Ducks’ Reverse Retro 2.0 Needs to be Their New Away Jersey

Adidas and the NHL unveiled the second iteration of their popular Reverse Retro jersey series on Oct. 20. The concept of the project is to create a uniform that honors jerseys and logos from the past with some modern modifications. With one of the more popular retro logos in North American sports, this was a perfect opportunity for the Anaheim Ducks to bring back the Wild Wing crest.

The Ducks’ Reverse Retro 2.0 is a modernized take on their inaugural uniforms from 1993-94, replacing the classic eggplant and jade colors with the orange, black, and gold of the modern kits. While it lacks the goofy charm that made the Ducks’ first Reverse Retro so popular, the new design is more modest and reasonable to wear with frequency. The return of the original Mighty Ducks logo was always going to be a hit with Ducks fans and hockey fans alike. THW’s Jacob Billington ranked the uniform 11th among all Reverse Retro 2.0 designs, a significant improvement over the team’s present-day jerseys that typically rank near the bottom of any list.

Related: Anaheim Ducks Need to Embrace “Mighty Ducks” Identity

As the Ducks’ franchise emerges from its multi-year rebuild, demands for a rebrand are becoming more apparent. A wave of young talent is beginning a new chapter in Anaheim, and with it comes an appropriate time to re-assess the uniform design. The Ducks should consider a return to the beloved Mighty logo, with this year’s Reverse Retro 2.0 as a blueprint for a future away jersey.

Ducks’ Desperately Need to Rebrand

It’s no secret that the Ducks are in a difficult place with their uniforms. They introduced the webbed “D” as part of a script logo just in time for their Stanley Cup win in 2006-07. After a few seasons on the script logo, a larger webbed “D” became the primary design on home and away jerseys in 2014. What this means is that while the logo does have some ties to the franchise’s lone Stanley Cup, the oversized duck foot worn today has more ties to playoff collapses and basement-dwelling rebuilding.

The Ducks are coming out of the worst years of the team’s history with serious star power. Trevor Zegras, Mason McTavish, and Jamie Drysdale are gems in a loaded prospect pool. With more prospects climbing up the system in combination with Ryan Getzlaf’s retirement over the offseason, Anaheim has ushered in a new chapter of Ducks hockey. With this new chapter should come a reassessment of the…