The Islanders will be returning to the NHL’s Stadium Series next year, taking the ice at MetLife Stadium against the New York Rangers on February 18, 2024. The appearance will be their first outdoor game since 2014, when they met their in-state rivals at Yankee Stadium in the inaugural Stadium Series.
With the appearance under seven months away, fans are excited for the event and the Islanders taking the big stage. However, a question fans are asking is what will the Islanders wear under the lights? Every team that’s appeared in the game wore a special uniform, and the Islanders will most likely join that group. However, as the Islanders finally get another Stadium Series appearance, what will they do for their jersey?
In terms of retro looks, the Islanders have a handful of jerseys to choose from. If they wanted to make a rare orange jersey, meaning a revival of their 2000’s uniforms could very much be in play with royal blue in place of the navy. They also could make a white base of their 2014 jersey, but it is a lazy choice since their current alternate is a near match of that uniform. However, while the orange jerseys are an interesting candidate, they also could make a move similar to their Reverse Retro sweaters from last season.
While this past season’s jersey was not a perfect match of the original fisherman jersey, it was a much more streamlined version of the look. Having simplified orange and white “wave” stripes and some sections of trim made the jersey much more laid back, but also very sharp. In this case, the Islanders could do a different play on the that format, but with their current or alternate logo. With this idea, a mashup of eras could make for a bold yet fun design that embraces the past and present.
As mentioned, most Stadium Series jerseys are a more futuristic type. Various examples, including the Hurricanes, Predators and Lightning use, primarily, two colors to make up the jersey and logo. With this in mind, the Islanders could do an orange jersey with their “NY” alternate logo in blue, with blue stripes running the sleeves and waist. They also could use their current primary logo, but the alternate will make a more sleek design. However, it is entirely possible they use a different logo entirely as well.
Whether or not they create a wordmark or create an entirely new logo for the event is to be determined, it is a gamble for teams. Some teams can run the risk of getting too bold with the logo or wordmark, leading to blowback from fans about the look. The Islanders have had their history of controversial jersey choices themselves, be it their initial Reverse Retro look in 2020, the original change to the fisherman in the 90’s or their transition to black jerseys at Barclays Center.
However, the Islanders have a chance to get this jersey right with their upcoming Stadium Series. Whether or not they harken back to their past or look towards the future, there’s a lot of potential for a sharp look. As fans wait in anticipation for the team to take the ice at MetLife, fans also wait to see what branding the team will use as they head to East Rutherford in 2024.
Stay tuned for more breaking NHL content, including offseason moves, contract updates and more news from every team.
Featured image courtesy of NHL.com
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