Welcome to LeafsLogo.com
The Toronto Maple Leafs are one of the most recognizable brands in all of hockey, and are probably the biggest hockey organization on the planet. Normally, when this is the case, you don’t change your branding.
However, the Leafs, in my opinion, are the exception to this rule.
For starters, lets look at the reason why it HASN’T been changed – the often suggested reason of “Tradition”.
This is often brought up when there are suggestions of any of the Original 6 teams changing their logo or colour scheme away from the status quo. The Red Wings have basically looked the same throught their existence, with the exception of a few years the same has been the same for the Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers. The Chicago Blackhawks took a few years to figure out their design, but once they did, they kept it the way it was until even today. The Boston Bruins refine the logo and jersey pattern every few years, but in esscence, its always the Spoked B in the middle of a black/white/gold jersey. What all of these teams have in common is with the exception of the 77/78 Rangers, they have all essentially kept their jerseys the same since 1955.
The Leafs, on the other hand, had changed their 1927 original logo in 1939 to the logo that currently graces our Alternate jerseys. The jerseys would slightly be tweaked, but were essentially the same at the core. This would last for some 28 years, until the Leafs decided to create special uniforms for the 1967 Stanley Cup Playoffs, to a Maple Leaf similar to what was on the Canadian Flag. They would go on to win the Stanley Cup that season, but wouldn’t ever do so wearing the design for a full season.
The Leafs would go on to update the logo to something closer to the current one in 1970 (some minor tweaks to the font size and leaf edges were made in 1982, but the logo was the same in its root), leaving it as a post expansion logo, which essentially leaves the tradition argument at a standstill. The Leafs would then update their jerseys in 1992, and again in 2007 to accomodate the new RBK Edge uniforms.
Some things stick out about the logo. For one, on such an old team, it trys to be too modern, looking as if it was created in the 1990’s sunbelt expansion boom rather than the 1970’s for one of the most historically signifcant hockey teams ever.
Secondarily, it carries with itself many negatives of its past. As stated above, as the Leafs logo became closer to the Canadian Flag style Maple Leaf, our success has dwindled. One Stanley Cup was won with the 1927 Logo. Zero with the 1967 logo if you take into account the fact it was only used during the playoffs. None with the 1970 to present logo, in fact, with the last two, only four conference final appearances and zero finals appearences.
How about the 1939 Logo, that is loved amongst Leafs fans, and who’s jersey it graces is arguable the most popular of the three current Leafs uniforms?
Ten Stanley Cups, and numorous other runs. Yes, 10 of the Leafs 11 Stanley Cups.
Forgetting statistical facts, one must merely look at the current jersey designs to see that it would be an aesthetical upgrade as well. The current Leafs 3rd jersey is one of the best looking jerseys in the entire NHL, and looks much more respectable. The current home and away look like long sleeve t-shirts with some stripes and a Walmart logo slapped on them. Barring a drastic re-design, there wouldn’t be anything close to being as nice looking as the third jersey.
It also lets us step into a new age for the Maple Leafs organization. The current logo is a creation of the Harold Ballard era, arguably the darkest era in the history of the Maple Leafs. With the NHL’s rules requiring a years notice on logo and uniform changes, the new home and away would take over in 2010/11, which may possibly be the first year of competitive hockey the Leafs have seen since before the lockout (the team looks better this year, but don’t hold your breath for a cup run). A new look leafs both player wise and uniform wise would be amazing to have.
As for an alternate uniform, that would be to be decided. Personally, I wouldn’t be against the 1967 blue jerseys being the 3rd, but anything that didn’t include the current logo would be ideal.
Anyway, that’s enough rambling on for now, if you’re in support of switching the logo, please sign the petition (which has a much simpler writeup than this). If you still need some convincing, look at the Facts page, and if you want to support us, theres a page for that too. Thanks for reading!
8 Responses to “Welcome to LeafsLogo.com”
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[...] Pass or Fail: The Maple Leafs should switch their logo to the alternate. [...]
Always like the alternate jersey and cap, I would love it.
[...] Pass or Fail: The Maple Leafs should switch their logo to the alternate. [...]
I like the original leaf and the one that has been used for years. I would prefer the new one to the old, but I wouldn’t mind a change to the original six look.
I love the original leaf and never ever would change it!
Bring back the old leaf
Old school!!
There really isn’t THAT much difference between Logo A and Logo B, to be honest. However, hockey fans are a superstitious lot, and the 1939 logo appears to have enjoyed a LOT of success. It would help to vote in pass-fail if we saw a set of logos lined up side-by-side to choose from.
I am unabashedly a Caps fan, but I like the Leafs as well, and want to see them do well this season.
I recommend looking here for information.
That said, I think that a combination of the 1938-39 logo and the present logo (keep the shape of the leaf, but change the font and detailing) would look better than the ‘38-39 logo, which is a bit squashed and busy-looking…