Regarding sports logos, the NHL takes the cake for providing maximum exposure. Unlike other major leagues, whose logos are often relegated to less visible positions on their uniforms or fields, hockey logos remain front and center. And let's face it - they deserve that prime spot!

Each team's logo is a carefully crafted representation of their city or region, serving as a proud symbol of identity for fans everywhere. Not only that, but these visuals act as the face of the brand, easily recognized by fans from all walks of life.

So with all this in mind, let's dive into a roundup of some of the best NHL logos in history.

San Jose Sharks

The Sharks entered the league in the early nineties with a new logo and uniforms. Terry Smith was the creator of the original shield, in it the front of a black shark stood out, with its pectoral and dorsal fins, in addition to the gill openings, the white-lined eyes, and the mouth with a large row of teeth, which bit and broke a hockey stick.

The emblem ended with a large inverted triangle of three colors, turquoise, black, and gray. With this version of the logo, they could stand in their only final, but their NHL Stanley cup odds are high due to the most current standings: W(22)-L(44) and 0.268 Pct.

Philadelphia Flyers

Local artist Sam Ciccone designed the Philadelphia Flyers logo; this emblem represents the speed of hockey in the form of four wings attached to a large black 'P,' which symbolizes the city of Philadelphia. In the middle is the characteristic puck of the icy sport, orange; orange, black and white are, and have been, in charge of forming the color palette of the Flyers in exclusivity from its creation to the present day.

Continuing with the same logo since the franchise's beginning has made the Flyers logo one of the most recognizable in the entire NHL. To top it all up, Philly was one of the few ensembles in the league that did not yet have a pet.

Columbus Blue Jackets

Eight years after entering the NHL, the Jackets would present a new design as the primary logo; this time, they would use what at the time was the alternative logo, which appeared printed on the third jersey.

A large gray/silver star would preside over the center of the shield, embraced by the Ohio flag, forming a large 'C' in honor of the city of Columbus, creating a much more stylized emblem. The squeaky yellow stick would disappear completely, just like the red ribbon.

Nashville Predators

The local studio JDK Design would be in charge of designing the original logo, which represented a head of Saber Teeth (prehistoric animal present in the Nashville area) with an aggressive appearance, showing large and long fangs in addition to very dense details throughout the emblem. Tree colors are part of the shield: yellow, white, and blue, something that is considered more simplified if compared to its logo in its beginning (six shades, with gray, silver, and orange removed now).

Los Angeles Kings

In the debut season, the Los Angeles Kings presented a logo that included the full name of the franchise, giving prominence to the word 'Kings' and a large crown, which consisted of a rectangular shield finished with a pointed end at the bottom. The team owner decided to go with the yellow and lilac colors to give the Californian team a touch of distinction. It was also obvious to use this color palette due to the influence of the NBA Lakers, together with which they would share a pavilion.

With that being said, towards the end of the eighties, gray and black would begin to be part of the Kings' color palette, creating an atypical combination along with existing yellow and lilac. Eight years later, however, the classic rectangular shield of the franchise would return to the scene, although this time divided into two parts. The upper one would contain the abbreviated name of the city of L.A., and the lower one is the crown used in the two previous logos.

Minnesota Wild

The Minnesota logo showed an indescribable animal silhouette, picking up several similarities between several of them but without specifying which one it was. The green color dominated the background of the emblem, representing the pastures and the countless forests of the state, a river staging its mouth open together with a red sky with the sun (like an eye) at sunset, giving a glimpse of the setting of it and creating a feeling of aggression in the shield.

The team's management is in favor of maintaining an appearance without too many ups and downs in the shield's design, giving a feeling of stability in the face of the brand.

Wrap Up

The essence of NHL logos is not confined to their mere visual representation; they embody the spirit of loyalty and honor among fans worldwide. These expressive emblems narrate a distinctive tale that mirrors the identity and heritage of each team's hometown. On top of that, such logos exemplify the relentless hunger and ingenuity at the heart of hockey as a sport.

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