Washington Capitals Show Off Winter Classic Jerseys

The NHL season is just around the corner (teams are already playing pre-season games!), which means it’s time for teams to show off some new units. The Pittsburgh Penguins did that last week when they debuted their retro third jersey. And yesterday, the Washington Capitals revealed what they will be wearing when they take on the Chicago Blackhawks in the Winter Classic.

The Caps will host the Hawks in the annual outdoor game at Nationals Park on New Year’s Day. When they hit the ice, they’ll do it in new sweaters that look pretty old — older than the franchise itself.

Washington entered the NHL in 1974, and since then the team has worn three different primary jersey sets. The last time the Capitals played in a Winter Classic, in 2011 against the Penguins, they wore the unis they used when the entered the league. So for their next Winter Classic appearance, they needed something new. So the team and Reebok put together a vintage jersey that the team might have worn had it been playing in the 1950s.

“We wanted to create a uniform that not only celebrates the history of the Capitals but also gives the team a unique, new look,” said Capitals president Dick Patrick. “We feel our fans will really embrace this uniform.

The most distinctive part of the sweater is the giant W in the center with the team name over it. (Some people have compared it to the Vancouver Canucks’ Heritage Classic uniforms.) That part feels like a little much (the W on its own would’ve looked great streaking down the rink). But, ultimately, not a bad shot at a new old jersey.

Here’s a closer look:








Photos courtesy Washington Capitals