The Colorado Avalanche may consider reviving one of the most iconic uniforms in sports history to celebrate their 25th season in Denver in 2020-21.
The Quebec Nordiques moved to Colorado prior to the 1995-96 campaign, but their famous blue uniforms featuring a fleurs-de-lis design and red igloo logo might be making a comeback in the near future.
"Next year is the team's 25th anniversary season. I think there is an opportunity," Declan Bolger, the senior vice president and chief marketing officer for Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, told The Athletic's Ryan S. Clark. "We've talked about it, but the opportunity has not (arisen) up to now. It's not the only thing we've talked about. We have talked about a lot of things."
The Avalanche organization is still littered with important figures from the team's tenure in Quebec. Jean Martineau, currently the senior vice president of communications, has been with the franchise since 1986. Pierre Lacroix, who became the Nordiques' general manager shortly before their relocation and oversaw two Stanley Cup wins in Colorado, is still on board as a senior advisor. Joe Sakic, a draft pick of the Nordiques in 1987 and the franchise's all-time points leader, is now Colorado's GM.
But despite those ties and the fact the club still sells Nordiques merchandise, the Avalanche have never worn Quebec throwbacks.
"Up to now, we have not had a uniform that has incorporated the Nordiques, but it is clear other clubs like Carolina (formerly the Hartford Whalers) have recently leaned into their past," Bolger said. "With Pierre, Joe, and Jean being with the team, you look in the media guide and how the Nordiques' records are included with the Avalanche's records, we certainly do acknowledge the Nordiques.
"We have been back there twice for exhibition games. It's something we have leaned into instead of away from."
The Hurricanes have embraced their Hartford roots since Tom Dundon took over as majority owner in 2018, with players wearing throwback green uniforms during a handful of games.
As for the Avalanche, count Nazem Kadri among the players who would be fired up for a throwback night in Denver.
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The American Hockey League Board of Governors voted to cancel the remainder of the 2019-20 campaign and 2020 Calder Cup playoffs due to the coronavirus pandemic, the league announcedMonday.
"After a lengthy review process, the American Hockey League has determined that the resumption and completion of the 2019-20 season is not feasible in light of current conditions," AHL president and chief executive officer David Andrews said.
He added: "The League's operational focus has turned toward actively preparing for the 2020-21 season."
League standings will be sorted by points percentage and all player statistics are considered final and official as of March 12 - the day the league suspended play. These stats will serve as the basis for determining awards for the 2019-20 campaign.
The cancellation marks the first time since 1936 that the Calder Cup won't be awarded.
New England will always be remembered for the style it rocked for six Super Bowl victories in the 2000s. That's a shame, because the "Pat Patriot" era is easily the franchise's most visually pleasing look. The vibrant red, white, and blue are perfect for a team named after American patriotism, and that logo is vastly superior to the one that succeeded it.
59. Los Angeles Kings (1990s)
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After stunning the hockey world by acquiring Wayne Gretzky in 1988, the Kings decided they needed a new look. The club ditched the purple and gold it shared with the Lakers and instead opted to mimic the Raiders' silver and black. The decision was a hit, and the Kings' popularity soared thanks to their new star and sleek new colors.
58. Houston Astros (1970s)
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Not everyone thinks these jerseys are in the GOAT discussion, but we're here to praise the "Tequila Sunrise" era of the '70s Astros. These uniforms are memorable, fun, and creative - all qualities that help create a classic look. Not every baseball team needs to dress conservatively.
57. Anaheim Mighty Ducks (1990s)
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There's perhaps no greater cult following for a uniform in all of sports than for the Mighty Ducks' look. This cartoonish retro jersey is revered for both its appearance on the ice and for the beloved Disney movie franchise. Since new ownership took these beauties away in 2006 and rebranded the Ducks with a drab black-and-orange set, fans have been dying for the jade-and-eggplant uniforms to make a full-time comeback.
