Alternate Uniforms Could Become Regulars

Matt Bodenschatz | Pittsburgh Penguins

Nov 19, 03:26 PM | Hype this story!

During the previous two games, the Pittsburgh Penguins donned their retro baby blue alternate uniforms, something done just one other time since the early 1970s when the uniforms were standard.

According to the administrator of LetsGoPens.com, the Penguins will wear these uniforms nine more times for a total of 11 this season.

Saturday, Nov. 15 vs Buffalo
Tuesday, Nov. 18 vs Minnesota
Saturday, Dec. 20 vs Toronto
Saturday, Dec. 27 vs Montreal
Saturday, Jan. 3 vs Florida
Sunday, Jan. 18 vs NY Rangers
Sunday, Feb. 8 vs Detroit
Wednesday, Feb. 25 vs NY Islanders
Saturday, March 14 vs Ottawa
Sunday, March 22 vs Philadelphia
Wednesday, April 1 vs New Jersey

Obviously, with the frequency of use, many are speculating that a permanent change to the blue and white could be forthcoming. After all, the previous two alternate uniforms worn by the Penguins turned into their primary garb.

And team President David Morehouse certainly didn’t dispel such an idea.

“At this point, we’re not considering a permanent switch, but we’re never closed to anything,” Morehouse said to Rob Rossi of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “I don’t think it’s extremely important that all three teams in Pittsburgh maintain the same colors.”

Not a ringing endorsement, but certainly not a denial, either.

Rumors have circulated across the internet and within the media that the Penguins will look to change their image in 2010, when they move across the street from Mellon Arena to their new facility.

So now it’s time for you, the fan, to let your voice be heard.

Here is what we know:

  • The team’s previous two alternate uniforms became their primary uniforms
  • The NHL has embraced the retro style of late and this would follow the trend
  • All three Pittsburgh professional sports teams wear some form of black and gold

Some things to consider:

  • Is the black and gold identity of Pittsburgh that important, especially considering the Penguins use Las Vegas gold?
  • Is the retro trend of the NHL a fad or the wave of the future?
  • Are the current uniforms satisfactory, or would the team be best served to make some sort of change — and if so, would you want a new design or would you bring back one of the past? Be specific: which color scheme, which uniform design, which logo. And don’t be afraid to mix and match!

A uniform history refresher:

(courtesy of Pittsburgh’s Online Hockey Museum)

And the question of the week:

Last week’s results:

Question: “Was this the best regular season win in Penguins history?” (referring to the 7-6 defeat of the Red Wings)

  • Probably – 37%
  • I’m not sure – 21%
  • No, I don’t think so – 19%
  • Yes, without a doubt – 19%
  • Definitely not – 4%

120 total votes.

Comments

  1. DigitalGypsy66

    Nov 19, 04:23 PM

    The powder blues are a nice change of pace, but it’s just a little effeminate for an NHL team.

  2. nate

    Nov 19, 05:12 PM

    I do not like the blue jerseys at all. If they want to go with a retro look, I would like to see the cup years jersey.

  3. Matt Bodenschatz

    Nov 19, 05:28 PM

    I like the uniforms, but the more I see of them, the more I realize they are nice as a novelty and nothing more.

    I would like to see the Penguins adopt a hybrid uniform that we haven’t yet seen. Retro is the way to go right now, so let’s keep the circular logo, but shift the blues to blacks. Then, change the team colors from black, white and Las Vegas gold to black, white and Pittsburgh gold. Lastly, pick a retro uniform — maybe Cup era, or maybe one from the 70s — and apply the “new” retro logo and the traditional Pittsburgh color scheme.

    I like it!

  4. Detective Dan

    Nov 19, 05:42 PM

    I wouldn’t mind if they changed to the blue for good. Mostly because their current jerseys are among the worst in the league, so plain. I just want something that isn’t the current duds.

  5. TK Penguin

    Nov 19, 05:59 PM

    Powder blue is awful. It’s a great novelty, it boosts sales a decent amount, but you could sell brown red and purple jerseys and people would buy them. The Penguins sucked every year they wore those jerseys, so why go back?

  6. Matt Bodenschatz

    Nov 19, 07:34 PM

    Here is Photoshop of my concept from above!

    I like!

  7. DaBich

    Nov 19, 08:00 PM

    I feel the Penguins should stick with the Pittsburgh black and gold…but go back to the YELLOW gold, not the Vegas gold.
    The blue is nice for a change, as a third jersey, nothing permanent. it’s rather girlie-girl in MHO.
    I love your concept Matt, it rocks!!! Send it in to the team, see if anyone pays attention.

  8. Ben Schmidt

    Nov 19, 09:57 PM

    I like the blue-and-white jerseys, but only as third jerseys. I much prefer sticking with black and gold as the regular colors for the team.

  9. DS

    Nov 19, 10:42 PM

    Everyone touting the ‘lack of masculinity’ in the color for the alternates – It’s practically the same shade of blue that businessmen wear for shirts every day. I don’t want them full-time, but that’s because I believe the Pens belong in black and whatever-form-of-gold – which they’ve worn over twice as long as the blue at this point. The color is not the problem.

  10. Kyle

    Nov 19, 11:26 PM

    I agree with pretty much everyone… I really don’t like seeing the pens in baby blue… I think that was good for the Winter Classic and the other future outdoor contests in the future.

    We should definitely get something new in Black, Pittsbugh Gold, and White… I really like how Matt B.‘s concept looks, it pretty much is exactly what I was thinking.

    & for the alternates… take the current RBK edge jersey with the stripes we have now, and put the “Flying Penguin Logo” but updated with Black/White, Vegas Gold, and a little Powder Blue. Both on the logo and the jersey, But it would still be either primarily Black or White

    what do you all think?

  11. Chuck

    Nov 20, 10:27 AM

    I really don;t like the blue all that much. I was at the game on Tuesday and there was way too much baby blue in the crowd. The Pens should keep the black and gold. I even would go one step further and getting rid of the blue as the third jersey. I still feel the third Jersey should have been the all gold jersey with black sleeves from Lemieux’s early years.

  12. Ray

    Nov 20, 10:45 AM

    I am partial to the unis of the Stanley Cup years. And, yes, I think the black and gold color scheme is important as a Pittsburgh identity. The blues are OK as an occasional alternate, but eleven games may be a bit too much.

  13. teri

    Nov 20, 11:45 AM

    Not being from Pittsburgh, the Black and Gold isn’t that important to me. That said, I DO prefer the Pittsburgh gold to the Vegas gold.

    I really like Matt’s version. I also like the darker blue jerseys. The powder blue remind me of the pink ones Detroit has for the female fans…..like we are less feminine in any colour other than pink (I HATE pink).

    I have my white and black and gold road jersey (tho, being the old hag I am, I still think of white as “home” colour) and I’m sticking with it. And I will be wearing it for the Feb. 6th and 8th games- yep, scored a ROW 1 ticket for the 6th (I’m driving in the 5th). Can’t wait to tour your beautiful city!!

    teri

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