Freak Out B.S.

As if the Buffalo Sabres don't have enough problems as it is, Jason Pires has gone and done this to them. Happy Friday.

Before the Lights Went Out in Georgia

Jason Pires had an idea for a special kind of Heritage Classic match-up. This would be between the two franchises that once called Atlanta home but have since moved to Canada.

It's All Black and White

For a few weekends, we're revisiting past Sunday concept series. Today, take a look back at a time when we all worried the New York Islanders were going to be wearing black and white when they moved to Brooklyn. Here's a trio of concepts I never got around to sharing.

First up, Jason Pires created a set of home and road sweaters for the Isles. As black and white jerseys go, these aren't half bad. I particularly like the wave pattern on the pants.

Concepts page rookie Reagan King offers up a third jersey modeled after the old Brooklyn Dodgers. While it might sell, I see them doing something more original.

Finally, Bryan Wrede — two rookies in one day! — has another third jersey option. But it's conceptual similarity to the Rangers might make it a non-starter.

Icethetics concepts will be presented in color again tomorrow. By the way, we're three days away from the 900th consecutive concept post! Any ideas on what I should do to celebrate on Wednesday?

0671: Minors That Might Have Been

Teams come and go so often in the minors, so today's theme within Minor League Week has to do clubs that no longer exist. Like yesterday, Bastian Schmülling kicks things off. The Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights exist today as the AHL's Abbotsford Heat. But perhaps they could've donned red and grey if they stayed put.

The AHL's old Buffalo Bisons club hasn't been around for 43 years, but Dylan Wonka imagines a comeback, complete with that classic bottle cap crest.

Technically, the Peoria Rivermen still exist, but now as a member of the SPHL. The AHL club was relocated and became the Utica Comets this past summer. Maybe they'd have had more luck as less a riverboat captain and more a canoeist. (Is that a word?) You can tell Antonio Calisto had some fun with this one!

We'll wrap up on a team that's soon to be relocated. The AHL's Adirondack Phantoms will become the Lehigh Valley Phantoms next season. So while this jersey set is cool, the "A" wouldn't work anymore.

Check back tomorrow for some big time minor league Freak Outs!