Clemente’s Corner: The 3 Best and 3 Worst NHL Jerseys from the 1990s
NHL jerseys hold significant value both for teams and collectors alike, offering fans a unique opportunity to express their allegiance in fresh ways.
During the 1990s, several NHL teams experimented with “third jerseys” that would be worn on special occasions, while other teams completely changed its logo, its color scheme – or both. Quite a few new designs made their debut on the ice that decade – and not all of them were memorable in a good way.
For collectors, these jerseys are highly coveted because of their rarity and limited availability. This exclusivity adds to their allure and potential value.
At the same time, alternate jerseys also serve as a bridge between nostalgia and modernity, allowing collectors to own a piece of both the present and the past. Whether it’s a throwback to a classic design or a cutting-edge reimagining, these sweaters capture a snapshot of a team’s identity at a specific time in NHL history.
With that, let’s start with the best …
1. New York Rangers (Lady Liberty)
In 2020, as part of the NHL’s league-wide “Reverse Retro” series in partnership with Adidas, all NHL teams rolled out new alternate uniforms. For the Rangers, it meant a flashback to the popular Statue of Liberty logo positioned on top of “NYR” initials emblazoned across the chest of a dark blue sweater. The team had debuted the original Lady Liberty alternate jersey in 1996, using some version of it through the 2006-07 season. Inspired by goaltender Mike Richter’s helmet, it remains the most iconic alternate jersey the Rangers – or any NHL team – has ever used.
“I remember Neil Smith [Rangers President and General Manager at the time] said to me that he really liked the design on my helmet,” Richter recalled in a 2022 interview with NHL.com. “Neil said he wanted to create our third jersey based off of that Statue of Liberty design and asked me if I was ok with it. I said, ‘Absolutely! I’m ok with it. Are you kidding me?’”
2. Pittsburgh Penguins (Diagonal Name)
The Penguins have used more than a dozen alternate and special event jerseys throughout the franchise’s history – but this has to be the best of the bunch. The black away jerseys featuring the city’s name diagonally down the front definitely stands out as one of the best.
Starting in 1992, the Penguins trotted out this jersey – with “Pittsburgh” placed diagonally on the front. The jersey was also used as a third jersey in recent years, a testament to its enduring appeal.
3. San Jose Sharks (a Touch of Gray)
The Sharks have long been known for their sharp logo and jersey design. Their first alternate jersey was no exception.
While the iconic logo in the center remained unchanged, the teal jersey featured bold new elements, a curved design paired with the use of gray and black, that gave the jersey an edgy, look that set it apart from the team’s standard home and away sweaters. A part of the Sharks rotation starting in 1997, the jersey was used until 2007.
And now the best of the worst …
1. St. Louis Blues (Trumpets)
In 1996, the Blues had a wild alternate jersey design ready for their first game after the All-Star Break against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The concept? Three navy and dark orange trumpets blaring a chaotic mix of notes. The wacky design didn’t end there. The arms featured horizontal stripes in the style of guitar strings.
It was both bold and bizarre. However, when the Blues hit the ice that night, they kept it classic, wearing their regular uniforms. In fact, it was then-Blues head coach Mike Keenan – so repulsed by these jerseys – that he ordered them scrapped. They were banished forever. The jersey is now the stuff of legend.
2. New York Islanders (Fisherman)
The Isles’ “Fish Sticks” jersey is largely seen as a hug mistake, although the long-lost logo has a bit of ‘90s nostalgia to it among fans. At the start of the 1995-96 season, the Islanders decided to reboot the team’s look by introducing a new logo, jersey and mascot. The decision turned into one of the biggest sports marketing blunders of all time.
The powerhouse team of the 1980s became a laughingstock by the late ‘90s. Certainly, this new jersey – featuring a bearded man in a raincoat and hat clutching a hockey stick — didn’t help. Nicknamed the Gorton’s Fisherman jersey by rival Rangers fans, the team reverted to a modified version of the old logo as soon as the league allowed them to do so. Nonetheless, the logo found renewed popularity as a throwback design in the late 2010s, so much so that the team revived it as their third “Reverse Retro” jersey in 2022 and a modified version used for their AHL team, the Bridgeport Islanders, in 2024.
Burger King’s slogan these days is “You Rule,” a modern take on their classic, “Have it Your Way.” Well, the Kings had it their way in 1996.
That was the year the team’s third jersey – affectionately referred to as “The Burger King jersey” – made its Hollywood debut at the Great Western Forum. The logo and jersey are roundly panned as one of the ugliest in NHL history.
Yes, Wayne Gretzky wore it, but this sweater was anything but great.
Clemente Lisi is a lifelong Rangers fan who first started collecting cards in 1986. He collects both vintage and modern with a focus on rookie cards. Follow him on X/Twitter @ClementeLisi.
Clemente Lisi is a lifelong Rangers fan who first started collecting cards in 1986. He collects both vintage and modern with a focus on rookie cards. Follow him on Twitter @ClementeLisi.
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