Sweaters and hockey have been synonymous with each other since the infancy of the sport. Teams have been identified by their iconic colours and patterns. Some of them are classic while others are classically awful. This summer our annual series focuses on the best and the worst sweaters in each team’s history. Today we have the best and the worst Tampa Bay Lightning sweaters in team history.
Tampa Bay Lightning Sweaters: The Best and Worst
How We Did It?
We at Last Word on Hockey used a variety of methods to compile this list. Polling came from social media, our writers, and fans. We wanted to get a variety of opinions when we put out our list. This compilation will likely spur debate. However, we wanted to see who had the most memorable sweaters in each team’s history. Let’s put our best foot forward with the best sweaters.
The Best of the Tampa Bay Lightning
The Home Blues
Sometimes the minimalist approach can work for a team. According to NHL Uniform Database, Tampa Bay announced its change to blue sweaters. The Lightning had worn black mostly when dark colours became the primary look for home teams in 2003-04.
There had been a blue BOLTS alternate that started in 2008-09. However, the new blue sweaters were a departure from previous looks. NHL Uniform Database added the uniforms were “Originally, the uniforms were going to be just blue and white, but by popular demand, the team later added black trim to the numbers and the lightning bolt on the pants (which was not originally part of the redesign).”
The Lightning bolt on the pants is a nice touch and these sweaters are just good-looking. Tampa Bay has worn these for over a decade and it doesn’t look like that will change any time soon.
2001-07 Black Sweaters
It took a bit for the Lightning to get their sweaters right in one sense. The just couldn’t get its number and letter fonts right on the back of their sweaters.
✅ 2004
✅ 2020
✅ 2021Which @TBLightning #StanleyCup championship was most memorable? pic.twitter.com/n7EINau0RU
— NHL (@NHL) July 9, 2021
There were some unique experiments with numbers and letters on the uniforms. Things like italics were even used for a spell, but 2001 was when they finally got it right.
Tampa Bay went to the standard block font in 2001 and stayed there until 2007 when the change to Reebok allowed for a redesign.
Current Alternates
Tampa Bay returned to dabbling in black alternate jerseys in the 2014 season. There were a couple of failed attempts that we’ll get to, but the current sweater seems like a good look for them.
This look dropped in the 2023-24 season and is pretty clean. Tampa Bay added victory stripes for their three Stanley Cup victories. These stripes are also different colours and that’s different.
We also did the modified logo on the front. Tampa Bay fans should hope these alternates stick around for a bit.
The Worst of the Tampa Bay Lightning
Dealing with the Elements
As mentioned several times during this series, the 1990s was an interesting time for sweaters. Tampa Bay had worn black or white as a base for their uniforms. However, the 1996-97 season would change that.
I love the 1996-1999 Lightning alternate jerseys forever and I don't care what you think about it https://t.co/GmpfkGcuBR pic.twitter.com/EciZsaaFOd
— Sara 'buckets' Civian (@SaraCivian) November 24, 2021
The Lightning would add a stormy scene to their jersey rotation. Their base would be a blue background, but things like waves, rain and lightning bolts would be prominent features.
This sweater is peak 90s cheese, but not the good kind. A Reverse Retro in 2022-23 would have a white variation, but it wasn’t much better.
Dead Letter Department
Tampa Bay kept its original sweater design from 1992 until 2007 as we previously mentioned. We also said that their uniforms had some trouble with number and letter fonts.
The Lightning actually used italics in the 1993-94 campaign. This was the only instance that we’ve seen that type of lettering and numbering on a jersey.
Another point against it was there was blue outlines and the black base. This made the sweaters very hard to read, but luckily this experiment was ended in short order.
Your Black Phase
Tampa Bay has proven that minimalist sweaters can work. However, it can also be a swing and a miss at times as the Lightning proved with this black jersey in 2018.
NHL Uniform Database said that “the sleeves, back numbers and socks featuring a pattern inspired by Adidas’ Primeknit shoes.” It looks like some parts have faded spots in places.
This sweater looks like something that you would listen to some My Chemical Romance with. At least Tampa got the black right with their current third.
Other Considerations
The current white sweaters just missed out on the list and the 2021 Reverse Retro also received some love from people.
On the bad side, font trouble plagued the team with these marker-style lettering and numbering. The 2001 numbering redesign did fix that.
Main photo by: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
