Part 4 of OTPB’s look at uniforms hits the frozen pond, as we look at National Hockey League sweaters. The NHL may be the most nakedly aggressive sporting league when it comes to making money off apparel, as it seems like nearly every team has either introduced a new sweater or created an alternate during the past five years. Even Original Six teams like Chicago have not been afraid to tinker with their uniforms.

Of course, seeing as how I’m the only hockey fan I know, Chris and PJ struggled somewhat to come up with their favorites. But we persevered, and will wrap up the series Friday with a look at some of the best and worst uniforms of all-time.

POWER PLAY GOALS
New Jersey Devils (road, home): The perfect combination of name, logo and colors, the Devils went from green and red (their Xmas unis) to their current set more than a decade ago and have not touched them since, a rarity in the NHL, where teams switch sweaters like underwear. This is a simple, clean look that the Devils organization has used to brand their teams throughout all levels. They may be “boring” because they don’t have a wacky alternate sweater, but why mess with what works? (Elliott)

Calgary Flames (road, home): The Calgary Flames are the coolest team you’ll see from a cow town. The name is cool, and the red, black, white, and yellow color theme is smoking. The logo is a large C with flames shooting out from the curve, and it is either black bordered in white on a red jersey (home), with hints of yellow on the sleeves and the bottom of the jersey, or it is red with a yellow border on a white jersey. Both jerseys look sharp, and brand the team quite well. Who knew the cow pokes were such fashion kings? (Paul)

Pittsburgh Penguins (road, home, alternate): The Pens’ return to the skating bird of the ’80s (replacing the aerodynamic Penguin) has elevated their jersey set to one of the league’s best. Using black and gold, the unofficial city colors of Pittsburgh, the Penguins have a striking look and a sweet logo to match. I know a lot of people didn’t like the baby blue alternate (which they are eliminating next season), but it was a nice nod to the team’s history and a welcome relief from the standard NHL jersey colors. (Elliott)

Colorado Avalanche (road, home): I’m no hockey fan, so I’ve only seen these unis in action on TV when I played them on PS3. But I liked their look. The burgundy is what makes them. The road burgundy and white are the better combo, but the blue and burgundy works, too. It’s a strong look, even if the Avalanche isn’t burying people on the ice as it did a few years ago. (Chris)

Los Angeles Kings (home, road, alternate): Purple is the color of royalty. We went with the Sacramento Kings and their purple, so it figures that we would put the L.A. Kings in our hockey top five. All three of the Kings’ uniforms look sharp, with black, purple and gray being the most intimidating and the black, gray and white working well, too. Other than the use of purple, what really makes these jerseys unique is the LOS ANGELES at the bottom front. A very nice touch that we royally like. (Chris)

TO THE PENALTY BOX
Dallas Stars (road, home, alternate): Ever since the Stars vacated Minnesota (and one of the league’s best logos and jerseys), they’ve had trouble settling on the right sweater. Their current set is most definitely not the answer. There’s basic, and there’s what the Stars have done with their unis. I’m a firm believer that city/team names don’t really belong on sweaters, especially when given such a boring treatment. These are yawn-inducing all the way. (Elliott)

Atlanta Thrashers (road, home, alternate): What? There’s a hockey team in Atlanta? Beside that fact, does anyone know what a Thrasher is? Not exactly a good jumping off point when creating a uniform set. And so, we have this mishmash of colors, styles, random typography and other assorted nonsense that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. And they didn’t even bother trying with the alternates, which look like terrible football jerseys. When the Thrashers inevitably move somewhere else, let’s hope this little bit of NHL grossness disappears forever. (Elliott)

Minnesota Wild (road, home): We poo-pooed the Bucks’ Christmas uniforms in our NBA list, so it’s only fair we nail the Wild for its red and green failure as well. And what the hell is that logo? Red, green and white are just not a powerful color combination for any sport. Maybe the Wild wouldn’t have made this list if the club had used more of the tan that is utilized for names, numbers and trim on the red jerseys. But, as it stands, we’re just not wild about those colors. (Chris)

Anaheim Ducks (home, road): The Ducks are an enigma. A few years ago they were Mighty (and let’s be thankful that moniker died), and their main color was teal (which was probably worse than their current choice). Now they either have a copper or gold look (I can’t quite tell which color it is). The uniforms are black, but for some reason red piping crosses at the bottom (along with white and copper/gold streak) and around the neck. Where the red comes from, I don’t know. The logo is interesting: The D in Ducks looks like something Batman would fly in, and the fierce-looking hockey mask only reminds of Michael Myers. Only these jerseys are much scarier than him due to their interesting “creativity.” Either way, it’s not mighty whatsoever. (Paul)

Buffalo Sabres (home, road, alternate): Blue and yellow tend to work well … for the Michigan Wolverines. The Sabres, though, don’t really pull it off well. The blue is a nice shade, but what’s with the yellow and white “stuff” on the sleeves of the jersey? And the gray along the arm pits? And then there’s red in the eyes of the new logo, which is a half-assed attempt at best. How many colors do they need that don’t work well? Seems like Reebok was trying too hard and failed miserably. They should have stuck with their alternate logo: at least that incorporated both the buffalo (for the city) and the swords (for the nickname). This new junk looks very little like a buffalo, and there is no sabre. This team’s called the Sabres, not Bills. Right? (Paul)