Just to add some context to why I went in this direction: This video started out as a retrospective on Winter Classic jerseys. Then, since the most common question I get from viewers and readers is ”what’s your favorite...?” I decided to include a rating... which turned into a ranking... which is all very subjective and opinion-based, of course. It seems like some viewers prefer videos with fewer opinions, so I’m certainly happy to keep doing those, but I’d love to hear what you think!
I hope that you continue the Rate and Rank series for years to come. This is some great Icethetics content that I would love to keep tuning in for as long as you are enjoying making it.
Great list...i just wonder would this list would look like if all the other outdoor games(the Heritage Classic and Stadium Series etc) were counted...maybe something for the future, i guess.
The bombing of designs just because it has "Vintage White" is crazy. I personally love when teams use it, being a Flames fan, the new HC jersey design from this season is one of my all time favorites.
I had a feeling it would be an unpopular opinion. But I figured I should be honest about it instead of pandering. 😅 I loved Calgary’s first Heritage Classic jersey! New one, not so much.
You might be right about that, but maybe they could’ve tried something other than ice blue, which is undoubtedly a very modern color. Wouldn’t see that on a 1920s wool sweater. Maybe the red would’ve worked well?
@@icetheticswho said anything about 1920's accuracy? if you want that look, get into a time machine. these outdoor game jerseys are in a category of their own, new designs with homages to vintage throwback aesthetics. if they just copied historical jerseys, that would be lame. I'm all for new ideas incorporating vintage elements.
I love the vintage white, I get it that it can be overused but it’s kind of becoming part of the aesthetic. Just bought a Sabres 2023 HC Jersey and think it’s amazing
Couldn’t agree more. I personally liked that Caps jersey a lot, and kind of hoped they’d use it as an alternate at some point. I like the idea of teams doing this, but sometimes it just doesn’t work well-like Vegas.
This was a great retrospective! But it did make me almost disappointed to see how many franchises have been ignored in the near 15 iterations of this event. There is no reason for a team to play in 3+ outdoor games at this point. Nashville and Dallas prove that a love for hockey can be found in so many unique and diverse communities, let that shine more!
Dang, props for finishing this video minutes after the 24 WC ended! I was lucky enough to be at the 2020 WC in Dallas and it was my favorite hockey game I've been to!
Haha, thanks! The trick was to have worked on it diligently for the past two weeks... and then drop in video clips from today’s game and render while it was being played. 😅
Quite a few thoughts on an excellent video: -I like the idea of ranking the pairs of jerseys. Makes it a unique endeavour -I really like the vintage white when it is saved for the Winter Classic. It kind of serves as a signal that “yes this is a unique event focused on older aesthetics” is the point of these jerseys -I wouldn’t have included historical relevance as a main criterion. I would have replaced it with a metric that ranks jerseys based on a heritage aesthetic, rewarding teams for getting creative instead of just copying old looks. -The hate on vintage white seemed a bit inconsistent: when present in jerseys it automatically cost them points (and some teams got high scorers simply for not including it) but when Dallas used vintage whi- er, tan equipment, they got rewarded -Lastly, this one is just my personal taste, but as a Flyers fan the 2014 jersey is my favourite they’ve ever worn in their whole history. The Rangers one was alright, but certainly not garbage in my eyes. Meanwhile, I found the CHI/BOS jerseys drab and colourless, and fairly unremarkable, so it’s interesting to see how jerseys you rank as the best are ones I am very mild on, and the ones you rank the worst include one of my favourite all-time NHL jerseys. Great work on the video as usual, looking forward to the next as always! Just because I disagreed with some of the opinions (which is weird because normally I’m 100% with you) doesn’t mean I didn’t love the video!
Awarding points for *not using vintage white* was laughable. Such unreasonable bias undermines ranking. Objectivity is hard, but this throws it out the window.
@@icethetics oh man you don’t like the off white!? That away WC we wore in Minny is stunningly beautiful! You’re one of the few ppl I’ve heard who says they don’t like that off white lol but to each their own!
@@icethetics by the way have you heard any rumblings on any new/exciting jersey ideas that Fanatic’s may introduce next season? I’m ready for some new Blues jerseys!
@@CorySpitznagel Please do not put that in the air. Our home away jerseys are amazing. Our alternate is also pretty. We dont need to ruin what we already have.
The bashing of off-white is insane lol Last thing I expected to hear about in a ranking vid for WC jerseys. It distracted from so much of the video, but I suppose would make a great drinking game!
The unnecessary hatred of "Vintage White" really kinda makes this ranking predictable. I think any future rankings should feature guests and a collective score to reduce bias.
Hatred is harsh. It’s just silly how overused that color is when it’s just there to create a phony sense of nostalgia. But If you want to hear from others, that’s totally fair. Look up my Quick Shifts playlist, in which some other contributors have weighed in on things like this-Winter Classic jersey ranking, specifically. I only turned this from a retrospective into a ranking because I get so many people asking my about my favorites. Here I figured I could tackle it all at once.
This was fantastic! I think doing a Heritage Classic one would work well as aside from the first one where Edmonton's and Montreal's regular jerseys were worn, they have all had unique uniforms.
I gotta say, I love the vintage white and think teams should incorporate it at every chance. I also love the old, classic leather gloves, pants and pads.
As a graphic designer who loves hockey, I just want to say I love your channel. The graphics that you use look so polished and fantastic and I love the focus on design and visuals. Most overlook those things but they interest me a lot so thank you for filling that void!
That bashing on vintage white is not healthy. I LOVE IT! Living in Sweden all we get is bright colors and LOTS of ads all over the jerseys. I do like the fact that you take color balance into the equation. My favorites are Kraken (like the best jersey ever) and the blacked out Blackhawks....that jersey is insane!
