Rewind: Taking a look back on the Senators jerseys of the past

OTTAWA, CANADA - OCTOBER 4: Right wing Daniel Alfredsson #11 of the Ottawa Senators looks on against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the NHL game on October 4, 2002 at the Corel Centre in Kanata, Canada. Senators won 5-1. (Photo by Dave Sandford/Getty Images/NHLI)
OTTAWA, CANADA - OCTOBER 4: Right wing Daniel Alfredsson #11 of the Ottawa Senators looks on against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the NHL game on October 4, 2002 at the Corel Centre in Kanata, Canada. Senators won 5-1. (Photo by Dave Sandford/Getty Images/NHLI)

With Ottawa reintroducing the 2D logo as their primary logo for next season, we take a look back on the history of the Senators jersey

Alexei Yashin looked great when he finally dawned the Sens sweater during the 1993-94 season the year after being the first Senator ever selected, second overall in 1992.

LANDOVER, MD – DECEMBER 17: Alexei Yashin #19 of the Ottawa Senators looks on during a NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals on December 17, 1993 at USAir Arena in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD – DECEMBER 17: Alexei Yashin #19 of the Ottawa Senators looks on during a NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals on December 17, 1993 at USAir Arena in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

Ottawa made a slight tweak to their jerseys at the start of the 1996-97 season when they added some white bordering to add a more defined colour to the jersey.

In between the two red lines covering the number on the sleeve, would be a white stripe as a background to the jersey number, which would be outlined in red to bring a more vibrant aspect of the jersey. Also added was a white stripe which would sit on top of the red line at the bottom of the jersey to really enforce the black, red and white for the Senators going forward.

29 Nov 1996: Goaltender Damian Rhodes of the Ottawa Senators looks on during a game against the Buffalo Sabres at the Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres won the game, 3-0.
29 Nov 1996: Goaltender Damian Rhodes of the Ottawa Senators looks on during a game against the Buffalo Sabres at the Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres won the game, 3-0. /

The newly added white to the black jerseys was a nice touch, little changes were never going to overshadow how awesome these jerseys were.

Ottawa had a third jersey added to the fold in 1997, which had a forward facing senator, with the majority of the jersey being red. The big black and white stripes running through the jersey were a really nice touch, and a reason why these jerseys were popular.

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Starting in the 1999-00 season Ottawa made a significant change to the historic 2D all-black jerseys and transformed into a forward facing Senator (their third jersey from 1997-99). The red would become a primary colour for Ottawa from then on. You can’t deny how good Lalime looked in the red threads.

5 Oct 2000: Goalie Patrick Lalime #40 of the Ottawa Senators moves to stop the puck during a game against the Boston Bruins at the Fleet Center in Boston, Massachusetts. The Senators tied the Bruins 4-4.Mandatory Credit: Steve Babineau /Allsport
5 Oct 2000: Goalie Patrick Lalime #40 of the Ottawa Senators moves to stop the puck during a game against the Boston Bruins at the Fleet Center in Boston, Massachusetts. The Senators tied the Bruins 4-4.Mandatory Credit: Steve Babineau /Allsport /

The new look was worn on the road from the 1999 season until the 2003-04 season where the team would employ their bright red jerseys at home from then until the present day. This aspect would add to the home atmosphere, where Senators fans would all dress in red and embrace the slogan “united in red”.

KANATA, ON – APRIL 18: Mike Fischer #12 of the Ottawa Senators raises his hands after scoring the game winning goal in double overtime during game six of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals at the Corel Centre on April 18, 2004 in Kanata, Ontario. Teammate Chris Neil #25 goes to congratulate him as Ed Belfour #20 and Bryan Marchment #27 of the Toronto Maple Leafs look dejected. The Senators won the game 2-1 in double overtime to tie the series 3-3. (Photo By Dave Sandford/Getty Images)
KANATA, ON – APRIL 18: Mike Fischer #12 of the Ottawa Senators raises his hands after scoring the game winning goal in double overtime during game six of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals at the Corel Centre on April 18, 2004 in Kanata, Ontario. Teammate Chris Neil #25 goes to congratulate him as Ed Belfour #20 and Bryan Marchment #27 of the Toronto Maple Leafs look dejected. The Senators won the game 2-1 in double overtime to tie the series 3-3. (Photo By Dave Sandford/Getty Images) /

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While some fans were transitioning from the “white out” from the previous years when Ottawa graced the white jerseys at home, a new era was born with Ottawa being united in red.

OTTAWA, CANADA – NOVEMBER 30: Linemates Patrick Eaves #44; Mike Fisher #12 and Chris Neil #25 of the Ottawa Senators discuss strategy during a TV timeout in a game against the Florida Panthers on November 30, 2006 at the Scotiabank Place in Ottawa, Canada. The Senators won 6-0. (Photo by Phillip MacCallum/Getty Images)
OTTAWA, CANADA – NOVEMBER 30: Linemates Patrick Eaves #44; Mike Fisher #12 and Chris Neil #25 of the Ottawa Senators discuss strategy during a TV timeout in a game against the Florida Panthers on November 30, 2006 at the Scotiabank Place in Ottawa, Canada. The Senators won 6-0. (Photo by Phillip MacCallum/Getty Images) /

The new black and gold third jerseys were sort of an enigma for me, they look alright but something about them just wasn’t too appealing. The abundance of gold could of been the reason, the parliament hill shoulder patch was a nice touch though. These were worn from 2000-07 season as the third jersey.

Ottawa would grace this exact combination of jerseys up until their historic Stanley Cup run in the 2006-07 season. They would excite a whole city with atmosphere never seen before or after that season.

