2017 is a big year in the NHL. It’s the 100th anniversary of the league, it’s the 100th anniversary of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and it’s the 50th anniversary since the so-called “Expansion Six” came to be in 1967.
That group included the Philadelphia Flyers, of course, as well as the Pittsburgh Penguins, St. Louis Blues, Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota North Stars (now the Dallas Stars) and the Oakland Seals (rest in peace). And there will be a lot done to honor the five remaining franchises next season. Count on outdoor games and drafts and All-Star Games awarded to these cities. We’ve already heard talk about the Flyers being involved in one of those outdoor games.
And new uniforms, of course. According to the always excellent Icethetics, citing a Reebok source, the Flyers will get a new alternate jersey to honor their 50th anniversary next season.
The Flyers were part of the same 1967 expansion as the Kings so they too will be celebrating a half-century next season. And wouldn’t you know they also have a “special edition” jersey on the way, according to Reebok.
If it’s tough to pin down an old Kings jersey we haven’t seen in a while, it’s practically impossible for Philadelphia. However, from 1982 to 2007, the Flyers wore a very distinctive jersey design. The interesting thing is that it was nearly the same template as that Kings jersey from the 1980s.
That jersey they refer to is of course this one (via Getty Images):
On the flip side, the Flyers could just create something new like they did for the 2012 Winter Classic — which is of course the same third jersey they wear today. Guess we’ll see in a year or so. What jersey would you like to see?
