The Arizona Coyotes designed a beautiful 20th anniversary patch, but it’s location on the actual jersey leaves a lot to be desired.
As the Arizona Coyotes prepare to start training camp for their 20th NHL season, the hype level is higher than it has been in some time.
The team is stocked full of promising prospects and several may make the final roster for puck drop on October 15th.
The Yotes are also celebrating a milestone many never anticipated they’d reach — 20 years of hockey in the desert.
It’s been a struggle for survival for most of it, but with IceArizona taking ownership things have stabilized for the organization just in time for the product on the ice to reach the next level.
Earlier in the offseason, the franchise released the first images of a gorgeous 20th anniversary patch celebrating the club’s milestone:
Better look at the Arizona #Coyotes new 20th anniversary logo #NHL pic.twitter.com/MR8sakV0mT
— Chris Creamer | SportsLogos.Net (@sportslogosnet) June 24, 2016
We even got to see a model of it on the sweater when Clayton Keller and Jakob Chychrun were selected by the Arizona Coyotes in the 1st round of the 2016 NHL Draft.
Here's how the Arizona #Coyotes new 20th anniversary patch looks on the jersey (pic via @davest4yotes) #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/EQCu6oJb0b
— Chris Creamer | SportsLogos.Net (@sportslogosnet) June 25, 2016
Unfortunately, when the anniversary patch is added to a sweater with a captain’s letter, things become much less aesthetically pleasing.
For those wondering, this is what we were referring to. Very busy. The Coyote crest's unique positioning puts them in a hard spot. pic.twitter.com/3aJQolPpId
— Howlin' Hockey (@HowlinHockey) September 22, 2016
In Shane Doan‘s 21st annual headshot for the team, we see the patch placed next to his captain’s “C” and it’s quite cluttered and confusing.
For most NHL teams this wouldn’t be an issue. Most crests are not angled in the same way the Arizona Coyotes’ crest is and the issue could have been avoided by putting the captain’s letter on it’s natural side (the left), and the patch on the right.
Due to the unique nature of the Coyotes’ crest, however, captain’s letters are placed on the right hand side of all sweaters. This creates an issue with the anniversary patch because it can’t simply be offset by placing it on the other side.
With that said, we have seen it in use on the opposite side on Howler’s sweater, who is the Arizona Coyotes’ mascot:
That’s an upgrade over the double whammy on the right hand side, but the whole sweater would probably be improved if the Yotes were allowed to place the patch on the shoulder.
Next: Coyotes' Jerseys Through History: Ranked From Worst To First
It’s unclear whether that’s a viable option for the team under the league’s rules, however, so perhaps they are stuck with things as they are currently.
If so, that would be quite unfortunate considering the beauty that is the new 20th anniversary patch.