The Edmonton Oilers look set to add a new black uniform to their rotation, and Monday’s practice at Rogers Place offered the clearest hint yet that the club’s “Hometown Remix” jersey is close.
Back in August, the NHL announced the league-wide program that will have all 32 teams unveil a new sweater built around a specific theme. The league said the collection “will be anchored by special edition uniforms that uniquely and authentically celebrate the fans, city, and local culture of each team.”
For Edmonton, the early buzz pointed to black, and the practice setup seemed to back that up. Players hit the ice with a few noticeable changes, swapping out their usual blue gloves for black ones and wearing black pants with a recoloured Oilers logo.
That logo keeps the familiar Oilers structure, but the palette is new. The royal blue is gone, while the “Oilers” wordmark now comes in black with orange and grey outlines, creating a look that gives off a neon feel.
The rest of the uniform appears to follow the same darker lane. Edmonton is expected to pair the look with black matte helmets, a style that has become more common around the NHL but has not been part of the Oilers’ usual setup.
The new design could bring to mind Team North America’s look from the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, a jersey Connor McDavid wore during his second pro season.
The goaltenders were also in on the preview, though they went in opposite directions. Devon Levi arrived with bright orange gear, while Tristan Jarry leaned fully into the blackout theme with an all-black set that included subtle grey and orange accents.
There’s still no official word on when the Oilers will unveil the finished jersey. Even so, the fact that the team is already testing the gear suggests the reveal may not be far off. It also remains unclear how often Edmonton will wear the uniform and which games will feature it.
Other NHL clubs are lining up their own Hometown Remix rollouts, too, which is another sign these unveilings are coming soon. The Philadelphia Flyers are scheduled to wear theirs on Nov. 3.
Edmonton’s current alternate jersey has already delivered results this season. The Oilers went 3-0-0 on a recent road trip in that look and outscored opponents 12-3 along the way.
Now fans will be waiting to see whether the new threads bring the same kind of luck.
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