I truly appreciate the channel and all of your work, I’ve been a long time follower across many platforms. That being said, your logic is a little off for your scoring. The 2012 jerseys were beautiful and both teams did a great job coming up with new faux back ideas. I come in peace, not trying to pick a fight. Keep up the good work!
No, I totally get it! I figured it wouldn’t be the most popular opinion. I just think the best looking Winter Classic uniforms are the ones that look like they would’ve been new a century ago... if that makes sense. When teams use “vintage white,” it’s like they’re pulling ratty old jerseys out of some long-forgotten box in the attic.
That would be a fun one! Have to add that to the list. A lot of interesting designs in the Reebok-Adidas era. Might have to look at that later in the spring or summer.
I definitely don't agree with all of your scoring here, but holy cow am I glad you're doing what you're doing. This channel is top tier and features like this just add to the appeal. Thanks for the awesome content.
Both 2014 and 2016 had jerseys with vintage white. Were no points deducted from “color balance” because the vintage white was an accent color? My lone gripe is the original WC jersey set is A tier for me, not B tier. As always, love the content and how much effort is put into the incredibly polished production. I hope others don’t get too caught up in the ratings to appreciate what a masterful story and edit job this is.
Thanks for all the kind words as usual, Gregg! As to your original question, I didn’t want it to be like “vintage white is an automatic points deduction” because it’s not like that in my mind. The issue for me is where it’s overused in an attempt to force a phony sense of nostalgia or it’s too prominent. I didn’t love it for Detroit in 2014, but what won out for me was the color-vs-color aspect of the matchup. For Boston in 2016, it’s barely noticeable.
I’m a bruins fan but I think the Kracken’s kit for this year was absolutely top notch. One of the only times I’ve considered buying a jersey from a different team. For a hilarious gawdy factor, the 2023 bruins kit is also up there 😂
I didn't realize how often they repeated teams. Theres 32 teams and they only had like 10 play in the Winter Classic. There might be more great designs if they opened up to more teams. I do think they would be better off, visually, if the teams collaborated on the uniforms to make it feel more like an authentic vintage game.
It’s really 16 teams, but you make a great point. They’ve done the Winter Classic 15 times now, which leaves the possibility of 30 different teams taking part.
If you were to gauge the quality of the commercials, the Nike Hockey would be all time greatest. I miss those Nike Hockey commercials. They were absolute gold!
I love your videos, your production is always unbelievably good. And I really respect your even keeled understanding that your opinions are likely not going to match many. Including me. These rankings dropped my jaw at points. Wonderful video and great channel
Haha, thanks for watching! I completely get it. Can I ask something? Would you have preferred a simple retrospective that included all the history without the ratings? Or were you happy to see the ratings even though you disagreed at points?
@icethetics typically I might have preferred a straight retrospective, but honestly this was so fun. And while I might still be scratching my head at how Boston-Chicago is S Tier (what?!) I truly did enjoy seeing your insights. You're more knowledgeable and arguably more reasonable than myself. I have so much respect for the thought, care, and level of quality in these videos, that taking an opinion and subjective spin on these is really fun. And we can all argue in the comments like a real hockey community should.
@icethetics as an aside, Detroit-Toronto is my favorite Winter Classic. I'm a Caps fan, but I don't disagree with a single thing you said regarding our WC appearances, other than the fact that the 2015 WC had a whole presentation explaining the significance of the history, but its easily missed. I can't seem to find so much as a recording or anything but I remember watching the announcement excitedly on NHL network
Really enjoyable video! The 2016 Bruins Jersey is my absolute favourite (even among the Bruins' historic uniforms). Thanks for the upload. Keep it up :)
Like others, I like vintage white. Love your channel and the only thing I dislike about this video (not that I agree with every ranking) is the constant hate of vintage white. Not liking a colour shouldn't dock a point in my opinion but it's your video and otherwise very well done. Thanks for taking the time to make this. Loved watching it.
Again, quality content, and very entertaining. Love the retrospective, and it does highlight that the fact that the winter classic was skewed to too many of the same clubs and I’m curious as to why that was the reason.
I mean, they’ve gotta sell tickets and their TV partners need big audiences. So they go with successful teams in big markets or with big stars. Still, it’d be nice to see some more variety.
I appreciate the honesty on not being a fan of vintage white, and how it effected the ratings. For me, the the mileage varies with vintage white. I think the usage on the Pirates inspired Pens jersey was good. The St Louis & Vegas ones I do agree that they were rather drab. My personal favorite individual jerseys in no particular order are the 2016 Boston, Minnesota, Dallas, Maple Leafs, 2014 Detroit & barber pole Seattle sweaters. I do think the normal white on a Kraken barber pole jersey would be my runaway favorite. The barber pole style to me screams vintage hockey.
2014 NHL Winter Classic was not only memorable but also to this day as of 2024 still holds the record for the largest attendance at the NHL Winter Classic with a total of 105,491 people
They're quite literally the opposite of clean. The just look dirty and unwashed. But I do get that a lot of people like the style. NHL wouldn't keep cranking them out if they didn't.
The matchup between Penguins and Capitals was so clean. I think that color balance should’ve been higher (personnally i think that wearing vintage-white for the Penguins was the right decision even if it can be boring sometimes). But, it was an amazing video and i love watching your content. Keep going!
2011 is the absolute GOAT for me, those designs on both sides I thought were iconic and those uniforms are burned into my brain after the amazing HBO show surrounding the event that year.
Love the channel and this type of video man is a great idea, hope to see more like it! That being said I am shocked how much you dislike the cream or "vintage" white look. We see the "white" in jerseys every game we watch so I love the cream as a different and unique look for a game like the winter classic.
