The Most Hideous NHL Uniforms Ever: Flyers in black

While it might seem this is yet another veiled shot at the Flyers for, well, just being the Flyers, it's not. It's more a commentary on an era where so many teams in sports felt the need to wear black jerseys. My baseball team has done it since 1998 — though the Mets limit the black these days — and I still hate games played in black jerseys. And the Flyers did it for multiple seasons in the 2000s.

Brian Boucher in Flyers' black, circa 2000.

The Most Hideous NHL Uniforms Ever: The Quebec Nordiques

Sometimes, I look at these jerseys and think — man I miss them. Other times, I see them and think, "What the hell were they thinking here."

I wonder if Quebec does get a new NHL team in the form of the Coyotes if they'll be called the Nordiques (I can't imagine they'd be called anything BUT that) and if they'll use the old jersey design or go with something modern?

There was the be a new jersey introduced in 1995 — the year the Nords became the Avalanche and, oh, won a Cup. Discuss in the comment section.

Joe Sakic above. Below, what the Nords might have worn had they not bolted Quebec for Denver in 1995.

The most hideous NHL uniforms ever: Coyotes 1997-2001

Many thanks to the great Kevin Forrest for this reminder of pure hideousness. I'd forgotten about these.

The Most Hideous NHL Uniforms Ever: The 1995-96 LA Kings

Hard to believe Wayne Gretzky, the best there ever was, had to put this sweater on numerous times.

The Most Hideous NHL Uniforms Ever: We're back to the Islanders

It must seem as if we pick on the Islanders here a lot — and we do — but come on. The original Islanders uniform is extremely classy — and they continue to try to tinker with that. Here's the Islanders' latest creation — a black jersey. This isn't the 1990s anymore — and the black trend is going away — as should this awful Islanders creation. I mean, seriously — black jerseys with royal-blue helmets? It just doesn't work.

The Orange and Blue — but in black? Really? 

The Most Hideous NHL Uniforms Ever Worn: A fan base divided — some love them still, some just see them as Christmas Trees

Count me on the side of Devils fans who love them on retro night — but glad they're not the primary uniforms.

John MacLean in 1990. 

In 1992, the New Jersey Devils dropped the green and added black to their uniforms. And they've worn the black ever since. But three years ago, the Devils brought the old red and greens back for retro night — and did so for three seasons.

This year, they didn't — I was bitterly disappointed.

Still, some, like Bill Scardefield, see the old jerseys and laugh.

Chris Terreri, circa 1991

For others, they're a reminder of the bad days of the franchise.

I'll just say this — I can see how they're mocked. I can see how they're seen as hideous. But I absolutely loved it when they came back once a year — and so did most others.

Still, they make the list as being among the worst uniforms ever worn.

What are you thoughts?

Be sure to post them in the comments section. You don't need to register or to be logged in to post — just give us a name (or moniker) and post away.

The Most Hideous NHL Uniforms Ever: Why tinker with great uniforms? Even the Rangers did it, though

We may not be the biggest fans of the New York Rangers, but their uniforms are very nice — except for this misstep — which took place from 1976-77 to 1977-78 (just two seasons).

The Most Hideous NHL Uniforms Ever: What were the Islanders thinking?

Then again, the Islanders and mistakes are synonymous over the last two decades. And that includes these gems from the 1995-96 and 1996-97 season. The outrage was so severe they ultimately dumped these and returned to their classier originals.

The Most Hideous NHL Uniforms Ever: The Brown Canucks

The great part of this feature is that words aren't really necessary — the images speak for themselves — like these uniforms, worn by the Canucks in the early 1980s.

NEW SERIES: The most hideous NHL uniforms ever: The 1981 Flyers, Whalers Cooperalls

Welcome to our new series here on NJDevsBlog.com — the Most Hideous NHL Uniforms Ever. Not much needs to be said about these: Cooperalls — which were worn by the Whalers and Flyers — for two seasons (1981-82, 1982-83).