Edmonton Oilers: Royal Blue Jersey To Return in 2018-19?
By Eric Friesen
There has been a rumor flying around that the Edmonton Oilers might be bringing a vintage jersey for next season. Are the rumors true? We’ll address it.
There has been no shortage of news and rumors in Oil Country this off-season as the Edmonton Oilers attempt to put their awful 2017-18 season behind them and get back on the winning track quickly. However, one rumor that managed to fly under the radar was on May 14, when former host of Oilers TV Tom Gazzola tweeted “Hearing the royal blues might be back next season.”
Gazzola has done some work for TSN 1260 in Edmonton recently, but I have not heard him comment further on where he heard this information from on the radio. Chris Creamer, founder and editor of www.sportslogos.net, tweeted in reply to Gazzola’s post saying “The Oilers are one of many teams who will be introducing an alternate third uniform in 2018-19; likely that orange remains as primary home and a new blue as an alternate.”
Now, the Edmonton Oilers adding an alternate jersey might not rank as high regarding overall importance as the Milan Lucic situation, nor the team’s pursuit of an offensive right-shot defenceman. But for a large section of the fanbase, this is undoubtedly exciting. And while nothing has been confirmed, the Oilers are a prominent team to introduce a new alternate jersey next season.
Money Maker
Oilers jerseys do not sit on the shelves for long, especially when a new one hits the market. There will be long lineups at jersey stores across Edmonton with die-hard Oilers fans ready and willing to spend $220 on the newest Oilers jersey.
When the Oilers unveiled their WHA inspired orange jersey at the 2015 NHL Draft, it was an instant hit. It did not hurt that the team had just drafted franchise-altering player Connor McDavid, and virtually every Oilers fan wanted his jersey.
After Adidas took over Reebok as the NHL’s official jersey manufacturer a year ago, the Oilers got a new orange jersey, but the royal blue trim was changed to navy blue. The jersey was met with mixed views from Oilers fans. Even so, it was a hot seller, and fans could be seen wearing the new Oilers threads all over Roger Place.
Bring Back the Royal Blue
The 2018-19 season marks the 40th anniversary of the Oilers joining the NHL. In 2008-09, the Oilers brought back their classic royal blue jersey as their alternate for their 30th anniversary season, which was a welcomed change from the pajama style RBK Edge uniforms. The following season, the Oilers made the royal blues their home jersey.
In my opinion, the royal blue jersey never should have gone away, again. I loved the navy jersey the Oilers wore from 1996-97 through 2006-07. That jersey will always make me think of Edmonton’s 2006 Stanley Cup run, my experience as a hockey fan. But when the royal blue jersey that Wayne Gretzky and company made famous in the 1980s made its long-awaited return in 2008, it should have been back forever.
Look at a team like the Montreal Canadiens. They have made little change to their iconic jerseys in the past century. Yes, a new jersey means a new item to sell to your customers. But the royal blue Oilers jersey will never stop marketing. Even when the Oilers were not wearing it, CCM continued to produce Oilers legends jerseys.
Could we see the Oilers unveil a new jersey at the 2018 NHL Draft? That might be a little early. But as a longtime jersey collector and fan of the Oilers, hopefully, we will not be waiting too long.