The reasons behind the 2012 marks all make sense and are agreeable, but i still find myself really liking the looks on both sides, especially the Philly design.
My brain says the ‘23 Pens uni is a C but my yinzer soul gives it an S. There’s something very Pittsburgh about it. It somehow ties together all Pgh pro sports history as you can find common themes with the Steelers and Pirates. I love that jersey. And I think that’s why you see so many fans still wearing them. Incredible work as always Chris!
I have a Canadiens reebok edge 2.0 Winter Classic jersey, and it is gorgeous. The thing is, I’ve been a Penguins fan for 20 years. It was so nice though, I had to. And glad I did, cuz all I see now are replicas
You said there's no historical relevance for the Caps 2015 jersey, but that's not true - theirs was based on the minor league Washington Lions of the 1940s, exactly what Dallas and Nashville would do a few years later.
I’m aware of the Lions, but couldn’t find any evidence of them wearing a jersey like the Caps’ design. Any chance there’s a link you could point me to?
I, personally, would have NSH-DAL and VGK-SEA in the S Tier. Historical relevance aside, both of those events ABSOLUTELY stand out in what has become the same-ol' New Year's spectacle. I cannot be alone in thinking Boston, Chicago, and Pittsburgh need to sit out for the rest of the decade. By the way, I usually agree and love all of your takes and videos, but I cannot idly stand by and watch you drag "vintage" cream through the mud. I love the color and applaud when it's used correctly. The new Kraken sweater is quickly becoming one of my favorites of all time. I wore it all day the past two days. Much love and respect, though! Happy New Year! I can't wait to watch what you drop next.
In no particular order, the ones that I like the most are the 2008 Penguins (despite being a Capitals fan it’s a great uniform), 2011 Capitals, 2009 Red Wings, 2009 Blackhawks, and the 2014 Maple Leafs
Id love to see you ranking all the jerseys in order. For example (as an NYR fan) Phillys boring design really brought down our design. Then our 2018 design is one of the best ever. I do think the dingy white color isnt perfect. Sometimes its done great like ours in ‘12 but in ‘20 the blues was overkill. I dont think it should be “frowned” upon but its a matter of useage.
Pairing each years designs is a new and interesting way to do it! It unfortunately, in my opinion, really lowers scores for some great uniforms that got paired with some tough designs. Seattle’s is what comes to mind, it might be one of my favourite Winter Classic uniforms ever. Right up there with Dallas and Minnesota. But I also love the vintage white😅
Ah, ok. See that’s where I think it punts legitimate historical relevance in favor of a phony nostalgia. But I know I'm in the minority on that opinion.
Amazing production value, as always. My hot takes: 1. 2014 Red Wings is an all-time jersey league-wide and should be in regular rotation 2. 2015 Hawks white jersey is elite. (The lettering, the elbow patch, everything) 3. 2019 Hawks black/white should be their third. 4. 2022 Wild is a top three all-time WC jersey
Why is historical relevance a factor when grading Winter Classic jerseys? I know that it’s tradition for teams to bring out an old design, but it’s not a Heritage game.
Yeah, I mean just because it’s not in the name of the event doesn’t mean it’s not a factor. The other two criteria aren’t in the name either. Whether you think the Winter Classic should use traditional jersey designs or not, the fact is they do. Consistently.
I really liked both of the jerseys from the 2012 winter classic... but I understand that the off-white set against the orange jerseys might lack contrast. but I think those are both nice looking jerseys.
I think I’d agree with that. While the off white is not my cup of tea, it was novel for its time. And the designs aren’t terrible by any means. I might have a flawed scoring system. 😅
I feel like vintage white and the winter classic go hand in hand. As in that is the event teams get to use it. Though I do understand it does reduce a little of the contrast between the colors.
The best way to start 2024 is with an incredible Icesthetics video, your production quality is S tier 👌 Side note: Vintage white done right is great, but the “throw this on just because” approach has been criminal. Hope we see Fanatics move the needle away from this trend
At 18:44 The Habs & Bruins are called “Hockey’s most storied rivalry”. This is a strange assertion. Toronto is far and away the most storied rival of Montreal. Indeed, they are the two teams with the most cups as well. Other than that slip up, loved this entire video. Great work as always!
@@icethetics Please accept my critique as given from of an abundance of enjoyment & connection with the work being done. As far as ranking goes, Icethetics is S-tier.
Coming back, I recently watched a video where they compared the Reebok Canadiens barber pole jersey to the team store vintage sweater version of it. The reebok had white and the team store had vintage white. I can absolutely see what you mean now with the "Vintage white" looking dingy and dirty. You can make a vintage looking jersey without resorting to it. I think a couple teams make it work like the 2022 Wild where it's a cream or the 2014 Red Wings where it accents the red well. Those teams I think took care to see what it would look like with which colours. But overall, I think a lot of these would look a lot better with pure white. I think it takes seeing a direct comparison to what could be for your point to really stand out. I can't stop seeing it now that I've seen it back to back, and I think you're getting a lot of pushback from people who haven't considered what could be. And I've love to see you make a Heritage Classic version of this video!
I understand that you don’t like vintage white, BUT I think you gotta take into account that on some of the more historical jerseys, that’s what was used because they didn’t have clean white fabric back in the day. On the others, I understand . Also, on your top score (Boston/MTL), the bruins numbers/letters are vintage white. Love your videos and love what you do!!!
They didn’t have clean white fabric back in the day? Dude, what? That is so false. Old sweaters look like that today because aging has taken its toll and the fabric has degraded over time if people haven’t taken care of it. Anyway, I don’t dislike every uniform that employs vintage white. Sometimes it can enhance a jersey. Sometimes other aspects of the jersey overshadow it to the point it doesn’t matter. Thanks for watching!!
