At this point in the offseason, there is very little news or rumblings. However, that doesn’t mean the fun stops. For the Boston Bruins, the organization and fans got to celebrate 100 years of hockey. The number of legendary players who have played in the city is enormous. Also, the types of jerseys the team has worn over the last 100 years is quite a list.
This past week, NESN put out a tweet that was great for fan engagement. The Bruins, celebrating 100 years of hockey, saw a lot of great jerseys take the ice. The question was asked as to which jersey should be revived. It is very tough to pick just one, so here are five that should make a revival and be worn again.
1. Men in Black Jerseys (2008-16)
After a year without alternate jerseys, the league reinstated them, and the Bruins added a new alternate with a modern twist. The previous alternate, used during the 2007-08 season, was a vintage jersey paying tribute to the 1967-74 black jerseys. These were an instant hit and were worn for several seasons.
From 2008-16, the Bruins donned the “Men In Black” jerseys. It was a plain black jersey with yellow and white stripes on the sleeve. The Bruins took the logo currently on the shoulders and put it on the front. They also wore black socks for the first time in team history, truly embodying the “Men In Black” mantra. This jersey was worn during a successful era for the club and would be great to revive.
2. 2023 Reverse Retro (2022-23)
How do you like your Pooh Bear? The second round of the reverse retro concept saw the NHL stick to the 1990s era for most designs. For the Bruins, they brought back the “Pooh Bear” jersey, which can rile up the bear den.
The iconic jersey debuted during the 1994-95 season when the Bruins moved into the Fleet Center. It was a bold concept with a new-looking bear for the crest, team name on the shoulder patch, and unique striping at the bottom. The reverse retro kept the original bear head for the crest but made the base of the jersey white with golden yellow at the bottom. This jersey was an instant hit during the historic 2022-23 season and would bring excitement if worn again.
https://x.com/NESN/status/1810352437338710270?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1810352437338710270%7Ctwgr%5E5396e9d1ef4585aa5426b880e419c79bd7c177ed%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fthehockeywriters.com%2Fbruins-jerseys-need-to-return%2F
3. 2021 Reverse Retro (2020-21)
The first round of the Reverse Retro program was just as good, if not better, than the second. The Bruins went back to the 1980s and early 1990s for their design, reviving the “Meth Bear” jersey with a golden twist.
They made the base color gold, similar to the 2010 Winter Classic jersey at Fenway Park. The iconic bear face shoulder patch remained unchanged. These jerseys were worn throughout the season, notably during the outdoor game at Lake Tahoe. These jerseys were special and appreciated, making them a great candidate for revival.
4. The “Meth Bear” Jerseys (1981-95)
Why not revive the original “Meth Bear” jerseys? A rebrand similar to what the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings did could be amazing. These jerseys were worn from 1981-95 and saw Bruins legends Ray Bourque and Cam Neely wear them. Reviving these jerseys with a modern twist would be amazing, coinciding with taking an older uniform and updating it. Whether home black or road white, seeing Charlie McAvoy or David Pastrnak in these would be amazing.
5. Centennial Alternate Jersey (2023-24)
Every time a team has an anniversary, there is a special jersey to pair with it. The Bruins, entering their 100th year of hockey, had an entire kit. The home jersey was a black base with gold and white stripes and a commemorative 100th-anniversary patch. The alternate jersey was cream-colored with the Spoked B logo as the crest, with “1924” inside the logo. The yellow and brown accents added a special touch. These jerseys were a huge hit and reviving them would be great. It’s a bummer they were only worn during the 2023-24 season.
https://x.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1720232892607987898?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1720232892607987898%7Ctwgr%5E5396e9d1ef4585aa5426b880e419c79bd7c177ed%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fthehockeywriters.com%2Fbruins-jerseys-need-to-return%2F
The Jersey Revival Tour
If you are a jersey collector, you appreciate what teams wear. For the Bruins, there has been no shortage of options over the years. NESN did a great job asking the question, and now here are five choices to help answer it. Reviving these jerseys would bring back memories and excitement to the fanbase.
Leave a Reply