New York Rangers’ “Reverse Retro” jersey unveiled

25 May 1997: Center Wayne Gretzky of the New York Rangers moves down the ice during a playoff game against the Philadelphia Flyers at the CoreStates Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Flyers won the game, 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Robert Laberge /Allsport
25 May 1997: Center Wayne Gretzky of the New York Rangers moves down the ice during a playoff game against the Philadelphia Flyers at the CoreStates Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Flyers won the game, 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Robert Laberge /Allsport
Adam Graves #9 of the New York Rangers Mandatory Credit: Robert Laberge /Allsport
Adam Graves #9 of the New York Rangers Mandatory Credit: Robert Laberge /Allsport

It’s finally here, the New York Rangers “Reverse Retro” jersey for the 2020-21 season

The NHL and Adidas unveiled the new  “Reverse Retro” jerseys for the 2020-21 NHL season and it’s a familiar look for fans of the New York Rangers.  Here’s the official NHL description:

“Lady Liberty is back, 24 years after making her first appearance. The original look has been updated with an all blue sleeve but keeps the silver accents and drop shadow numbers.”

This is the mostly the same design, with the Lady Liberty crest, that was introduced in the 1996-97 season.  They used the blue version for two seasons and for one season, they used a white version.

The navy blue version came back for the 1999-2000 season and was used sporadically through 2007.

All 31 NHL teams will have a Reverse Retro jersey as part of this promotion and they will be used in games with a history of rivalry matchups.  Adidas spent two years looking into the archives of each team,  “remixing them to create something new and never seen before.”   Adidas said that they “created uniquely distinct and desirable jerseys that incorporated inverted team colors.”

In the NHL’s press release, Brian Jennings, NHL Chief Brand Officer and SVP said “NHL team jerseys have long carried deep historical significance for avid and casual hockey fans. Through the years, the design of each team jersey has evolved to balance history and authenticity with cultural touchpoints. The Reverse Retro program is a celebration of the hockey jersey’s confluence of nostalgia, style and broad appeal. As a brand, adidas sits at the epicenter of youth, sports and lifestyle and is the ideal partner for this exciting initiative.”

That’s a mouthful.  As with all “special” uniforms, this is a promotion and they were sure to add that the new jerseys will be available for sale on December 1.  Prices will range from $180 to $225.

For those of you who are suspicious, during the ten years the Blueshirts used the Lady Liberty logo, they made the playoffs only three times and it included the longest playoff drought in franchise history, the seven year stretch from 1997-98 to 2003-04.   On a good note, the year they introduced the jersey, they made it to the Conference Finals

So, feel free to leave a review.  And get your wallets out.

Schedule