Weird how the Sabres jersey back in 2009 was a rare throwback and now it just looks like a regular Sabres away jersey. Also now the red and black is a throwback that some fans want to go back to.
I love the vintage white use, so completely disagree with you on that one. But I definetely appreciate the video and work put into it. Now let's hope the NHL keeps putting new teams in the Winter Classic and not same old teams! Time for Vancouver/Buffalo!
Maybe you should look at the Kraken jersey IRL it looks FANTASTIC and the logo & numbers are red felt. I've never seen a jersey with such a commitment to quality and detail. Colors goes great together BTW, maybe you have colorblindness?
Haha, thanks for the diagnosis, doc. I own that Kraken Winter Classic jersey. Wore it to the last few home games. It's hanging on my wall as we speak. It’s grown on me. I like it. But this is just how it fell in the ranking.
Great video with a lot of thought put into it. Though, I think you're a bit too hard on vintage white. I don't mind the look as it evokes the sepia tones of old photographs. Plus, I don't mind the "faux-back" sweaters where some historical elements are imagined, especially for hockey clubs that don't actually have much real-life history. Honestly, let's see a steampunk uniform, someday. How awesome would that be? Other than those two nits to pick, it's a great video.
I think so. Seems to be a popular request. I'll aim to have it ready just after the upcoming Stadium Series next month so I can include some game shots from the last one Adidas will be designing.
Maybe it's because I'm a baseball fan, and the use of "vintage white" is more welcome. But I actually like the idea of the faux back. I think it looks cool.
Just to add some context to why I went in this direction: This video started out as a retrospective on Winter Classic jerseys. Then, since the most common question I get from viewers and readers is ”what’s your favorite...?” I decided to include a rating... which turned into a ranking... which is all very subjective and opinion-based, of course. It seems like some viewers prefer videos with fewer opinions, so I’m certainly happy to keep doing those, but I’d love to hear what you think!
I hope that you continue the Rate and Rank series for years to come. This is some great Icethetics content that I would love to keep tuning in for as long as you are enjoying making it.
absolutely loved this video! We agree on all except Tor vs Det (Should have been S Tier :P) Heritage Classics next please!
This is your channel. Feel free to do whatever you want! Rate and rank is great since we get to reminisce on the jerseys too!
Great list...i just wonder would this list would look like if all the other outdoor games(the Heritage Classic and Stadium Series etc) were counted...maybe something for the future, i guess.
The bombing of designs just because it has "Vintage White" is crazy. I personally love when teams use it, being a Flames fan, the new HC jersey design from this season is one of my all time favorites.
I had a feeling it would be an unpopular opinion. But I figured I should be honest about it instead of pandering. 😅 I loved Calgary’s first Heritage Classic jersey! New one, not so much.
I personally love vintage white on a throw-way-back.
Agreed. The Blues got lowered because of it
Maybe if the Blues make the Winter Classic jerseys the main design, they will change it to white
I would love to see that!
I think off white is gorgeous, especially outside
Definitely a popular opinion. I just think it looks so dingy against the white ice.
I think you are the only one that doesn’t like the off-white
Haha, I may well be. 😅
Seattle has one of the best Winter Classic jerseys in years and I don't think it lands as well if it didn't utilize that vintage white.
You might be right about that, but maybe they could’ve tried something other than ice blue, which is undoubtedly a very modern color. Wouldn’t see that on a 1920s wool sweater. Maybe the red would’ve worked well?
Nah it sucked
@@icetheticswho said anything about 1920's accuracy? if you want that look, get into a time machine. these outdoor game jerseys are in a category of their own, new designs with homages to vintage throwback aesthetics. if they just copied historical jerseys, that would be lame. I'm all for new ideas incorporating vintage elements.
I love the vintage white, I get it that it can be overused but it’s kind of becoming part of the aesthetic. Just bought a Sabres 2023 HC Jersey and think it’s amazing
Yeah, it’s definitely popular among fans. That’s why the NHL keeps doing it. Glad you’re enjoying your new Sabres sweater! 🔵🟡
By itself, I actually love the Capitals 2015 look. I don’t mind the idea of faux backs when teams or cities don’t necessarily have the history
Couldn’t agree more. I personally liked that Caps jersey a lot, and kind of hoped they’d use it as an alternate at some point. I like the idea of teams doing this, but sometimes it just doesn’t work well-like Vegas.
love the off white
Many people do!
This was a great retrospective! But it did make me almost disappointed to see how many franchises have been ignored in the near 15 iterations of this event. There is no reason for a team to play in 3+ outdoor games at this point. Nashville and Dallas prove that a love for hockey can be found in so many unique and diverse communities, let that shine more!
Amen! 🙌🏻
My biggest complaint is how many times an Original 6 team has been included in the matchup and how many teams have been ignored.
Red Wings vs Toronto was easily the best looking Winter Classic ever. Red vs Blue: unbeatable. More games should feature Home vs Home IMO
Sometimes color-versus-color games just work really well! I do hope we see more of them where it makes sense.
Agreed - maybe I’m biased b/c i was there, but this year looked fantastic!
Looked phenomenal on TV! It would rank much higher if I was going off gut instinct alone.
Dang, props for finishing this video minutes after the 24 WC ended! I was lucky enough to be at the 2020 WC in Dallas and it was my favorite hockey game I've been to!
Haha, thanks! The trick was to have worked on it diligently for the past two weeks... and then drop in video clips from today’s game and render while it was being played. 😅
I’d suggest you do one for the Stadium Series and Heritage Classics, too!
On it!
