The 2015-16 NHL season is the first time the Buffalo Sabres have been without a third jersey in quite some time. After just two years, the Sabres organization opted to retire their previous alternate, 2013's less-than-beloved yellow jersey. With that Nashville Predators-esque design now behind them, it will be interesting to see what comes next, but the team may already have a strong option.
Next season will mark the 20th anniversary of the Sabres' somewhat controversial Buffalo-head logo, which seemed to bear more resemblance to a goat. Introduced in the 1996-97 season, the black, white and red "goat-head" jersey was a strong reflection of the era it debuted in. The look and colors fit the darker tone of popular culture in the 90's, a decade that popularized grunge music, Nintendo 64 and Pulp Fiction.
From a historical perspective, the Sabres' black and white jerseys might seem antiquated; a product of a time long past. The days of players like Dominik Hasek, Rob Ray and Daniel Briere now seem part of a distant era for the team. But it's that exact reason that makes the prospect of bringing back those jerseys all the more appealing. The goat-head jersey's return as an alternate would be the perfect way to appeal to a fanbase that grew-up with that design, while honoring a part of the team's legacy.
It's hard to argue that the section of the Sabres' fanbase now in their 20's and 30's that grew up with the goat-head wouldn't be attracted to the logo as a third jersey option. For many of today's fans, that design can be associated with some of the team's strongest seasons. Two of the most memorable playoff runs in team history happened while the Sabres wore the black and white design (1998-99 and 2005-06).
The goat-head era jerseys certainly had their share of negatives, as well as positives. When the jerseys made their debut, long-time fans griped that the colors deviated far too much from the team's classic blue and gold design. There's certainly weight to that argument. The Sabres spent nearly a decade away from their classic look, before shifting first towards the "slug" design (which marked a return to blue and gold) and finally towards the modern jerseys. If team management is concerned about deviating from the team's colors once again, they could easily bring back the goat-head logo and overall jersey design with the team's classic colors to mesh the new and old. It might even help the team sell more merchandise.
Past history plays a pivotal role in the success of any sports franchise, so it's important to preserve that history. Fans pass down their sports teams to their children, and the parts of each franchise that are most memorable to them often carry over, as well. Most Sabres fans raised during the era of the goat-head jersey know players like Gilbert Perreault through their parents, not because they grew up watching him play. For fans raised on players like Hasek and Ray, there is a history and significance to that particular era, despite the fact that the logo often associated with it has long since been retired. There's a reason it can still be seen prominently throughout First Niagara Center during any home game. With the 20th anniversary just around the corner, it seems there's no better time to bring the logo back.
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