Canucks, Pens Fan Concepts

When I don't have real news, I invent news. That should be my slogan. No, this isn't news. This is just fun. The fan concepts keep on rolling in. Let's start with the Vancouver Canucks.

I think the only problem with these is the giant "VANCOUVER" sprawled across the chest. Kind of unncessary and not aesthetically pleasing. I'm liking the side stripes on the sleeves and pants. They form Vs if you didn't pick up on that.

Anyway, I've also got some Pittsburgh Penguins artwork to share with you all. Check this out.

While you're trying to process that, let me fill you in with some background. The folks over at The Pensblog submitted this idea for a new series of Pens uniforms. For those unfamiliar with the history of the club, their original uniforms were pale blue a la the current home jersey of the Atlanta Thrashers. This, despite the fact that the triangle in the penguin logo was always yellow. But that yellow and the blue worked well together. I'm not too sure about the two-tone blues on the Vegas gold.

Anyway, I mean no offense to the designers as I share my opinion. I think the re-introduction of the blue wouldn't be all bad if done right. What do you guys think on that subject?

While you ponder on that, I'll share with you a design tweak someone emailed me for the much-loved Penguins logo.

Look close at the eyes. He's more pissed off than ever. Somebody woke up on the wrong side of the Antarctic ice shelf. Oh, and he's got a nice new shiny belly. Improvement or not?

Poll: Flames vs Blackhawks

	vs
Calgary FLAMES		Chicago BLACKHAWKS

Place your vote and then feel free to leave a comment as to how you came to your decision. Tell all your friends to drop in and vote! The more voices heard, the more accurate the results!

Poll opening date Aug 15 @ 4:24 AM

Poll closing date Aug 22 @ 11:59 PM

07CHTRN | #W1B | CGYvCHI

Some Snazzy Leafs, Sabres Stuff

It just keeps getting better over here at the NHL Tournament of Logos. Hope you guys are all voting. If you haven't yet, there are three open polls that you can have your shot at.

Anyhow, while we wait for all the votes to trickle in, I've got a few more concept designs to share with the class. Let's start with everyone's favorite Ontario-based team that isn't the Ottawa Senators — the Toronto Maple Leafs. A reader emailed some great designs I thought were cool and different. Behold.

He sent a handful but I felt like these two were the cream of the crop. They're pretty sharp and they do away with that "TML" logo that fans apparently hate with a passion. Personally, I thought it worked. It gave them a 21st century feel without altering a logo that hasn't been messed with for decades.

But what do I know? I'm just that Florida guy writing a hockey blog, right?

Let's cross the lake and see what's going on stateside. I have Buffalo Sabres artwork for you. Have a look.

What do you guys make of this? My belief is that if you're going to use the old logo, you've gotta use the old jerseys as well. I'm not sure this mixing and matching really works. Thoughts?

Plus, from hockey logo and uniform designer extraordinaire John Slabyk comes another look at his all too cool Blue & Gold Project on the backs of a dude in NHL 07 or something like that. It's quality work, really. You don't see that sort of thing every day.

If those were the Sabres' uniforms, stores wouldn't be able to keep them in stock, and not a single hockey fan in the greater Buffalo area would file a complaint — or at least that's my small-minded belief.

Should I stop going on about them now?

Also there's this design which makes us see why the "B" with sword through it should really be left on the shoulders.

I don't hate it, but at the same time, I feel like you could do so much better with the crest.

And as always, there's much more where that came from, but you don't want to spoil your supper now. I'll hang onto it for now... save it for later. Hope you're enjoying the tournament and all the Rbk EDGE speculation.

It fills the empty hours.

NHL Concept Logos, Part 2

You know, it occured to me that two months ago, I posted a bunch of concept logos under a headline that read "Part 1." Well you could've searched all day and never found the second part that supposedly followed — until today. I'm finally just now getting around to publishing that post and it's about damn time.

Have a look at some of the craziest logos you'll ever see.

This logo was designed during the "Mighty" era with the old crummy colors. It's nothing special but I felt like it was still worth posting. The duck goalie mask is definitely a Disney design and would therefore never be used now even if the colors were changed to match what the team wears today. Plus it's just not cool enough.

And there's more where that came from. I know you were wondering.

I know the New Jersey Devils don't really need a change and it would be ridiculous for anyone to suggest that they did, but I've got these to share just the same.

Check out these renderings of possible (or impossible) New Jersey Devils logos. Personally, I'm all for leaving the Devils logo the way it is. No reason to mess with perfection there. But I just thought these might be interesting. Any thoughts?

As a special bonus, we've also got an idea of what the Winnipeg Jets might look like if they were still in Winnipeg and not called the Coyotes.

What do you think of this? As far as logos go, I think this one wouldn't work well because it's too open. There need to be more closed-in areas in a logo. This one is all over the place.

Anyway, feel free to comment on these monstrosities if that is in fact how you see them. Don't worry about ever seeing them on NHL ice. It won't happen.

Conceptualizing The Flames, Blues

It's another one of those slow news days. So to help fill the void, I have chocola— er, I mean jersey concepts. Let's start out with some Calgary Flames action.

It's pretty basic, though a lot like other stuff we've seen. My only complaint is the clashing of vertical and horizontal stripes at the base of the jerseys. You know my old line. Go all horizontal or go all vertical, but don't go both. Yeah, I've never used that line before but it's probably a good one.

Also, word is those shoulder logos with the horse dealing with some serious sinus issues are toast. (Ha.) In fact, word on the street is there may be an entirely new shoulder patch introduced this fall. We'll wait and see, of course. The official word comes down from the team on September 4 if all goes as planned.

I've also got some fan-designed St. Louis blues jersey concepts to share with you. They're pretty simple, harkening back to the old days. Nothing drastic, but I expect to see something a little different with the real Blues uniforms.

Again, we'll have to wait around for official news from the club. We don't have a hard date as of yet for the unveiling, though their first pre-season game is on September 16 if you wanted to pencil that in on your calendars.

Then I thought I'd leave you with this.

What if they changed their name to the St. Louis Whites? No, but seriously... If you feel inclined to comment, you may do so in the marked area below. Thanks again for your patronage!

By the way, I should point out that a lot, and I mean a lot of people have sent in jersey concepts over the last few days. Unfortunately, I can't post them all right away. But with any luck, if you've sent one in, chances are you'll see it on this blog one of these days. Don't lose hope.