Penguins unveil dark blue Hometown Remix jerseys - USA Today
The Pittsburgh Penguins are once again throwing things back to their days wearing blue for an alternate uniform.
The team unveiled its kits that will be part of the broader NHL Hometown Remix series on Nov. 2.
The jerseys will be primarily a darker shade than the baby blue throwbacks they deployed starting in 2008. Those were designed to mimic the uniforms they wore upon breaking into the league in 1967.
These, apparently, drew similar inspiration as the team celebrates its 60th anniversary season, according to its announcement. Even as they look closer to the jerseys they used starting in 1972 that were a deeper shade of blue.
"This Hometown Remix jersey draws from the offset compositions, halftone textures, and unmistakable graphic style of the ‘60s," the team wrote. "The crest gets a pop art treatment that gives the Penguins mark a fresh, modern pulse. The shoulder patches deliver the same offset aesthetic: the igloo for the much-loved old Penguins’ arena, the triangle for the three rivers. On the hem, Pittsburgh’s unique neighborhoods are represented through glorious colors, grounding the jersey in hometown warmth and cultural pride. The numbers on the back leave a lasting impact, with halftone and offset detailing that mirrors the crest’s pop art language. The palette feels both classic Penguins and unmistakably iconic. A tribute to a city that isn't afraid to be bold and make it count."
The uniforms will debut for the Nov. 3 home game against the Vegas Golden Knights at PPG Paints Arena. Fans will be able to see them at nine more regular season home games in 2026-27.
The Penguins started wearing black and gold in the 1980s to align themselves more closely with the Pirates and Steelers, who themselves drew inspiration from the city’s crest and flag that use those colors.
They’ve done so mostly uninterrupted since. The baby blues returned for a brief interlude around the first-ever NHL Winter Classic against the Buffalo Sabres at Ralph Wilson Stadium back in 2008.
Sidney Crosby scored one of his iconic goals that day, beating Sabres goalie Ryan Miller for the winner in the shootout that broke a 1-1 tie after regulation and overtime.
For that reason, fans have maintained a soft spot for the color blue since. It’s not uncommon to see a blue Crosby jersey in the stands for games at PPG Paints Arena, nearly 20 years later.
It will be interesting to see if these catch on in a similar way, considering their origin is a leaner period of team history before the arrival of icons including Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr beginning in the 1980s.
"Looks nice," Crosby said of the new fit in a video posted by the team. "This is cool here.
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