@@icethetics Ight!!! Let's go!
Quite a few thoughts on an excellent video:
-I like the idea of ranking the pairs of jerseys. Makes it a unique endeavour
-I really like the vintage white when it is saved for the Winter Classic. It kind of serves as a signal that “yes this is a unique event focused on older aesthetics” is the point of these jerseys
-I wouldn’t have included historical relevance as a main criterion. I would have replaced it with a metric that ranks jerseys based on a heritage aesthetic, rewarding teams for getting creative instead of just copying old looks.
-The hate on vintage white seemed a bit inconsistent: when present in jerseys it automatically cost them points (and some teams got high scorers simply for not including it) but when Dallas used vintage whi- er, tan equipment, they got rewarded
-Lastly, this one is just my personal taste, but as a Flyers fan the 2014 jersey is my favourite they’ve ever worn in their whole history. The Rangers one was alright, but certainly not garbage in my eyes. Meanwhile, I found the CHI/BOS jerseys drab and colourless, and fairly unremarkable, so it’s interesting to see how jerseys you rank as the best are ones I am very mild on, and the ones you rank the worst include one of my favourite all-time NHL jerseys.
Great work on the video as usual, looking forward to the next as always! Just because I disagreed with some of the opinions (which is weird because normally I’m 100% with you) doesn’t mean I didn’t love the video!
I agree with almost every point you made on here! With the exception being your distaste for the 2019 WC. Those jersey sets looks so crisp.
Awarding points for *not using vintage white* was laughable. Such unreasonable bias undermines ranking. Objectivity is hard, but this throws it out the window.
Blues 2 WC jerseys are just beautiful and will hopefully eventually be their home and away jerseys.
If they used a proper white on them, I would love that too!
@@icethetics oh man you don’t like the off white!? That away WC we wore in Minny is stunningly beautiful! You’re one of the few ppl I’ve heard who says they don’t like that off white lol but to each their own!
@@icethetics by the way have you heard any rumblings on any new/exciting jersey ideas that Fanatic’s may introduce next season? I’m ready for some new Blues jerseys!
@@CorySpitznagel Please do not put that in the air. Our home away jerseys are amazing. Our alternate is also pretty. We dont need to ruin what we already have.
@@bonkz2624 our home and away are bland as hell and it’s time for a change it’s been close to 15 years now
The bashing of off-white is insane lol Last thing I expected to hear about in a ranking vid for WC jerseys. It distracted from so much of the video, but I suppose would make a great drinking game!
haha i am quite insane. thanks for watching (and drinking)! 😅
I like the "vintage white" look for rare retro events personally.
Yeah, you’re certainly not alone in that. I think anyone else making this list would come up with a very different ranking from me. 😅
The unnecessary hatred of "Vintage White" really kinda makes this ranking predictable. I think any future rankings should feature guests and a collective score to reduce bias.
Hatred is harsh. It’s just silly how overused that color is when it’s just there to create a phony sense of nostalgia. But If you want to hear from others, that’s totally fair. Look up my Quick Shifts playlist, in which some other contributors have weighed in on things like this-Winter Classic jersey ranking, specifically. I only turned this from a retrospective into a ranking because I get so many people asking my about my favorites. Here I figured I could tackle it all at once.
The 2012 game is probably my second favourite behind the 2014. Although I am a huge fan of the Vintage White.
this channel is so underrated, but it really goes to show how niche of a market hockey is
This was fantastic!
I think doing a Heritage Classic one would work well as aside from the first one where Edmonton's and Montreal's regular jerseys were worn, they have all had unique uniforms.
Certainly on my to-do list. Thanks for watching!
I gotta say, I love the vintage white and think teams should incorporate it at every chance. I also love the old, classic leather gloves, pants and pads.
That is definitely a popular opinion!
As a graphic designer who loves hockey, I just want to say I love your channel. The graphics that you use look so polished and fantastic and I love the focus on design and visuals. Most overlook those things but they interest me a lot so thank you for filling that void!
Very kind, thank you!
That bashing on vintage white is not healthy. I LOVE IT! Living in Sweden all we get is bright colors and LOTS of ads all over the jerseys. I do like the fact that you take color balance into the equation. My favorites are Kraken (like the best jersey ever) and the blacked out Blackhawks....that jersey is insane!
I truly appreciate the channel and all of your work, I’ve been a long time follower across many platforms. That being said, your logic is a little off for your scoring. The 2012 jerseys were beautiful and both teams did a great job coming up with new faux back ideas. I come in peace, not trying to pick a fight. Keep up the good work!
No, I totally get it! I figured it wouldn’t be the most popular opinion. I just think the best looking Winter Classic uniforms are the ones that look like they would’ve been new a century ago... if that makes sense. When teams use “vintage white,” it’s like they’re pulling ratty old jerseys out of some long-forgotten box in the attic.
Amazing Video! I can't wait to see one done for All Star Game Jerseys! 😎👍
That would be a fun one! Have to add that to the list. A lot of interesting designs in the Reebok-Adidas era. Might have to look at that later in the spring or summer.
I definitely don't agree with all of your scoring here, but holy cow am I glad you're doing what you're doing. This channel is top tier and features like this just add to the appeal. Thanks for the awesome content.
Thank you for watching!
Both 2014 and 2016 had jerseys with vintage white. Were no points deducted from “color balance” because the vintage white was an accent color?
My lone gripe is the original WC jersey set is A tier for me, not B tier.
As always, love the content and how much effort is put into the incredibly polished production. I hope others don’t get too caught up in the ratings to appreciate what a masterful story and edit job this is.
