Back in 2021, the New Jersey Devils were finally doing the thing we’ve wanted them to do forever. When teams like the San Jose Sharks and Dallas Stars had black alternate jerseys, it seemed like a formality that the Devils would follow suit. Of course, Lou Lamoriello wasn’t keen on giving us what we wanted from a marketing standpoint, so it never came to be under his regime.
Then, when teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Islanders, teams that aren’t exactly known for the color black, were adding a black alternate, it was finally time for the Devils to join the ranks.
So, when the rumor mill announced that the Devils were releasing a third jersey made by Adidas, and it would be black, many were celebrating, Then, they saw the jersey.
We’ve given this opinion more times than we can count, so we’ll quote ourselves from back in 2021.
“The jersey could be a lot better. It’s not completely terrible in my opinion, but we can’t get past the logo. If we wanted to do the stripes on the sleeves as a throwback to the Bulldogs, that’s fine, but just put the Devils logo on the chest. Add that script logo to the shoulders if the company absolutely has to, but to take the iconic Devils logo off it entirely is just silly.”
That was pretty much the consensus back then. Most people hated the jerseys, but the Devils continued down this path. They put a lot of thought and effort into the jersey, and ignoring the immediate laugh riot that is putting the word “jersey” on a jersey, the consensus is changing.
And that’s hitting even harder this week after a new poll by The Athletic (paywall). They took the opinions of their own staff to find the best and worst jerseys in the history of each NHL franchise.
The Devils have the best logo in sports. Go argue with a wall, because we aren’t listening to any other opinion. The interlocking NJ to make a Devil is incredible. That background circle is the cherry on top. The missing logo is the reason the Jersey jersey was so panned at first. So, when The Athletic says the black alternate is the best of all time, we still disagree.
"The black sweaters with “Jersey” on the front are sleek and pop whenever they are on the ice. The font is perfect and the bits of red still pop, which is important given the team’s branding."The Athletic Staff
The Devils' Reebok jerseys are the best jerseys in the history of the franchise. It’s just the original red and black with perfect striping and a championship legacy. We understand that some could have a different opinion now that the black jerseys have been on the ice for four years. We agree with The Athletic that these jerseys look better on the ice than they do on a hanger, but these jerseys are not nearly as good as the Devils' home jersey, even today.
The colors of the Devils are so iconic that this opinion seems like it’s an overthought. For the record, the Devils’ 2014 Stadium Series jersey was ranked as the worst in franchise history. And honestly, that’s fair. The green and red just didn’t work there.