OTTAWA, ON – JUNE 04: Ottawa Senator fans hold a Canadian flag during the National Anthem prior to the start of Game Four of the 2007 Stanley Cup finals between the Anaheim Ducks and the Ottawa Senators on June 4, 2007 at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
OTTAWA, ON – JUNE 04: Ottawa Senator fans hold a Canadian flag during the National Anthem prior to the start of Game Four of the 2007 Stanley Cup finals between the Anaheim Ducks and the Ottawa Senators on June 4, 2007 at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) /

Scotiabank Place was packed with red during the whole playoff run and was a unique sight to be seen. This was without a doubt the peak of the red jerseys, when they would proceed to change them in the coming 2007-08 season, when the NHL jerseys changed to Reebok.

Ottawa Senators
Ottawa Senators /

Ottawa Senators

Ottawa would make a small tweak to the forward facing Senator and would completely abolish the 2D logo, opting to go with the new logo on both the home and away jerseys.

TORONTO – APRIL 3: Dany Heatley #15 of the Ottawa Senators celebrates his teams goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs during their NHL game at the Air Canada Centre April 3, 2008 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo By Dave Sandford/Getty Images)
TORONTO – APRIL 3: Dany Heatley #15 of the Ottawa Senators celebrates his teams goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs during their NHL game at the Air Canada Centre April 3, 2008 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo By Dave Sandford/Getty Images) /

The jersey lacked substance, with no real stripes or extra design on the jersey, just with a new logo stuck in the middle of a red and white jersey. It was uninspiring and kicked off an interesting era in Sens jersey lore.

In the following season, Ottawa made an astounding change by going with the polarizing “SENS” jersey, which was not exactly loved by Senators fans. I still haven’t come to grips with the fact that I asked for that jersey for Christmas (sorry Dad).

It is the worst looking jersey in Senators history.

OTTAWA – NOVEMBER 22: Cody Bass #58 of the Ottawa Senators skates during the game against the New York Rangers on November 22, 2008 at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa, Canada. (Photo by Phillip MacCallum/Getty Images)
OTTAWA – NOVEMBER 22: Cody Bass #58 of the Ottawa Senators skates during the game against the New York Rangers on November 22, 2008 at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa, Canada. (Photo by Phillip MacCallum/Getty Images) /

I couldn’t get myself to show a picture of a memorable Senator, so here’s Cody Bass. Thank god the look only lasted a short few years.

Ottawa would stick with the same look from 2008 up to the present day, but juggled with a few third jerseys that deserved some praise.

OTTAWA, ON – OCTOBER 30: Kyle Turris #7 of the Ottawa Senators skates against the Chicago Blackhawks during an NHL game at Canadian Tire Centre on October 30, 2014 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images)
OTTAWA, ON – OCTOBER 30: Kyle Turris #7 of the Ottawa Senators skates against the Chicago Blackhawks during an NHL game at Canadian Tire Centre on October 30, 2014 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images) /

In the 2011 season Ottawa would go back with the “0” jersey, which paid homage to the threads they wore way back in the early 1900s. Going with the black as their official third jersey, while they went with he cream coloured jersey for the Heritage classic in 2014 as another great look added to the O.

VANCOUVER, BC – MARCH 2: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Mike Hoffman #68 of the Ottawa Senators during NHL action against the Vancouver Canucks on March 02, 2014 at the 2014 Tim Hortons Heritage Classic at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BC – MARCH 2: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Mike Hoffman #68 of the Ottawa Senators during NHL action against the Vancouver Canucks on March 02, 2014 at the 2014 Tim Hortons Heritage Classic at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images) /

Exceptional jerseys that many Sens fans at the time were begging for Ottawa to switch to the black jerseys as the home uniforms and the cream coloured as the road. While it never came to fruition it would of been a nice look.

Ottawa would spring a new rendition of the “O” in 2018 when they hosted the NHL 100 Classic at TD Place, and the New look was met with mixed reviews.

OTTAWA, ON – DECEMBER 16: Erik Karlsson #65 of the Ottawa Senators skates against the Montreal Canadiens at the 2017 Scotiabank NHL 100 Classic at Lansdowne Park on December 16, 2017 in Ottawa, Canada. (Photo by Francois Laplante/Getty Images/Freestyle Photo)
OTTAWA, ON – DECEMBER 16: Erik Karlsson #65 of the Ottawa Senators skates against the Montreal Canadiens at the 2017 Scotiabank NHL 100 Classic at Lansdowne Park on December 16, 2017 in Ottawa, Canada. (Photo by Francois Laplante/Getty Images/Freestyle Photo) /

It was a nice look, but the silver “O” was questionable since Ottawa never incorporated the colour with any jersey up until then.

It was used in 2017-19 and then was retired, yet another Senators third jersey which ran out of time.

OTTAWA, ON – DECEMBER 29: Members of the Ottawa Senators wearing the team’s various jerseys watch the jersey retirement ceremony of Daniel Alfredsson prior to a game against the Detroit Red Wings at Canadian Tire Centre on December 29, 2016 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images)
OTTAWA, ON – DECEMBER 29: Members of the Ottawa Senators wearing the team’s various jerseys watch the jersey retirement ceremony of Daniel Alfredsson prior to a game against the Detroit Red Wings at Canadian Tire Centre on December 29, 2016 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images) /

Now we sit here with a new 2D jersey on its way for the upcoming season and don’t know who to thank, while theres no right answer, this night when Alfie had his jersey retired and the 2D was showcased again, the discussion was born again.

A great night in Senators and Daniel Alfredsson’s history might be why we are getting the 2D back.