Sweaters and hockey have been synonymous with each other since the infancy of the sport. Teams have been identified by their iconic colours and patterns. Some of them are classic while others are classically awful. This summer our annual series focuses on the best and the worst sweaters in each team’s history. Today we have the best and the worst St Louis Blues sweaters in team history.
St Louis Blues Sweaters: The Best and Worst
How We Did It?
We at Last Word on Hockey used a variety of methods to compile this list. Polling came from social media, our writers, and fans. We wanted to get a variety of opinions when we put out our list. This compilation will likely spur debate. However, we wanted to see who had the most memorable sweaters in each team’s history. Let’s put our best foot forward with the best sweaters.
The Best of the St Louis Blues
The Winter Classic Turned Alternate
St Louis got to play in its first outdoor game in 2017 against the Chicago Blackhawks. The Blues would go onto win the game and would look good doing it.
These sweaters were a twist on the original Blues uniforms when they came into the league in 1967. The jerseys proved so popular that the club made them the thirds for Saturday home games.
This sweater is a little bit of a lighter shade of blue than the one its modeled after. However, it’s a good look at should hopefully stay in the rotation.
2022-23 Reverse Retros
We know the franchise is called the Blues and it’s always risky to go outside the normal colour palette. However, the Blues nailed these 2022-23 Reverse Retros.
There’s actually somewhat of a backstory to these gold sweaters. According to NHL Uniform Database, these were a “prototype jersey the Blues unveiled in 1966 immediately after being awarded an NHL franchise will finally see the ice, albeit in recolored fashion.”
#TBT to when we won the game, like an hour ago.
🎥 Highlights presented by On the Run. #stlblues pic.twitter.com/JYcRD68QVR
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) November 18, 2022
These sweaters were scrapped, but lived on in the second round of Reverse Retros. This was one of the better-received uniforms from round two. Let’s hope they make a return.
In Living Colour
The 90s was an interesting time for sweaters in the NHL. St Louis added red to the list of official team hues in the 1985-86 season.
That colour would be a bit player until the 1995-96 season when the bottom of the blue road jersey would have a more prominent role. This change would pretty much happen at the same time that Wayne Gretzky would be acquired by the team.
These would return starting in 2019 for selected home games. They would also inspire a palette swap in the first run of Reverse Retros.
The Worst of the St Louis Blues
The St Louis Reds
We did see a good example of a team using a secondary colour for the base of a sweater in the 2022-23 Reverse Retro. However, the 2021 Reverse Retro was a bad example of a secondary hue as a base.
These red sweaters are a palette swap of the mid 90s Blue jerseys. The red and blue basically swap places and Adidas basically called it a day.
We liked the 90s original in both blue and white. However, the red is just really loud and misses the mark.
Flipping the Script
St Louis had been pretty consistent in its look since 1967, but that would all change in the 1984-85 season. The Blues would get rid of the shoulder yokes and make it a darker shade of blue.
One major change would be adding the name “BLUES” to the sweater over top of the blue note. The collar would also scoop down in a V-neck shape.
We don’t mind a darker shade, but cramming the name and logo on the front of the jersey is a bit much. St Louis would make the logo bigger and then ditch the Blues name.
The Trumpet Sweater
Let’s address a major urban legend about the Blues infamous trumpet alternate. The story goes that head coach and general manager Mike Keenan was repulsed by these sweaters and scrapped them. These jerseys never saw the light of day and the story ballooned from there.
However, there’s a long-form article that said the timeline doesn’t match up with alternate sweater list. St Louis announced they’d be part of the third jersey program in late October 1996. Keenan and Jack Quinn were both fired in December 1996. A press release had the Blues participation in the alternate sweater announcement omitted.
the blues disappointed me with there reveres retro
we all knew it should have been the 95/96 trumpet jersey pic.twitter.com/QWzN8e0Z8c
— that one blue wolf (@FunnyBlueWolf) October 24, 2022
Our best guess was the trumpet sweater was a prototype and that got out to the public. That is unless Keenan has a blue TARDIS and is a Time Lord. However, we want to punish your eyes and show you the sweater. It’s worse than Boston Bruins fans having to listen to “Gloria” on an endless loop.
Other Considerations
The Blues have been pretty good at alternate sweaters in their history. Fans liked the Gateway Arch third was in the crest along with the blue note.
There really hasn’t been a bad sweater in the bunch for the Blues. St Louis has had a good run with their sweaters.
Main photo by: Jeff Curry – USA Today Sports