56. Boston Red Sox (current)
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There's just something special about seeing the Red Sox home uniforms under the lights of Fenway Park. Boston has tried a few different colors as alternates and toyed with the grey aways a bit too much for our liking, but the home whites have remained untouched for decades, and we hope that tradition carries on for many years to come.
55. Cleveland Browns (2000s)
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The Browns' decision to return to their roots in their 2020 overhaul was the right one. Cleveland's home look is at classic as it gets in the NFL, and the fact it was taken away from us for five seasons is unforgivable. The brown-and-orange color scheme is unique in a sports world filled with far too much black, red, and blue. We should celebrate it.
54. Calgary Flames (1980s)
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You'll be hard-pressed to find a single fan of the Flames - or of sports aesthetics in general - who thinks Calgary's current black-tinged uniforms are superior to those of the team's heyday in the '80s. The Flames still wear the red version of these timeless sweaters as throwbacks, and they wore the white version for the 2019 Heritage Classic. Teasing us with brief glimpses of these beauties instead of using them on a full-time basis is criminal.
53. Ohio State football (current)
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When the Buckeyes take the field at the Shoe, you know they're going to look good. The scarlet-and-grey color combination is top-notch, and the consistent striping from head to toe, along with the iconic buckeye stickers littering the logo-less helmets, help make this uniform one of the all-time greats in the NCAA ranks. We don't mind the tasteful incorporation of black trim, though it's far from essential.
52. Detroit Tigers (current)
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A timeless and quintessential uniform design. Uncomplicated, trim up the middle around the neck, and a simple font on the back. Detroit's old English-style logo is one of the best in sports, and leaving it isolated on the front of the jersey is all this kit needs to be considered one of the all-time greats.
51. New York Knicks (1990s)
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The Knicks have been a punchline for years, but there's no denying New York has at least dressed well through decades of organizational futility. The orange and blue under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden will always draw attention.
Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid believes a change in attitude throughout the organization helped the club get back into the playoff mix this season.
"Management, coaching staff is all new, we brought in a couple new players, but I think it's just the vibe around the team that's changed," McDavid said on Sportsnet's #Ask31. "Everyone talks about that winning culture, and we didn't have that for a number of years.
"Just changing that whole culture and whole mindset I think has been huge."
After missing the postseason for the third time in four years last season, McDavid was vocal about his disappointment, saying his frustration level was "really high," and that it was "going to be a long summer" without playoff hockey.
The Oilers then used their time off to make some major changes. Edmonton hired longtime Detroit Red Wings executive Ken Holland as general manager, named Dave Tippett its new head coach, and brought in a series of new players, including goaltender Mike Smith and veteran winger James Neal.
The series of moves appeared to have worked, as the Oilers sat comfortably in second place in the Pacific Division with 83 points when the league went on pause March 12.
McDavid, of course, played a big role in the club's success, posting 97 points in 64 games to rank second in league scoring behind teammate Leon Draisaitl.
The deal carries an annual cap hit of $800,000, according to CapFriendly.
Guhle recorded eight points in 30 games with the Ducks this season. He also spent 27 games with the AHL's San Diego Gulls, where he tallied 14 points. The 22-year-old was acquired along with a first-rounder in the trade that sent Brandon Montour to the Buffalo Sabres in February 2019.
Guhle's underlying metrics weren't very impressive. His 41.9% expected goals for was worst among Ducks defensemen who played at least 10 games, and his 43.5% high-danger scoring chance was second-worst, according to Natural Stat Trick. However, there's still plenty of room to grow for the former second-round pick.
The Ducks also signed depth forward Sam Carrick to a one-year deal reportedly worth $700,000. The 28-year-old has collected five points in 34 career NHL games.
Athletes everywhere continue to get creative as they deal with their respective leagues being on hiatus. Some are better at it than others. Every Sunday throughout May, we'll look back on the week that was before crowning a quarantine king or queen. Here are the top isolation moments from the sports world over the last seven days.
