Quebec Makes It Eight
Bringing an eighth Canadian franchise to the NHL
Bringing an eighth Canadian franchise to the NHL
In honor of Making It Eight, a contest to create a brand new identity for a hypothetical eighth Canadian NHL team, I have decided to - just as the NHL did with the Jets - bring back and update a classic WHA and NHL franchise: The Quebec Nordiques.
I think the old Nordiques logo is a train-wreck. Now, I understand that, design aside, people love the ‘Diques logo, so – just like the Jets did – I tried to update the logo to a more modern feel while improving the design.
From what I gather, the old logo was a mash-up of an N, an igloo and a hockey stick and puck. First, I rid the logo of the hockey equipment (we know you play hockey) and I give the logo a much more balanced overall shape. The door to the igloo is framed by an 'N' for Nordiques and also appears as an entrance to a stereotypical igloo.
(I even flirted with a wordmark alternate logo, but decided that might too much...)
I think the old Nordiques logo is a train-wreck. Now, I understand that, design aside, people love the ‘Diques logo, so – just like the Jets did – I tried to update the logo to a more modern feel while improving the design.
From what I gather, the old logo was a mash-up of an N, an igloo and a hockey stick and puck. First, I rid the logo of the hockey equipment (we know you play hockey) and I give the logo a much more balanced overall shape. The door to the igloo is framed by an 'N' for Nordiques and also appears as an entrance to a stereotypical igloo.
(I even flirted with a wordmark alternate logo, but decided that might too much...)
HOME
ROAD
ALTERNATE
The home and road jerseys are pretty much an update of the Nordiques' NHL uniforms. The fleurs-de-lis from the Quebec provincial flag have been replaced by a new alternate logo, a compass with the main logo's 'N' pointing north (since "Nordiques" means Northerners) and a puck in the center.
The simple and classic striping that adorned the jersey, breezers and socks on the old 'Diques uniforms are back and modified to fit the new Reebok Edge template.
For the third jersey, I have created a throwback to a Nordiques design from 1976 - back in the 'Diques WHA days. The blue is a bit richer, the old logo is back and the breezers are red instead of blue.
The only thing standing in the way of Quebec gaining the eighth Canadian NHL franchise is the fact that the Colorado Avalanche own the rights to the Quebec identity. While a similar situation presented itself when the Thrashers were on the move and the Coyotes owned the rights to the "Jets" name, the owners of the Coyotes (the NHL) basically gave away the name and identity for free.
While I suspect the Aves may want a bit more compensation for the 'Diques identity than the NHL did for the Jets identity, I feel like this could easily be worked out since the Aves almost never utilize the old Quebec identity (plus my new logo set helps to differentiate the old franchise and this new one in the same way the new Jets logos do).x
The simple and classic striping that adorned the jersey, breezers and socks on the old 'Diques uniforms are back and modified to fit the new Reebok Edge template.
For the third jersey, I have created a throwback to a Nordiques design from 1976 - back in the 'Diques WHA days. The blue is a bit richer, the old logo is back and the breezers are red instead of blue.
The only thing standing in the way of Quebec gaining the eighth Canadian NHL franchise is the fact that the Colorado Avalanche own the rights to the Quebec identity. While a similar situation presented itself when the Thrashers were on the move and the Coyotes owned the rights to the "Jets" name, the owners of the Coyotes (the NHL) basically gave away the name and identity for free.
While I suspect the Aves may want a bit more compensation for the 'Diques identity than the NHL did for the Jets identity, I feel like this could easily be worked out since the Aves almost never utilize the old Quebec identity (plus my new logo set helps to differentiate the old franchise and this new one in the same way the new Jets logos do).x
