On Thursday, the NHL in conjunction with adidas released the 2022 edition of the Reverse Retro jerseys. Some of them are aesthetically pleasing, others are kinda there, and the rest are bad art. Like last year’s NHL Reverse Retro edition, I need to rank them. Keep in mind that all rankings are subjective, and I know everyone has their favorites. But this list is mine and mine alone and here it is.
The Good
San Jose Sharks
Last season’s Reverse Retro jersey was frankly quite lazy with silver as the primary color and the teal stripes. For the 2022 Reverse Retro jersey, they pay homage to the California Golden Seals. The Golden Seals played in the NHL from 1967 to 1976 and were owned by the notorious Charley O. Finley. If the hockey gods are good, maybe the Sharks will wear white skates during warm up. But as a fan of retro in general, this is my favorite.
Bay Area Past ? Bay Area Future
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) October 20, 2022
Introducing our @adidas Reverse Retro 2022 #reverseretro!
Available 11.15
#SJSharks x @adidashockey pic.twitter.com/sfUzKIXasp
Washington Capitals
Last season’s Capitals jersey was a mix of old and new-ish with the red, white, and blue and the Screaming Eagle. It was just kinda there. The 2022 Reverse Retro jersey still features the Screaming Eagle, but black is the primary color with gold lettering. I love the near all-black look because it’s intimidating on the ice. It’s nice.
The ? has landed ?????.
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) October 20, 2022
Introducing our 2022 @adidas #ReverseRetro available 11.15#ALLCAPS x @adidashockey pic.twitter.com/z8EweAuTZ8
Vancouver Canucks
The Canucks paid tribute to the old 1962 Western Hockey League team with the ‘Johnny Canuck.’ For those of you outside the know, Johnny Canuck is a Canadian icon who looks very similar to Minnesota legend Paul Bunyan. The jersey features dark blue as its primary color with green and white striping. It’s a bigger leap than last season’s Reverse Retro and I am HERE their 2022 Reverse Retro jersey.
Throwback to 1962.
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) October 20, 2022
Introducing our @adidas Reverse Retro 2022 #ReverseRetro
Available 11.15 – pre-order on https://t.co/LrfISlAneT#Canucks x @adidashockey pic.twitter.com/qjXXnE8cMN
Colorado Avalanche
The defending Stanley Cup champion made my list of favorites last season and they do it again this season. Last year’s NHL Reverse Retro jersey featured an homage to the Quebec Nordiques. This year’s jersey pays tribute to the flag of the state of Colorado. It’s a sweet design and I really like they went with a ‘home whites’ motif to match the whitecaps of the mountain. An ultra-clean look for the 2022 Reverse Retro jersey.
(Some fans say the New Jersey Devils copied the Avalanche’s homework. Who wants to inform them of the Devils’ team history?)
Colorado Proud. #ReverseRetro
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) October 20, 2022
Preorder today from Altitude Authentics, jerseys ship November 15.#GoAvsGo x @adidashockey pic.twitter.com/znO7JPRtSG
St. Louis Blues
This Reverse Retro 2022 jersey was another one of my favorites. The jersey is gold and features the iconic Blue Note we all associate the team with. But it’s also an homage to the prototype jerseys worn in 1966 prior to the Blues starting their inaugural season in 1967. I do have a recommendation for next year: bring back the sweater Ozzy wore when he spent a night in the drunk tank in May 1984.
An original, reimagined for now. Introducing our @adidas #ReverseRetro 2022. Available 11.15 or for presale today at 11 a.m.#stlblues x @adidashockey pic.twitter.com/O97tKttedH
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) October 20, 2022
Honorable mention: New York Islanders. THEY BROUGHT BACK THE GORTON’S FISHERMAN!
The Fisherman. Remastered for the 50th Anniversary. #ReverseRetro
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) October 20, 2022
Get your jersey in-store starting 11/15 or preorder below starting at 12PM today via the link below.#Isles x @adidashockey
The Bad
Chicago Blackhawks
I really liked last season’s Reverse Retro with the Sioux tribesman head which looked very similar to the jerseys they wore in 1926-27. The 2022 Reverse Retro jersey was supposedly inspired by the 2019 Winter Classic jersey. But I found it to be uninspiring. The jersey just says ‘Chicago’ on the front and THAT’S IT. The NHL and adidas could have at least featured the dual tomahawks, but they didn’t. It’s bleh.
??????? ????? ?
— Blackhawks Store (@BlackhawksStore) October 20, 2022
Pre-order at https://t.co/z00JjWzbba ? pic.twitter.com/6YpLsvSnqA
Detroit Red Wings
The next 2022 Reverse Retro jersey of the Bad on my list is the Detroit Red Wings. Last year’s jersey was inspired by the one worn in the 2009 Winter Classic. But I sense it’s a case of copying someone else’s homework. It looks like a copy of Chicago’s. This year’s is primary red with black striping and the city name on the front. It feels like both their jerseys were more inspired by the Blades of Glory video game than previous Winter Classics. Boring.
"The boys are fired up!" ?#reverseretro x @adidashockey pic.twitter.com/paL11iqgy8
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) October 20, 2022
Seattle Kraken
When the Kraken were announced as an expansion franchise, I really had hope they would pay tribute to the 1918 Seattle Metropolitans. Instead, they paid tribute to the Seattle Ironmen, who played in the old Western Hockey League. The 2022 Reverse Retro jersey features an enlarged logo and more of the bright blue. Not great. There’s always next season for a Metropolitans tribute.
New sweaters coming to The Deep! ?
— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) October 20, 2022
Introducing our @adidas Reverse Retro 2022 #reverseretro
Pre-order online today, available in store on 11.15#SeaKraken x @adidashockey pic.twitter.com/0BDwADh4el
Pittsburgh Penguins
The 2022 Reverse Retro jersey for the Penguins mixes the black and gold jerseys worn in the 1980’s and the 1990’s Penguin. It’s okay, I suppose. But I’m missing the faded stripes of the alternate jersey worn from 1997-2000. Not the biggest fan of the jersey, but I suppose enough Yinzers will buy them.
Introducing our @adidas Reverse Retro 2022 #reverseretro
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) October 20, 2022
Available 11.15#LetsGoPens x @adidashockey pic.twitter.com/vrZuaRJLh6
Toronto Maple Leafs
The last 2022 Reverse Retro jersey on my Bad list is the Toronto Maple Leafs. I give the benefit of the doubt in that it’s a very plain team name. I mean, it is one of three NHL nature-themed names in the league. But the team’s history has previous names of the Arenas and St. Pats. This season’s jersey is just… there. But I really hope next season’s jersey will harken back to the days of the Arenas and St. Pats.
Blue & White through and through
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) October 20, 2022
Introducing our @adidas Reverse Retro 2022 #reverseretro Available 11.15#LeafsForever x @adidashockey pic.twitter.com/8iVRLaYVKH
Honorable Mention: the Minnesota Wild and the New York Rangers. The 2022 Reverse Retro jerseys are… last season’s jerseys, but in different colors. Lazy.
A #StateOfHockey classic look. Introducing our @adidas #ReverseRetro 2022. Available 11/16.#mnwild x @adidashockey pic.twitter.com/HQqrU2R6L4
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) October 20, 2022
[Re]introducing the Lady Liberty #ReverseRetro. ?
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) October 20, 2022
Available for preorder at 12 PM today on https://t.co/wT6lc1zvvb or at the MSG Team Store on Nov. 15. #NYR x @adidashockey. pic.twitter.com/hhFnz910VW
