The NHL draft is scheduled for June 27. If recent history is any guide, we’ll likely see several teams announcing new uniforms during the lead-up to the draft, in part so first-round draft picks can hold up the newly revealed jerseys when their names are announced.
Chris Smith of Icethetics, who’s been a very reliable and accurate source of NHL uni info over the years, released a video report yesterday on some of the things we can expect to see next season. Some will probably appear at or just prior to the draft, while others will emerge later this year. Some of the things he’s reporting are not new, but it’s good to have all of this info in one place. Here’s a team-by-team breakdown of the changes Smith says will definitely be happening, going in roughly descending order of aesthetic impact:
Bruins
Per Smith’s Icethetics report, Boston’s centennial uniform set from 2023-24 was “such a hit with fans that they’re bringing it back full-time.” He says the Bruins will be adding new home and away jerseys based on, or very similar to, the centennial designs.
In addition, the Bruins will be playing the Lightning in a Stadium Series game in Tampa on Feb. 1, so we’ll presumably see a bold, somewhat futuristic-looking design for that game.
Rangers
The Blueshirts will be celebrating their 100th season in 2025-26. They released a centennial logo last month, and the Icethetics report says the centennial celebration will include “five different [throwback] uniforms, using at least three different shades of blue.”
In addition, the Rangers will be facing the Panthers in Miami for next season’s Winter Classic on Jan. 2, although we won’t see what they’re wearing for that game until much later in the year.
Update: Reader/commenter Alex points out that I may have misinterpreted the Icethetics report, and that the Rangers will likely have just one centennial throwback jersey next season, making for a total of five designs — home, road, alternate, centennial, and Winter Classic. That sounds more likely.
Blackhawks
Chicago is another team celebrating its 100th season in 2025-26. A centennial logo has been circulating, and Smith says he’s “been told to expect new home and third-jersey designs at the very least.”
Utah Hockey Club
The Utah franchise will almost certainly have a new identity, including new uniforms, next season. It’s not yet clear what the team’s name will be; the finalists are the Utah Outlaws, the Utah Mammoth, or sticking with Utah Hockey Club. But even if they stick with the UHC moniker, they’ll definitely have a new logo to splash across their jerseys.
Penguins
The Pens have told their season ticket customers that the team has a new alternate in the works for 2025-26, which means the longstanding diagonally lettered alternate is set to be mothballed.
Wild
With the Wild marking their 25th anniversary next season (an anniversary logo, which will presumably be worn as a patch, has appeared in season ticket communiqués), Smith says the Wild will have a new throwback uniform that “is said to mimic the design of the Wild’s original forest green sweaters from their inaugural season.”
Panthers
The Panthers are hosting the Rangers in next season’s Winter Classic on Jan. 2. Since they don’t have a long visual history to fall back on, it seems reasonable to assume that they’ll go with a fauxback, although we won’t know for sure until much later in the year.
Lightning
The Lightning will be hosting the Bruins in next season’s Stadium Series game in Tampa on Feb. 1, so expect them to have a bold, forward-looking uniform for that game.
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So that’s the roundup of changes that will definitely be happening. Smith also says there are several teams that could be getting new designs. You can see his full video report here:
Paul with the surprise entry. Totally unexpected. And appreciated. -C.
Doing my part to help out during this difficult time for Phil.
As a young(ish) hockey fan, its been really entertaining to follow the Bruins new uniform saga the past few years. I’ve seen many Bruins fans online saying it’s “time to change the jerseys.” But to me, the Bruins had always struck me as just “one of the jerseys that never change”. I’m not opposed to the Bruins changing, but it’s just funny to me that they feel the need to change what seems like one of the better sets in the NHL. Especially when the Caps, Blue Jackets, and others are SO MUCH worse.
the Bruins are interesting in the sense that they change every 20-30 years or so, but they always look like the Bruins. the pictures from the centennial season show this perfect, where B’s legends wore their jerseys, and you can see the evolution of the spoked B
Truthfully, the Bruins and Maple Leafs change their uniforms often, and the Rangers always have some kind of alternate sweater in their closet. It’s just that the designers have a keen grasp of the teams’ visual identities, and the changes are seen as evolutionary, and therefore are easy to swallow.
