Ugly NHL Logos: Ink Master Judges Weigh In

NHL logos — or sport logos in general — are not an easy design. Do you go for the super-simple like the Calgary Flames — flames adorning a “C” for Calgary? Do you go a little more cerebral such as the Columbus Blue Jackets — a flag swooping around a star? (You have to really think about it to figure out what the logo means. Actually, I’m not sure I understand.)

Logos and tattoos have a lot in common. Both should be well-designed with clean lines. It’s also imperative that they read from far away. There should also be at least a little bit of deeper meaning behind the logos.

Since logos and tattoos have so many similar design elements, we here at Mile High Sticking asked the renowned judges of Spike TV’s Ink Master to judge some of the NHL logos multi-millionaire hockey players display on their chests every night.

In case you’re unfamiliar with the show, Chris Nuñez and Oliver Peck are renowned tattoo artists. Dave Navarro is the guitarist of Jane’s Addiction and an expert at getting tattoos. No telling if any of them are hockey fans, but they certainly had a lot to say about the NHL logos.

Quick note — they love the Colorado Avalanche logo. They like the graphic representation of an avalanche swirling around the “A” for Avalanche ending in a hockey puck. They even felt the oval satellite added good balance to the overall design. However, this is about ugly NHL logos, so let’s move on.

Carolina Hurricanes

Apr 11, 2015; Raleigh, NC, USA; Carolina Hurricanes forward

(11) and forward

(12) during the game against the Detroit Red Wings at PNC Arena. The Red Wings defeated the Hurricanes 2-0. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

Oliver Peck, a skater boy who specializes in old school tattooing, was not a fan of the abstract Carolina Hurricanes logo.

“It’s insanity!” he declared. “The colors are bold, but what’s with the swirling mess in the middle?”

Dave Navarro weighed in briefly. “I think it’s supposed to represent the eye of the hurricane.”

“The eye of the mess is more like it,” Peck quipped. “It’s not at all clear what this logo is supposed to represent. Why are there hooks on the silver oval? It looks like a demented circular saw.”

Hurricanes captain Eric Staal attempted to stand up for his team’s logo. “Those hooks make the logo look fierce.”

“Those hooks make the logo look stupid,” Peck shot back.

Navarro attempted to enter the fray again, “Well, what would you have a team named the Hurricanes have as their logo?”

“Exactly,” Peck responded. He chewed on his toothpick. That appeared to be the final judgement on the Carolina Hurricanes logo.

Edmonton Oilers

Apr 7, 2015; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers right winger

(28) is seen out on the ice during the pre game warm-up as they get set to play against the Los Angeles Kings before the first period at Rexall Place. Mandatory Credit: Walter Tychnowicz-USA TODAY Sports

Dave Navarro pointed to the Edmonton Oilers logo. “I wish I’d been in the design studio. ‘Today, you have to design a logo that will be ugly for decades to come’.”

Oliver Peck answered, “It reads well, even from afar, but, boy, does it look like something you’d see on the side of a ‘Keep on truckin’ bus from 1972.”

Chris Nuñez brooded over the logo. “This logo displays a complementary color scheme, but for some reason that doesn’t give it harmony. Nor does it make the logo pop. Overall, the colors are weak.”

New Oilers recruit, phenom Connor McDavid, spoke up, “We’re going to be wearing a new jersey next year. The logo shows up even better.”

Jun 26, 2015; Sunrise, FL, USA; Connor McDavid walks off the stage after being selected as the number one overall pick to the Edmonton Oilers in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Navarro blinked rapidly, as if the abundance of orange hurt his eyes.

“Ugly,” Peck proclaimed. “That’s just ugly.”

Pittsburgh Penguins

Mar 26, 2015; Raleigh, NC, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins forward

(87) looks on during the 3rd period against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena. The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-2. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

The Ink Master judges moved on to another jersey, the one worn by the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Oliver Peck spoke up first. “My main problem with this logo are the lines in the glove. They just look too busy. Then, the penguin is naked and wearing skates.”

Navarro spoke up, “Well, it’s a skating penguin. It’s a bird. It doesn’t need to wear clothes.”

Peck shook his head and chomped on his toothpick. He continued, “All those lines in the glove, and there’s no line distinguishing between the skates and the penguins legs.”

Penguin’s captain Sidney Crosby spoke in defense of his team’s logo. “We used to have this weird geometric logo that was very 90s. But they returned to the throwback penguin.”

View image | gettyimages.com

Peck agreed, “They should’ve thrown the penguin back alright.”

Chris Nuñez chimed in, “It looks like a child’s drawing. That takes this thing away from looking fierce, like a hockey logo should.”

Navarro remarked, “The bird looks pretty cool, like he’d be fun to hang around with.”

Peck shook his head and chomped on his toothpick, as if he couldn’t believe how much pot Dave Navarro had smoked in his Jane’s Addiction days. The judges moved on to the final jersey under consideration.