There May Be Blood

This isn't an article about the Paul Thomas Anderson film starring Daniel Day-Lewis, but that image of a burning oil well is a perfect metaphor of the Edmonton Oilers' jersey choices over the last two decades. People can make fun of the Todd MacFarlane-designed jerseys all they want, but that jersey - retired in 2007 - has already been used as a Reverse Retro jersey in 2022-23. The Oilers didn't have an alternate jersey identified last season, but the navy-blue-and-orange jersey had sufficed since 2019. A new season means the Oilers can introduce a new alterate jersey, though, and they will wear a new set of the threads on specific nights this year.

Let's have a look at the jersey choice made by the Edmonton Oilers.

There may not be enough words to express the disappointment I have for these jerseys. I know the Oilers are still negotiating with Connor McDavid on a new contract, but the unveiling of this jersey would have forced me to ended all contract discussions if I were McDavid.

According to the marketing diarrhea published by the team, this new alternate jersey "blends Fanatics technology and innovation with a classic design that is built for Oil Country, evoking nostalgic brands that were trusted to keep machines running smoothly, in the shop and in the field" which is ironic because I see no new "technology and innovation" nor do I recognize any sort of "nostalgic brands that were trusted to keep machines running smoothly" in its design.

The wordmark across the chest in retro font is terrible despite the "S" in "Oilers" having the oil drop. The shoulder yoke striping is broken up by the Fanatics logo on the back. The shoulder yoke itself is cutoff by the shoulder seams. They chose a white alternate jersey which limits its usage (so this may actually be a benefit by mistake). The captaincy marker, shown below, bleeds into the shoulder yoke due to positioning of the logo. The overall aesthetic gives off a "cheap knock-off" feel, so this jersey is struggling hard to be taken seriously.

If there's one thing that Oilers fans can claim, it's that their team continues its impressive streak of having uninspired, forgettable alternate jerseys. There is nothing that suggests that this jersey should be worn by an NHL team because this jersey doesn't come close to representing this team's legacy, let alone "the region the team calls home" or "the work ethic of Oil Country's industries".

Look, I could keep going about how terrible this jersey is, but readers of the Edmonton Journal did a lot of the work for me. One commentor on that article said, "It should be easier to throw this one on the ice when things go wrong" while another said, "I can’t decide if it’s awfully weak or just plain awful". Social media went off as the majority expressed negative opinions against this new jersey. Tallying up the results says that this jersey is just bad by all measures.

As stated above, the Oilers will only wear this jersey seven times this season, so plan your hockey nights accordingly for the following:

• October 28 vs. Utah Mammoth
• December 4 vs. Seattle Kraken
• December 6 vs. Winnipeg Jets
• December 23 vs. Calgary Flames
• January 12 at Chicago Blackhawks
• January 13 at Nashville Predators
• January 31 vs. Minnesota Wild

If you're an Oilers fan, they'll wear the jersey at home for three of eight home games in December before taking them on the road for a back-to-back in January. Frankly, subjecting the fans in Chicago and Nashville to this jersey in their buildings shouldn't be allowed, but I guess the Oilers opted for the "other white jersey" for that back-to-back mini road trip. Either way, that's the schedule for these jerseys.

It will be in their best interest for the Oilers to figure out that they're a professional hockey team that deserves to look like one. The royal blue jerseys that returned in 2022 were a step in the right direction, but the misses keep piling up for the Oilers with every alternate jersey they release. For a team that seemingly prides itself on throwbacks, this one doesn't hold a candle to the original alternate jersey nor the darker-blue-and-bronze jersey worn in Oilers history.

At some point, the Oilers will have to strike oil with one of these designs. Whether by design or by fluke, the odds seem to suggest they can't keep missing with these jerseys. With this jersey release today, though, as Daniel Plainview said in There Will Be Blood, "There are times when I see people and see nothing worth liking."

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!