The Colorado Avalanche and the NHL rolled out the club’s Hometown Remix jersey on Monday morning, and the reaction around the design has been mixed at best.
The reveal wasn’t exactly a surprise for Avalanche fans. A leaked version of the jersey had already made the rounds on social media last week, including an odd version that showed the captain’s C on a #29 Nathan MacKinnon jersey. The official release cleaned that up and put #92 Gabriel Landeskog front and center, which is how the team wanted it seen.
The new look leans into a blue-heavy theme tied to the division rival design, but the all-white base with silvery and light blue accents doesn’t exactly jump off the screen. In action shots, the jersey looks better on Landeskog than it does in the initial reveal, but the overall impression is still that it lacks the kind of punch other teams have brought with their own Hometown Remix designs.
There’s a clean feel to it, no question. Still, the pared-down C logo doesn’t carry the same kind of pull that something like the Yeti foot would have brought.
NHL.com described the concept this way: “Is there anything as striking as the view of the snow-covered Rocky Mountains? Rhetorical question.
If you’re from Colorado, of course not. And it’s woven into this Hometown Remix jersey, in magnificent detail.
The mountain elevation pattern in graduating shades of blue is featured on the front crest and numbers on the back. The sleeves also feature Rocky Mountain detail on the shoulders.
The striking blue and white jersey is set off by metallic silver on the sleeves with additional silver detailing around the logos, giving the jersey a frosted, glistening look. There’s a freshness to this jersey that evokes crisp mountain air and new snow vibes.
Colorado, if you’re proud of your elevated place in the world, this one’s for you.”
And while the jersey does have that fresh-snow look, a little burgundy might have given it more bite.
The Avalanche will wear the Hometown Remix jersey for the first time on November 7 at home against the Detroit Red Wings. The team said it will use the jersey six times in all, with November 27 standing as the lone road game in the set.
As for the fan response, it hasn’t exactly been glowing.
In Other News...
Avalanche Blue Line Depth Suddenly Looks Even More Important
The Avalanches blue line got a little more complicated this week with the recall of defenseman Keaton Middleton from the AHLs Colorado Eagles ahead of a back-to-back set. Middleton is not expected to jump right into the lineup, but the move gives Colorado another body on a defensive group that is already adjusting to Josh Mansons ankle injury and the ripple effect that comes with it.
Noah Juulsen has already stepped into the regular rotation in Mansons absence, and Middleton now gives the club a possible seventh defenseman if the schedule demands it. With Manson expected to miss about two months, Colorados depth on the back end is suddenly more than a convenience, it is becoming a real part of the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Fans Already Have A New Jersey Debate On Their Hands
The Avalanches new Hometown Remix jerseys are officially out in the wild, and the club has already mapped out six games for the look after unveiling them on Nov. 2. It gives fans something fresh to chew on early in the season, especially with the design tied to a broader league trend of teams leaning into alternate uniforms that nod to local identity.
The first chance to see them on the ice comes against the Blackhawks, who will also be wearing their own hometown remix jerseys in the same matchup. For Colorado fans, that means the debut is set up as more than just a uniform reveal, with two teams rolling out new threads on the same night and an immediate comparison waiting once the puck drops. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Blue Line Suddenly Has A New Problem To Manage
The Avalanche had to reach down to the Colorado Eagles for some extra blue-line help, recalling Keaton Middleton as the schedule tightens and the wear starts to show. With back-to-back games on deck and Josh Manson out long term after an ankle injury, Colorado is trying to keep its defensive rotation steady without overtaxing the group it has left.
Middleton is not a stranger to the organization, having already seen NHL action with Colorado, and his familiarity with veteran Brent Burns could make the transition a little smoother if he is pressed into duty. For a team trying to stay organized on the back end while one of its more reliable defensemen is sidelined for roughly eight weeks, even a depth move like this can matter a lot more than it might on paper. [Read more 🡒]
