Just in time for Thursday’s season opener, the Kings unveiled a new look for the upcoming campaign with their redesigned alternate jerseys for 2021-22.
Giving a nod to the uniforms worn throughout the Wayne Gretzky era, with iterations of the style used between 1988 and 1998, the new uniforms from Adidas also offer contemporary fabrics and details. Made from recycled materials, the jerseys feature the Gretzky-era crest – referred to informally by some as the “bow tie” or “Chevy” logo – but with a metallic silver material. The sleeves and waist also feature prominent, shiny silver sections as well.
“The feedback from our players – current and past players – is they universally love this sweater,” said Kings president Luc Robitaille, who like General Manager Rob Blake wore the original style as a player. “Along with the strong sentiment from our fans, it was really a no-brainer for us to continue to highlight the logo, to highlight the jersey.”
Beyond the jersey itself, the full uniform will feature a ’90s style logo on the players’ pants and, in another modernized twist, the ostentatious chrome helmets from 2020’s Stadium Series game in Colorado Springs, Colo.
The Kings will wear the sets a total of 15 times, including for 11 home games, this season. They will be donned for the first time on Nov. 17 against the Washington Capitals, with a public on-sale date for the jerseys that coincides with their on-ice debut.
Gone will be the silver third jersey, which the Kings wore initially in 2016-17 with special details for their 50th anniversary season, and then re-fashioned into an evergreen alternate for the past three seasons. Also departing will be the “reverse retro” look from last year, which combined the Gretzky era with a vintage forum blue color scheme in a radiant mix that only appeared once in front of fans last season.
The Kings’ move to black and silver and to ditch the crown that had dominated their previous designs meant their aesthetic matched the colors of Robitaille’s junior team, the Hull Olympiques, and also that of the NFL’s Raiders, who played in Los Angeles at the time. The first black uniforms were unveiled in August of 1988 along with the biggest news in team history: that the franchise had acquired Gretzky from the Edmonton Oilers in perhaps the most significant trade in the history of the sport.
The Raiders and Kings’ sleek combination of silver and black soared in popularity. The look even attracted unexpected patrons, with early gangster rappers like Ice Cube and Eazy-E sporting the logo publicly.
“We continue to be identified by this classic logo, this iconic brand, in pop culture and beyond, so we felt it was imperative to continue re-incorporating it into our marketing efforts,” Kings CEO Kelly Cheeseman said.
The Authentic adizero Primegreen Alternate Jersey – made with Primegreen, a series of high-performance recycled materials – is a full and permanent refresh of the original ‘90s Heritage Jersey. Paired with chrome helmets and white gloves.
Worn for the first time on 11.17.21. pic.twitter.com/81EU4cawUr
— LA Kings (@LAKings) October 11, 2021
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A new spin on your favorite throwback…the LA Kings Authentic adizero Primegreen Alternate Jersey is available this November! →https://t.co/i8QVfVgeUS @adidas | #GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/E6HT5Xp4Dt
— LA Kings (@LAKings) October 11, 2021