The Rangers with five throwbacks? Betting one of them will be a 1976-78 John Ferguson jersey.
I believe that the video said that including the Winter classic, the current alternate, and the centennial jersey, the rangers will have five total jerseys next season vs. five throwbacks.
It doesn’t explicitly say that, but I agree that your interpretation is probably more accurate than what I wrote. Thanks for that — I’ll revise the text accordingly (and credit you, of course).
Would love to see the Kraken come out with a third sweater, and wondering how it would look….
I’d like to see a sea foam green alternate jersey, although that may be too light to wear against white-clad opponents.
If any team could pull off a gradient look it would be the Kraken, mimicking the changing colors of the ocean from roiling surface to murky depths.
Kraken Stadium Series uniform was too good. Should have stayed as the regular alternate. Hoping new alternate will be influenced by it.
their winter classic may have been some of best New Jerseys of late.
I’ll be buying that Bruins sweater first day it’s on sale. Looks really good.
The NHL will play two outdoor ice hockey games in the tropics….
Smith has he’s “been told to expect new home and third-jersey designs at the very least.”
The video suggests that the Blackhawks’ sweaters would be anniversary ones, for next season only (similar to what the Bruins did). They noted that the anniversary logo had a tan/gold outline around the regular logo portion, which was part of the jersey crest until the 90s. A gold outline would work well on the crest of a black jersey.
I know it won’t happen, but if they are talking vintage for a new alternate in Pittsburgh, it is time for this. This uniform would be amazing today.
link
Agreed.
Surprise Paul appearance. I read this the other day and immediately thought of how happy it would make you that purple isn’t “real”:
link
I saw that article too, thought of Paul immediately. I emailed him a link to it as well, figured he’d like it!
Really wish the Blues would switch to their lighter blue jerseys, that they wear on Saturday, to full time. The dark blue just looks black and terrible
Exciting to think about the Blues maybe considering this. Would be an upgrade to current primary look and a nod to originals. Blues are due for a uniform refresh. The treble clef secondary logo is too good to not be used as a secondary mark on a permanent basis.
Paul, you’re a trooper and a good friend to man the Uni Watch desk during this time. Kudos to you.
Seattle’s ownership announced a new alternate sweater today at a season ticket holder event.
*looks at byline*
-leonardo dicaprio pointing meme . jpeg-
“Bruins will be playing the Lightning in a Stadium Series game in Tampa on Feb. 1”
I haven’t followed these closely. Have they played any of these in warm climates? Average temps around that time is high in the mid to low 70s, and lows around 60. Is it tough to keep the ice in good condition with these temperatures?
Las Vegas, NV at Caesars Palace with a game time temperature of 80 °F.
Los Angeles, California at Dodger Stadium
Santa Clara, California at Levi’s Stadium
Dallas, Texas at the Cotton Bowl
Looking forward to what the teams will come up with. Of the 4 major sports the NHL usually does not disappoint, unlike the NBA (in general), MLB (CC Series) or NFL (recent uniform changes and Color Rush).
I didn’t see any mention about a new Sens third. Is that because it’s more of a rumor that actually stated?
Rumor mill here in Dallas is the black and neon green alternates are done (thank goodness). Really hoping to see a black design with the same Texas crest however using the silver and proper current green on an alternate rather than the awful (IMO) neon green!
Has there been any word that the Maple Leafs black ‘flipside’ jersey will be discontinued? The design is currently on sale at Real Sports (the Leafs’ retail shop), and Justin Bieber and Drew House (the co-designers of the flipside jersey) had a very public falling out recently.
Good to see the Hawks finally bringing in a 3rd jersey. Hopefully, it’s the black ones they debuted in the 90s and wore through the late 2000s. I constantly still see fans wearing that jersey on the streets. It should’ve never disappeared honestly. I would like to see a rebooted version of it brought back. The Flyers have always been consistent with keeping a black 3rd jersey in their uniform set since 1996, and I appreciate that from them.
Good on the Bruins as well to bring in their Centennial uniforms full time, as those were awesome and pretty much outclassed the current uniforms.