The National Hockey League (NHL) unveiled on Monday morning the 31 new jerseys in the series entitled “Reverse Retro” and as many suspected, the Montreal Canadiens will be mainly blue.
Thus, the Bettman circuit wishes to see its formations wearing these pieces of equipment for a few matches which will revive rivalries next season.
By way of a press release, the Habs indicated that the jerseys had been designed to “represent unique and historic moments in the history of each of the teams”.
The Canadiens’ shirt is inspired by the color that characterized the team’s first jersey in 1909 and the model worn from 1974 to 2007, during which time the club won six Stanley Cups. Specifically, the dominant background and center stripe colors have been reversed: blue covers most of the vest, while red forms a thick line down the center, all covered by the team logo.
The number 76 inscribed on the neckline represents the year the club won the first of these titles and started the best season in its history. He was then 60-8-12 to set a points record in the NHL before winning the Stanley Cup again.
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The matches in which the Canadian will wear the blue jersey will be announced closer to the start of the 2020-2021 campaign.
The return of the Nordics
On the Denver side, the Colorado Avalanche will highlight its origins, since it is the dealership formerly located in Quebec. The sweater bearing the Nordiques logo will symbolically resemble that of the Fleurdelisés, but with the colors of the “Avs”. In fact, only the shade of red – which has become burgundy – has been modified compared to the bib of the old formation of the Old Capital.
“The retro Avalanche jersey is unique as it represents our rich history and the club’s bright future, using the Nordiques emblems and Avalanche colors,” said the vice president and chief marketing officer of the Avalanche. Colorado team Declan Bolger in a statement from his organization. The jersey pays homage to the time the team spent in Quebec and the first 25 years in Colorado. ”
At Adidas, which produces the NHL jerseys, it is believed that the new Avalanche vest will be very popular in the Belle Province.
“We’ve talked a lot with the folks at the Montreal Canadiens and they think the enthusiasm will be incredible,” Adidas Hockey Senior Manager Dan Near told ESPN. We have information, in terms of demand and enthusiasm. There are certainly people who believe that the Colorado jersey will be very popular north of the border. ”
A nod to Manon Rhéaume
Elsewhere in the NHL, the Carolina Hurricanes emulated the Avalanche by bringing their ancestors, the Hartford Whalers, back to the forefront. For the Chicago Blackhawks, the team will bet on a jersey with a design similar to the predominantly black one worn from 1937 to 1955. For their part, the New York Rangers brought out their dark blue bib with the Statue of Liberty on the center, with a few differences.
In Toronto, the Maple Leafs will have a slightly altered maple leaf on their third jersey, which will replace the white on the sleeves in silver gray. Although they have a somewhat distant past in the NHL, the Vegas Golden Knights have also given a nod to previous years by paying homage to the local dealerships that preceded them in Nevada. Thus, their jersey is inspired by the Las Vegas Thunder – of the International Hockey League – for which Manon Rhéaume played.