Making Over the NHL

Yesterday was a big day for makeovers, as the Carolina Hurricanes and the Dallas Stars both decided to change their looks.  The first happened at 11 AM CT, and the Carolina Hurricanes.  Here is their home looks for the upcoming season:

And the away uniform:

Most astute hockey fans have panned this overall look as ripping off the Team Canada design (sans numbering).  As for what I think of them, I have to say the home reds do absolutely nothing for me.  While it is simple looking, it (along with the road whites) relegates the warning flags striping that went around the waist to inside the collar.  I personally never get why teams (or Reebok, depending on who's responsible for this pointless endeavor) put things on the inside of the collar, as no one will see it on television or in live games.  The lace collar also makes very little sense, since it doesn't add anything to what is essentially a monochromatic jersey (a few spots of black notwithstanding).

The road whites are actually better looking, though that's truthfully not saying very much at this point.   There's a little better distribution with the reds and blacks, but like the home reds, there is very little, if any, silver, and that is something that besides the warning flag striping, denies the set of any real character.

As I have said on various pieces that have covered this change, the numbering and lettering resembles what the NBA's Portland Trailblazers use (the technical term is sans serif font), which may very well lead to an identity crisis, as for all intents and purposes, the Hurricanes' set has the template of Team Canada with the Trailblazers' font.

Later that evening, the Dallas Stars had their own rebranding, but they made it an hour-long event, and Icethetics was there to cover it.  As for what happened leading up to the event, that full report will be made and I will direct you to Icethetics as it comes up, but the basics you need to know are that there will be a number retirement ceremony on March 8, 2014 for Mike Modano, as his number 9 will be going up to the rafters on the same day the Stars are to face the Minnesota Wild, and of course, the Stars had their new look revealed.

photo by Icethetics

In looking at each of the jerseys, my initial reaction was they were alright, but nothing great.  However, as I look at them more and more, I really begin to appreciate them.  The logo itself is rather simplistic, but is also an easy way to represent Dallas, as the city is sometimes called, "Big D."  The numbering and lettering isn't too special, and certainly, the exclusion of yellow in the team's color scheme doesn't do it a great favor, but the green, silver, and black color scheme works just as well and firmly entrenches the Stars as a team from Dallas and not a team relocated from Minnesota.  The shade of green used is dominant and to this point, the Stars are now the only team to use the shade of pure green in any way, shape, or form.  While not a home run look, the Stars did well and I would give it a passing grade all around.