10. Jazz dish out their favorite recipes
Members of the Utah Jazz recently launched their "Quarantine Cookbook." The video series provides step-by-step instructions for their favorite homemade dishes. Here's a sample of what to expect, courtesy of Royce O'Neale, who does a mean "Salt Bae" impression.
Sports are stopped, but the work never is for Russell Wilson. The Seattle Seahawks quarterback worked on perfecting his touch with the help of a soccer net, a training partner, and a pile of cones designed to simulate a pocket. Looking good, Russ.
The sports world, as it does every year, had plenty of fun getting creative for Star Wars Day on May 4. Whoever was responsible for animating this tennis compilation deserves a prize. Take the cake, they did.
Whether it's playing one-on-one with his dog or competing in the NBA's Horse Challenge, Trae Young has been keeping himself busy on his driveway court throughout the quarantine period. This week, the Atlanta Hawks star impersonated all of the different AAU warmup routines.
The Bundesliga is set to resume May 16 after getting the green light from the German government, making it the first major soccer competition to restart since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. In lieu of fans - who will be unable to attend matches - Borussia Monchengladbach decided to have creepy cutouts of supporters placed in the stands. For a truly authentic feel, they even made sure to include some rival fans.
Racing drivers are getting plenty of virtual laps in to hone their skills while on lockdown. But rising Formula 1 star George Russell is using sim races for a different purpose. The 22-year-old has apparently made it his mission to torment fellow F1 youngster Alex Albon when they race online, going out of his way to barge into his dear friend. Albon screaming "George?!" as he gets torpedoed into the wall time after time is just fantastic.
Somehow, an explanation into the selection of a course for their upcoming golf exhibition turned into a full minute of Peyton Manning absolutely roasting Tom Brady. Manning picked on Brady's recent inadvertent entry into a stranger's home in Florida and his departure from the New England Patriots, cracking up the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' new quarterback.
James Harrison doesn't play in the NFL anymore, he just pushes 1,960-pound sleds - and likely makes you feel bad about your own quarantine laziness - for fun. Let's hope somebody gifted the former Pittsburgh Steelers star another weight plate for his 42nd birthday Monday.
James Harrison pushing a 1,960-pound sled at age 42 is bananas 😳😳
While Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman was staying sharp with some at-home batting practice, his son Charlie was auditioning for the big leagues. The three-year-old totally overshadowed the four-time All-Star, most notably by showing off his fantastic home-run trot. The kid's already a star.
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Bobby Orr understands the desire to see hockey return, but he also comprehends the danger of the coronavirus pandemic.
"I don't think there's anything wrong with trying to come back, but to think that you're going to finish the season, have a playoff, and then start next season, I think we have to be really careful," the legendary former defenseman told TSN's James Duthie. "We just cannot come back until the players are safe, the families are safe, anybody connected with those games, around the games, if they do come back, (we have to make sure) that everyone is safe."
The Hockey Hall of Famer, who's celebrating the 50th anniversary of his iconic airborne Stanley Cup-winning goal Sunday, emphasized that the sport's significance pales in comparison to the world's current predicament.
"This is bigger than the game," Orr said. "This is life and death. We have to be real careful and real sure that everyone is prepared, and we can't be putting our players back out on the ice without proper conditioning. Staying at home the way they are now, it’s pretty difficult to stay in hockey skating shape.
"There's more important things than sports," he added. "I’m the biggest hockey fan in the world, and I miss it. I miss it a lot. But we can't be coming back too quickly. Things have to be right for the game to start up (again) and for the players to come back."
The NHL paused its season March 12 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In late April, the league was targeting a July return and hoped to reopen facilities in mid-to-late May, but the latter phase reportedly won't be initiated until a majority of clubs are able to do so.
In early April, Orr wrote a letter thanking workers at Massachusetts General Hospital, calling them the "true heroes."