Thanks for all the kind words as usual, Gregg! As to your original question, I didn’t want it to be like “vintage white is an automatic points deduction” because it’s not like that in my mind. The issue for me is where it’s overused in an attempt to force a phony sense of nostalgia or it’s too prominent. I didn’t love it for Detroit in 2014, but what won out for me was the color-vs-color aspect of the matchup. For Boston in 2016, it’s barely noticeable.
The Penguins with the 1967 logo.
🐧+🧣= 👍
I’m a bruins fan but I think the Kracken’s kit for this year was absolutely top notch. One of the only times I’ve considered buying a jersey from a different team. For a hilarious gawdy factor, the 2023 bruins kit is also up there 😂
This video was very well done!!!! Can't wait to see you do the one for Outdoor games that weren't Winter Classics and also one for All-Star Games!!!!!
Thank you for watching!
The Wild had the greatest winter classic jersey and nobody can change my mind.
Wouldn’t want to.
I didn't realize how often they repeated teams. Theres 32 teams and they only had like 10 play in the Winter Classic. There might be more great designs if they opened up to more teams. I do think they would be better off, visually, if the teams collaborated on the uniforms to make it feel more like an authentic vintage game.
It’s really 16 teams, but you make a great point. They’ve done the Winter Classic 15 times now, which leaves the possibility of 30 different teams taking part.
Love the tier lists! Would love to see this done for” jersey eras” such as Adidas / Rebook / CCM and so on. Well done as always. 🔥
Thanks, Bret! Glad you enjoyed it.
If you were to gauge the quality of the commercials, the Nike Hockey would be all time greatest. I miss those Nike Hockey commercials. They were absolute gold!
Would love to see a video on ranking heritage classic jerseys next!
I love your videos, your production is always unbelievably good. And I really respect your even keeled understanding that your opinions are likely not going to match many. Including me. These rankings dropped my jaw at points. Wonderful video and great channel
Haha, thanks for watching! I completely get it. Can I ask something? Would you have preferred a simple retrospective that included all the history without the ratings? Or were you happy to see the ratings even though you disagreed at points?
@icethetics typically I might have preferred a straight retrospective, but honestly this was so fun. And while I might still be scratching my head at how Boston-Chicago is S Tier (what?!) I truly did enjoy seeing your insights. You're more knowledgeable and arguably more reasonable than myself. I have so much respect for the thought, care, and level of quality in these videos, that taking an opinion and subjective spin on these is really fun. And we can all argue in the comments like a real hockey community should.
Heck yeah!
@icethetics as an aside, Detroit-Toronto is my favorite Winter Classic. I'm a Caps fan, but I don't disagree with a single thing you said regarding our WC appearances, other than the fact that the 2015 WC had a whole presentation explaining the significance of the history, but its easily missed. I can't seem to find so much as a recording or anything but I remember watching the announcement excitedly on NHL network
High quality video from high quality channel about sports design! Like it 3 times! And yes, we perfectly understand that you hate vintage white.
ok wasn’t sure if I made that clear 😅 thanks for watching! And liking!
Really enjoyable video! The 2016 Bruins Jersey is my absolute favourite (even among the Bruins' historic uniforms). Thanks for the upload. Keep it up :)
Thanks for watching!
Love the analysis, I personally am a fan of this type of video!
Thanks for watching!
Great video! The theatrical style of ranking jerseys is unique!
Loved the video, keep up the great work! Would love to potentially see same style of video for stadium series and potentially heritage classic jerseys
I hope you do a video on Heritage Classic jerseys soon! love the amount of detail you always put into these great videos always😊
You are one of a kind, Icethetics. Great work!
Haha, thank you! 💙
Legendary video. I really hope the trend of putting teams that haven’t had outdoor games yet in outdoor games continues
Same!
i would love to see this series for the heritage classic and the stadium series jerseys
Like others, I like vintage white. Love your channel and the only thing I dislike about this video (not that I agree with every ranking) is the constant hate of vintage white. Not liking a colour shouldn't dock a point in my opinion but it's your video and otherwise very well done.
Thanks for taking the time to make this. Loved watching it.
would love to see you rank both RR like this!
Again, quality content, and very entertaining. Love the retrospective, and it does highlight that the fact that the winter classic was skewed to too many of the same clubs and I’m curious as to why that was the reason.
I mean, they’ve gotta sell tickets and their TV partners need big audiences. So they go with successful teams in big markets or with big stars. Still, it’d be nice to see some more variety.
@@icethetics oh, yes, I forgot… It’s a business. Anyway, keep up the amazing work and I look forward to what you’ve got next.
Chris, another fantastic video! The production value is truly phenomenal! Also, totally agree with the overuse of vintage white.
Thanks for watching! And appreciate you sharing an unpopular opinion. 😆
Predictable anti-“vintage white” pro-“original six” list
Oof, I am so not “pro”-“Original Six” anything. 😅 And you might be the first to call this ranking predictable. Interesting! 🥇
I love vintage white but I do agree that it can be/has been overdone. The Rangers 2012 unis are my favorite of any Winter Classic though
Yeah, I think my biggest problem is that it’s overdone. If we just saw it here and there every few years or so, I would probably like it a lot more.
I appreciate the honesty on not being a fan of vintage white, and how it effected the ratings.
For me, the the mileage varies with vintage white. I think the usage on the Pirates inspired Pens jersey was good. The St Louis & Vegas ones I do agree that they were rather drab.
My personal favorite individual jerseys in no particular order are the 2016 Boston, Minnesota, Dallas, Maple Leafs, 2014 Detroit & barber pole Seattle sweaters.
I do think the normal white on a Kraken barber pole jersey would be my runaway favorite. The barber pole style to me screams vintage hockey.
