NHL Reverse Retro jerseys 2022-23: Ranking the best and worst new-look Adidas sweaters for all 32 teams

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The NHL is taking a blast to the past, as the league announced a couple of weeks ago that reverse retro jerseys would be making their return to the league.Β 

This is the second time that NHL teams have created alternate sweaters incorporating past color schemes and logos into them. They were a major success during 2020-21 when Adidas first made the announcement of the unique sweaters.Β 

As always when it comes to jerseys, some are fantastic and should be worn more often than they will be, and there are others that should never have been created in the first place.

Teams will wear these alternates for a handful of games throughout the year, starting this week with the Penguins-Sabres game on Nov. 2.Β 

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Here are the Sporting News’ rankings of the 2022-23 NHL reverse retro jerseys.Β 

Ranking the 2022-23 NHL Reverse Retro jerseys

Elite

Panthers

There may be no better color for jerseys than baby blue and the Panthers knocked their reverse retro out of the park. They just scream sunshine and the beach. The logo with the palm tree and hockey stick are a bit corny, but the rest of the sweater is *chef’s kiss*.Β 

Sabres

What’s better than the goat head jersey? A reverse retro one! The Sabres not only bring back the old logo with their alternates in the usual red and black scheme but also have it on their reverse retro with their blue and gold colors. The white background makes for a sleek-looking uniform.Β 

Penguins

Another old logo returns from the past as the Penguins are using their robot penguin logo. It’s a great sweater all around, with a good black base and yellow mixed in on the arms and shoulders. It only makes sense that the Pens pair this jersey with Jaromir Jagr-like mullets.Β 

Kings

I admittedly am a sucker for the Kings’ throwback crown logo, in addition to the yellow and purple pattern, so this jersey is sensational. The white base was a nice touch, electing to go simple rather than have gold or purple.Β 

Canadiens

Once again, you can’t go wrong with baby blue. The Canadiens are also paying homage to the former Montreal MLB franchise, the Expos, with the color pallet. Keeping it simple with the logo was a smart decision as well.Β 

Great

Bruins

The return of Pooh! The Pooh Bear logo comes back for Boston, who last used it in the mid-2000s. Some fans don’t like it, but I admittedly love the crest. I’m also glad to see Boston didn’t overdo it with a yellow base and went for a clean white look.Β 

Capitals

Another iconic logo returns, as the Capitals bring back the screaming eagle for their 2022-23 reverse retros. Instead of the current red, white and blue, Washington went with its old black, blue and bronze scheme. I think it could have popped more with a white base, but hard to complain about these.Β 

Wild

Like the Kings’ purple and yellow, I am a massive fan of the North Stars’ colors that Minnesota uses with green and yellow. My one complaint is that this is the exact same reverse retro as before but it’s green instead of white as the base color.Β 

Golden Knights

While Vegas couldn’t truly throw it back since the team has only been around since 2017, I really like what they did with their reverse retros. The diagonal name across the front can be hit or miss, but this is a home run, even with the number font. Although, I could care less about the glow-in-the-dark feature on them.Β 

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Good

Ducks

The Mighty Duck remains one of the greatest logos ever and it’s a shame that Anaheim ever went away from it. I still don’t like the current colors the team uses and I’m not a fan that the reverse retro has them, however, I am glad the Ducks went with white as the background and not black or orange. The white has a clean look that doesn’t make your eyes burn.Β 

Islanders

The Fisherman returns! One of the best logos in NHL history comes back for the Islanders, who will use it on their reverse retros. My one problem with it is it’s exactly like the original Fisherman jersey and not many ties to the current Islanders’ designs.Β 

Sharks

The Sharks were never a part of the California Seal franchise, but the team pays tribute to the former NHL club by using its color and fonts in this year’s reverse retro. I like the call back, but the uniforms don’t necessarily do anything for me.Β 

Canucks

The Canucks are going back to 1962 with the Johnny Canuck logo on the front. I love this color scheme and love the logo, but I wish Vancouver decided something else other than a navy background. Also, for as much as the Johnny Canuck logo rules, the flying skate is more well-known in the hockey world and I wouldn’t be surprised if some fans don’t recognize that this is the Canucks’ jersey.Β 

Blues

One of the few yellow uniforms I actually like, the Blues use their old logo from 1966 in this year’s reverse retro. I get that “St. Louis” covered the note on the old logo, but feels like it would be better suited above it. Nonetheless, this is a cool design and differs enough from the team’s current options.Β 

