmet in the same color as the yoke. Except the Wild; for some probably irrational reason, the green helmet over the green yoke just works for me, in a way that in particular makes the chest logo pop more.
The Penguins do have a history with colored helmets over white jerseys; from 1984-85 through 1987-88, they wore gold (yellow) helmets over their white home uniforms, which are close to what their current road whites are today (the current waist striping is the same as 1980-88, but the numbers and NOB style and placement are from 1988-92, and the current collars look like crap because of Adidas).
Loved the gold helmets on the Pens in those days.
I find it telling you can barely show a single hockey photo these days without an advertisement appearing. I’m sure that was part of what they paid for but it’s the reason I can’t watch hockey broadcasts anymore. They’re just everywhere – at least football on tv looks cleaner.
Fun thought experiment here though! For most it’s an improvement but not quite all. Interesting
Paul, I’m largely opposite your opinions on this one. I mostly think the white helmet looks better with the white jersey. It’s largely rule based. If the shoulder/body are unbroken white, to me the while helmet looks much better (Red Wings, Islanders, Black Hawks). If there’s a shoulder yoke, then I like the color (Flames, Oilers). With some exceptions of course (Sharks, Bruins).