The story behind the Blue Jackets and Red Wings Stadium Series jerseys

When the Detroit Red Wings and Columbus Blue Jackets take the ice for the NHL Stadium Series on March 1 at Ohio State University, it will be difficult to locate the octopuses and buckeyes on their respective jerseys.

But trust us: they are there.

These Easter eggs are two of the oddities of these aesthetically unique uniform sets – designed by Fanatics with input from the NHL and participating teams – for the league’s final outdoor game, at Ohio Stadium.

“The Stadium Series is an opportunity to really take a leap, take a chance, try something different and celebrate local hockey culture,” Fanatics creative director Dom Fillion told ESPN.

This is the Blue Jackets’ first outdoor game. Their jerseys are inspired by the uniforms of Union Army soldiers, from the herringbone stripe on the sleeve to the new “CBJ” logo on the shoulder that Fillion said was meant to look like a pin on the cap flexible of a soldier.

And then there’s the cannon. The Blue Jackets are famous for shooting cannons in their arena after goals. Although they incorporated a cannon into a previous third jersey patch, the team never had the cannon as their primary logo – until the Stadium Series.

“There wasn’t a time where the barrel had its own space on the jersey. We thought it was the perfect fit,” Fillion said. “It’s a stadium environment. Let’s be bold.”

Attaching the jerseys to the team’s home state: Ohio silhouette patches that identify the team’s captain and assistant captains.

“I think that element of state pride really fueled our inspiration,” Fillion said. “We have the state shape, and on the inside back of the neck we also have this Buckeye pattern.”

Inside the collar of the jersey are the words “Columbus Blue Jackets” on an unofficial Ohio State Easter egg: a Buckeye leaf design that extends across the collar of the sweater.

As for incorporating other Ohio State iconography on Blue Jackets uniforms, that was a no-no. Specifically, the Jackets were not allowed to use Buckeyes decals on their helmets to imitate the football team, according to Fanatics and the NHL.

“It was forbidden for us,” lamented Fillion. “There are definitely some brands that you need to know and be familiar with.”

Brian Jennings, the NHL’s executive vice president of marketing and chief branding officer, said the school’s “initial brand” prevented the Blue Jackets from using Buckeyes stickers on their helmets.

Obviously, with the game at the Horseshoe between a team from Ohio and a team from Michigan, the expectation was that the uniforms could match the aesthetic of the Buckeyes and Wolverines, their NCAA counterparts. Fillion said there were discussions about incorporating these designs, but the colors were out of sync.

Columbus’ primary color is blue rather than Ohio State’s red. The NHL asked the Jackets if they would consider wearing white jerseys for the game, with Detroit wearing red to evoke the Buckeyes’ aesthetic, but Columbus wanted to wear blue as the home team.

Meanwhile, the University of Michigan’s colors (maize and blue) were too different from the Red Wings’ colors to be considered.

“I think at some point there’s a threshold that you cross,” Fillion explained. “It doesn’t feel like it’s the team anymore, it’s someone else’s team.”

The Red Wings jerseys are intended to “celebrate Detroit’s world-renowned automotive industry and hockey culture.” They incorporate elements such as engraved speed stripes on the sleeves and a patch on the front that features the word “Detroit” in a font inspired by automotive badges. Using a laser perforation technique, the crest and number system on the jersey have a texture meant to mimic the padding of classic car seats.

This is the Red Wings’ fifth outdoor game. The designers had to be aware of previous designs, but also the classic Detroit look.

“There’s an element of pure minimalism that reflects what Detroit is. So this jersey is a way to amplify that and keep it authentic to the team, to its DNA, and then make it a little bit unique for the team. “event,” Fillion said.

Jennings said that while Stadium Series jerseys generally have “that progressive, futuristic look” unlike the Winter Classic’s more historic inspirations, there is “a little more simplicity” to Detroit’s look, which was due to the design.

“Detroit is an Original Six team, which has very strong feelings, and (owner) Chris Ilitch and the team have let us know that,” he said.

What the jerseys lack in boldness, the Red Wings helmets make up for. Detroit’s buckets have a big white stripe down the middle like a football helmet – as well as Red Wings logos on either side, making them look a bit like Mercury when they skate.

“It starts with the sweater, but then it’s how you compliment it. In this case, it’s the helmet that gives that collegiate, youthful look,” Jennings said.

The Red Wings made a unique request to the designers: They wanted their octopus mascot depicted in a modest way. So at the bottom of the jersey, at the back, right at the hem, there is a little looped tag with the purple octopus’s eyes on it – a bold new innovation for NHL away game jerseys .

“We’ve never had this kind of treatment on the jersey before,” noted Fillion. “It’s a nice little Easter egg to discover.”

Red Wings and Blue Jackets jerseys are available for pre-order at official team stores. Columbus fans can also order them from the team’s official online store.