Rangers

Lady Liberty returns to the Big Apple as the Rangers are using their old logo on this year’s reverse retro. I think I would have liked something on the shoulders to pull everything together, but it’s a great logo and awesome color scheme that mixes so well when put together.Β 

Coyotes

Arizona elected to go with a burnt orange reverse retro, really buying into the desert theme as well with the cacti on the bottom of the jersey. It feels like no one is more creative with their sweaters than the Coyotes, and I dig these. The color itself isn’t my favorite, but Arizona somehow makes it work.Β 

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Average

Avalanche

The Avalanche threw it back and used the old Colorado Rockies jerseys, the first hockey team in Colorado before the Avalanche. It’s a fine jersey, with the Rockies’ cool logo on the front. But the Rockies moved to New Jersey and became the Devils, so it’s not exactly part of the franchise’s history.Β 

Devils

Like the Avs, the Devils paid tribute to the old Colorado Rockies with their reverse retros. At least New Jersey makes sense since the team became the Devils, and the jersey is fine. But with the current colors for the Devils, it feels like there could be a better one than this.Β 

Oilers

I would be a lot bigger fan of these reverse retros if the Oil Drop logo was more iconic in Edmonton’s history. I do like the sleeves with the white surrounding the numbers, but I can definitely understand the confusion from people on what team these jerseys are even supposed to be for.Β 

Stars

I’m not sure there’s a reverse retro that has left me as undecided as the Stars. I always liked the Stars’ jersey more when black and gold were incorporated into them, but this feels like almost too much black. It’s just very … fine? Hey, at least there are no neon colors in this one.Β 

Predators

Another day, another all yellow jersey from Nashville. This reverse retro has the same design as their current home yellows, with the older Predator logo instead on the front. Cool logo and cool colors, but not something all that different from Nashville’s norm.Β 

Flyers

The reverse retros for the Flyers are fairly simple enough, but there’s much to be excited about with these jerseys. If the team was allowed to wear the Cooperalls in a game, then my entire opinion would change and the Flyers would immediately have a top-three outfit.Β 

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Boring

Hurricanes

Not much of a throwback when you’re just using your primary home jersey from three years ago. With Carolina making the switch to black as their primary home, they now will use red as their reverse retro alternates. It’s essentially the same home uniform the team had before the recent change.Β 

Maple Leafs

Did Toronto even try? This is essentially their home blues with white shoulders added to them. It seems like very minimal effort from the Maple Leafs on this one and one where they missed the chance to bring back either the Arenas or St. Patrick’s logos and/or colors.Β 

Senators

Noticing a trend? The Senators’ first reverse retro was so successful that the team brought back their older look and made it their primary jersey. But now, the team just used their home blacks and made slight adjustments. The red sleeves aren’t horrible, but I do not like the thickness of the numbers on the arms or back.Β 

Jets

While I am a fan of the white background, the Jets essentially took their current color scheme, removed red and used their old logo. The red is really the missing element, as it made those jerseys pop out more. Not bad, just could have been done better.Β 

Blue Jackets

Black has never been in the Blue Jackets’ color pallet, so I’m not sure why the team went with the black front look. There are just too many similar colors on this one that doesn’t mix well. Not including the old “J” logo was a miss as well.Β 

Ugly

Kraken

It’s hard to design a throwback-style jersey when your franchise is only two years old, but this is just not an appealing sweater at all. Plus, this is a huge missed opportunity by the Kraken to use their alternate anchor logo.Β 

Flames

The pedestal jersey is back for Calgary, but it never should have started to begin with. I will never understand the appeal of the pedestal striping at the bottom, but it ruins the jersey for a team with not only one of the best color schemes in the league but also some of the best throwback jerseys.Β 

Red Wings

The Red Wings can’t win with their reverse retros. After designing the equivalent of a practice jersey last year, I’m not sure what is up with this attempt at a sweater. Far too much black and too many odd stripes for me. Maybe because the Red Wings have one of the simplest and cleanest looks it’s hard to find an out-of-the-box design that works.

Blackhawks

Did Chicago and Detroit collaborate on their reverse retros? I mean, it’s the same design with more white and thicker stripes. The Blackhawks have been hit or miss with their jerseys and this one is a big swing at air.

Lightning

I’m not sure there’s a team that tried to make their jerseys as unique as Tampa Bay. While the throwback to the old logo and color patterns make for a solid jersey, the fonts on the back and whatever the hell is going on with the sleeves make this unsightly. It feels like something Guy Fieri should be wearing.Β 

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