2014 NHL Winter Classic was not only memorable but also to this day as of 2024 still holds the record for the largest attendance at the NHL Winter Classic with a total of 105,491 people
Love these
Bro cream colored jerseys are so clean 😭
They're quite literally the opposite of clean. The just look dirty and unwashed. But I do get that a lot of people like the style. NHL wouldn't keep cranking them out if they didn't.
The matchup between Penguins and Capitals was so clean. I think that color balance should’ve been higher (personnally i think that wearing vintage-white for the Penguins was the right decision even if it can be boring sometimes). But, it was an amazing video and i love watching your content. Keep going!
Thanks for watching!
2011 is the absolute GOAT for me, those designs on both sides I thought were iconic and those uniforms are burned into my brain after the amazing HBO show surrounding the event that year.
Love the channel and this type of video man is a great idea, hope to see more like it! That being said I am shocked how much you dislike the cream or "vintage" white look. We see the "white" in jerseys every game we watch so I love the cream as a different and unique look for a game like the winter classic.
Fair point. I’m a walking conundrum. 😵💫 Thank you for watching!
Not sure why there’s so much hate for the vintage white? It’s a great look.
Hate is a strong interpretation. I'd consider it more a mild annoyance at an overused idea.
The reasons behind the 2012 marks all make sense and are agreeable, but i still find myself really liking the looks on both sides, especially the Philly design.
My brain says the ‘23 Pens uni is a C but my yinzer soul gives it an S.
There’s something very Pittsburgh about it. It somehow ties together all Pgh pro sports history as you can find common themes with the Steelers and Pirates. I love that jersey. And I think that’s why you see so many fans still wearing them.
Incredible work as always Chris!
Thanks, Alan!
I have a Canadiens reebok edge 2.0 Winter Classic jersey, and it is gorgeous. The thing is, I’ve been a Penguins fan for 20 years. It was so nice though, I had to. And glad I did, cuz all I see now are replicas
You said there's no historical relevance for the Caps 2015 jersey, but that's not true - theirs was based on the minor league Washington Lions of the 1940s, exactly what Dallas and Nashville would do a few years later.
I’m aware of the Lions, but couldn’t find any evidence of them wearing a jersey like the Caps’ design. Any chance there’s a link you could point me to?
2014 and 2020 were some of my favorite jerseys
I, personally, would have NSH-DAL and VGK-SEA in the S Tier. Historical relevance aside, both of those events ABSOLUTELY stand out in what has become the same-ol' New Year's spectacle. I cannot be alone in thinking Boston, Chicago, and Pittsburgh need to sit out for the rest of the decade.
By the way, I usually agree and love all of your takes and videos, but I cannot idly stand by and watch you drag "vintage" cream through the mud. I love the color and applaud when it's used correctly. The new Kraken sweater is quickly becoming one of my favorites of all time. I wore it all day the past two days.
Much love and respect, though! Happy New Year! I can't wait to watch what you drop next.
Vintage white literally makes a jersey look like it’s been dragged through the mud. 😅 But fair enough. Not everyone will agree with me on that.
@@icethetics I knew you were going to go there, but I insisted on making the play on words. 😆
Please do another video like this but with stadium series jerseys!! I think that would be absolutely awesome!
On it!
I thought I was alone with my distaste for the "off-white/cream" colours. Great tier list and production value!
Thanks for watching! 💙
Once Stadium Series happens, do scoring on those jerseys.
Yeah, if this video does well, my plan is to do something similar for the Stadium Series next month.
A video on the Stadium Series would be wild, given how unhinged some of these designs were!
Exactly! I’d have to come up with some different criteria. Historical relevance is definitely not a factor for those uniforms.
The 2012 Flyers one is one of my favorites but that is mainly because I am a fan of the color orange
I’d love to see a vid like this for the Stadium Series when those new ones get released! Particularly excited to see the Islanders’ design!
Seems like that’s on my to-do list now!
The black and white Hawks jersey is just incredible
Isn't it, though? 😮💨
2011 Winter Classic Jerseys for Pittsburgh is my #1
Might be the best of the three.
In no particular order, the ones that I like the most are the 2008 Penguins (despite being a Capitals fan it’s a great uniform), 2011 Capitals, 2009 Red Wings, 2009 Blackhawks, and the 2014 Maple Leafs
Would you think about doing another one of these, but based around the stadium series games? Loved watching your content!
That does seem to be a popular request. I think I could sort that out. Thanks for watching!
Id love to see you ranking all the jerseys in order. For example (as an NYR fan) Phillys boring design really brought down our design. Then our 2018 design is one of the best ever. I do think the dingy white color isnt perfect. Sometimes its done great like ours in ‘12 but in ‘20 the blues was overkill. I dont think it should be “frowned” upon but its a matter of useage.
I think it would’ve been fine if it hadn’t become so overused. That certainly has colored my judgment over the years. (Accidental pun.)
The Winnipeg Jets Heritage Classic jerseys. Perfection
This video is amazing. I am begging you to do the heritage classic games.
Thank you! It’s on my list.
Pairing each years designs is a new and interesting way to do it! It unfortunately, in my opinion, really lowers scores for some great uniforms that got paired with some tough designs. Seattle’s is what comes to mind, it might be one of my favourite Winter Classic uniforms ever. Right up there with Dallas and Minnesota. But I also love the vintage white😅
I’d love to see you do this again for the stadium series
I really like the vintage white. It adds to the historical relevance.
Ah, ok. See that’s where I think it punts legitimate historical relevance in favor of a phony nostalgia. But I know I'm in the minority on that opinion.
Amazing production value, as always.
My hot takes:
1. 2014 Red Wings is an all-time jersey league-wide and should be in regular rotation
2. 2015 Hawks white jersey is elite. (The lettering, the elbow patch, everything)
3. 2019 Hawks black/white should be their third.
