The Oil Drop Comet Jersey

When one thinks of the Edmonton Oilers, the first thing that pops into mind is the logo. You know, the orange oil drop that hovers over the OILERS in odd lettering. That logo became famous when the Oilers had their dynastic run in the 1980's, led by the likes of Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, and Jari Kurri. That team was not without its share of characters, as Marty McSorley and Dave Semenko were willing participants in dropping the gloves to protect the star players. The pieces of that team began to fall apart with the Gretzky trade in 1988 to the Los Angeles Kings, and even though the Oilers would go on to win another Stanley Cup in 1990, the pieces continued to crumble, as eventually, most of the team was broken up due to financial issues. The team hit bottom in the mid 1990's and for the most part, have always struggled to make the playoffs since. The exception to the rule was 2006, when they made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals, only to lose to the Carolina Hurricanes in seven games.

Feeling the need to add to their look in 2001, the Oilers broke out a third jersey. It was a radical departure from the Orange and Blue, or as the look was at the time, copper and blue, in that the logo was an oil drop encased inside a metallic comet with five rivets each representing a championship that the team has won over the years. The color scheme for that jersey was navy blue, silver, and white, which further symbolized this departure. These jerseys are actually a favorite of mine, as it provided a slick look for the Oilers to go along with the traditional design that I have been familiar with since childhood. The jerseys were retired in 2006, and are a sought after item. This was the definition of third jersey, in that it provided a true alternative for the team's usual logo. On a side note, the retro jerseys that were introduced last season as third jerseys are now the home jerseys, which proves that you can indeed, go home again.