The New York Rangers unveiled their uniform for the 2018 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic against the Buffalo Sabres at Citi Field on Jan. 1 (1 p.m. ET; NBC, SN, TVA Sports, NHL.TV). Their Original Six heritage, their 90-plus years of history in New York and the intrastate rivalry with the Sabres served as key influences in the design.
The jersey features the Rangers’ color scheme of red, white and blue, though navy blue replaces their traditional royal blue as a nod to the roots of the game outdoors. The stairstep font is inspired by the diagonal “RANGERS” lettering worn in the late 1920s. The red “NY” is a tribute to the intrastate rivalry with the Sabres.
The uniform’s nameplate and numbers are white and designed to align graphically to the crest. The sleeve and waist striping is inspired by New York’s uniforms of the early 1930s, with the higher placement of the sleeve stripes and the solid white collar a staple of that era.
NY_Rangers_WinterClassic2
The pants remain red, but the detailing along the sides and around the leg opening is a simplified version of their current pant piping, reflecting the simpler design aesthetic of the jersey and socks.
The Sabres and Rangers will each play in the Winter Classic for the second time. Buffalo lost 2-1 in a shootout to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the inaugural event at Ralph Wilson Stadium on Jan. 1, 2008. The Rangers defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 at Citizens Bank Park on Jan. 2, 2012.