4. 2022 Wild is a top three all-time WC jersey
Thanks, Max! Agree with most of that. Though I did chuckle at the fourth on your list being a “top three all-time.” 😅
Why is historical relevance a factor when grading Winter Classic jerseys? I know that it’s tradition for teams to bring out an old design, but it’s not a Heritage game.
Yeah, I mean just because it’s not in the name of the event doesn’t mean it’s not a factor. The other two criteria aren’t in the name either. Whether you think the Winter Classic should use traditional jersey designs or not, the fact is they do. Consistently.
I really liked both of the jerseys from the 2012 winter classic... but I understand that the off-white set against the orange jerseys might lack contrast. but I think those are both nice looking jerseys.
I think I’d agree with that. While the off white is not my cup of tea, it was novel for its time. And the designs aren’t terrible by any means. I might have a flawed scoring system. 😅
Welp, you asked for it…….
Your take on vintage white is ABSOLUTELY ABYSMAL!!
Great video as always though! Thanks for all the awesome content!
Haha, fair enough. Thanks so much for watching!
I feel like vintage white and the winter classic go hand in hand. As in that is the event teams get to use it. Though I do understand it does reduce a little of the contrast between the colors.
The best way to start 2024 is with an incredible Icesthetics video, your production quality is S tier 👌
Side note: Vintage white done right is great, but the “throw this on just because” approach has been criminal. Hope we see Fanatics move the needle away from this trend
Thank you! 💙
At 18:44 The Habs & Bruins are called “Hockey’s most storied rivalry”. This is a strange assertion. Toronto is far and away the most storied rival of Montreal. Indeed, they are the two teams with the most cups as well. Other than that slip up, loved this entire video. Great work as always!
Huh. Script I wrote says “one of…” but clearly I misspoke and missed it. Good catch. 😅 Thanks for watching!
@@icethetics Please accept my critique as given from of an abundance of enjoyment & connection with the work being done. As far as ranking goes, Icethetics is S-tier.
All the wings classic jerseys are 🔥🔥🔥
This is an awesome video
Coming back, I recently watched a video where they compared the Reebok Canadiens barber pole jersey to the team store vintage sweater version of it. The reebok had white and the team store had vintage white.
I can absolutely see what you mean now with the "Vintage white" looking dingy and dirty. You can make a vintage looking jersey without resorting to it. I think a couple teams make it work like the 2022 Wild where it's a cream or the 2014 Red Wings where it accents the red well. Those teams I think took care to see what it would look like with which colours.
But overall, I think a lot of these would look a lot better with pure white. I think it takes seeing a direct comparison to what could be for your point to really stand out. I can't stop seeing it now that I've seen it back to back, and I think you're getting a lot of pushback from people who haven't considered what could be.
And I've love to see you make a Heritage Classic version of this video!
I understand that you don’t like vintage white, BUT I think you gotta take into account that on some of the more historical jerseys, that’s what was used because they didn’t have clean white fabric back in the day. On the others, I understand . Also, on your top score (Boston/MTL), the bruins numbers/letters are vintage white. Love your videos and love what you do!!!
They didn’t have clean white fabric back in the day? Dude, what? That is so false. Old sweaters look like that today because aging has taken its toll and the fabric has degraded over time if people haven’t taken care of it. Anyway, I don’t dislike every uniform that employs vintage white. Sometimes it can enhance a jersey. Sometimes other aspects of the jersey overshadow it to the point it doesn’t matter. Thanks for watching!!
I actually really like the vintage white as long as the design actually shows effort
Same. To the extent that it isn’t overused. And for the 3 years in a row it has been. In my opinion.
Weird how the Sabres jersey back in 2009 was a rare throwback and now it just looks like a regular Sabres away jersey. Also now the red and black is a throwback that some fans want to go back to.
Right? That’s why I felt like I had to address what the team was wearing at the time.
I love the vintage white use, so completely disagree with you on that one. But I definetely appreciate the video and work put into it.
Now let's hope the NHL keeps putting new teams in the Winter Classic and not same old teams! Time for Vancouver/Buffalo!
Those Seattle jerseys are amazing! Love the red, and it doesn’t clash… they’re called complimentary colours.
I did buy one so I can’t really argue. (also that’s not what complementary colors are 😬)
Maybe you should look at the Kraken jersey IRL it looks FANTASTIC and the logo & numbers are red felt. I've never seen a jersey with such a commitment to quality and detail. Colors goes great together BTW, maybe you have colorblindness?
Haha, thanks for the diagnosis, doc. I own that Kraken Winter Classic jersey. Wore it to the last few home games. It's hanging on my wall as we speak. It’s grown on me. I like it. But this is just how it fell in the ranking.
Great video with a lot of thought put into it. Though, I think you're a bit too hard on vintage white. I don't mind the look as it evokes the sepia tones of old photographs. Plus, I don't mind the "faux-back" sweaters where some historical elements are imagined, especially for hockey clubs that don't actually have much real-life history. Honestly, let's see a steampunk uniform, someday. How awesome would that be? Other than those two nits to pick, it's a great video.
Will you be doing a Stadium Series version of this ranking video series?
I think so. Seems to be a popular request. I'll aim to have it ready just after the upcoming Stadium Series next month so I can include some game shots from the last one Adidas will be designing.
Maybe it's because I'm a baseball fan, and the use of "vintage white" is more welcome. But I actually like the idea of the faux back. I think it looks cool.
I think I’m just an oddball on this topic. 😅
0:52 Best Winter jerseys, Toronto and Toronto. The baby blue of the Penguis was aldo successful I think.
5:46 this sounds dramatic for the best reasons