The New Jersey Devils are taking advantage of the NHL’s leaguewide reverse retro jersey by going way back in the team’s history.
It’s not just that the team is going back to a reverse look of its original red-and-green sweaters, but the mostly green look pays homage to the team name.
When the franchise moved to New Jersey from Colorado in 1982, it changed the name from the Rockies to the Devils. The team’s retro jersey reflects the green of the Garden State and, most notably, the Pine Barrens, the home of the Garden State’s mythical Jersey Devil.
The team wore red-and-green jerseys from 1982-92.
The retro jerseys go on sale Dec. 1 at NHLShop.com, with a wider release on Dec. 6.
Devils Senior Vice President of Marketing Jillian Frechette said the team loved the way the reverse retro idea played into the team’s history.
“Since 1992, through three Stanley Cup Championships, the team’s uniform colors, look and feel have remained consistently red, black and white,” she said. “The adidas Reverse Retro ADIZERO Authentic jersey program created the opportunity for our organization to step back in time in a playful way, accentuating the Pine Barrens-inspired green that plays a significant role in our team history.
“We look forward to bringing the storied first decade of our franchise to life through storytelling, unique immersive experiences and fan-centric promotions tied to this jersey and the games in which we will wear it in the coming months.”
The jersey will be worn four times over the course of the upcoming season for games that are to be determined; matchups will be selected to highlight the impact and influence of the Reverse Retro program. Additional creative assets will be rolled out over the coming months, including unique video content, custom apparel and player and influencer engagement.