Buffalo Sabres: Should the Heritage Classic uniform stick around?

Love alternate jerseys? If so, the Buffalo Sabres may have found theirs. And if you like white at home (lets fans see the other team’s colors in-person), you may love a Heritage Classic alternate. 

The Buffalo Sabres faced off with the Washington Capitals on Friday night at home, donning their increasingly popular Heritage Classic uniforms. And it’s really a throwback to the 20th and early 21st century, when teams wore white jerseys at home while opponents wore dark.

And while there are some alternate looks the league can do better without: Such as what the Vegas Golden Knights and Edmonton Oilers, among other teams, have going on, the Sabres have a keeper in their Heritage Classic uniform.

What makes the Heritage Classic uniform a sound alternate for the Buffalo Sabres?

Many alternate uniforms fall out of fashion because they’re a good look for a specific time period. However, the Heritage Classic look, with its old-school cream-colored field, detailed buffalo, and royal blue and gold color scheme, is timeless.

The uniform, also unlike most alternate uniforms in both the NHL and in sports, does not deviate too much from the team’s current uniform set. Instead, it provides a slightly different flair. Given the lack of overall differences, it’s one of those looks the Sabres can wear both here in 2022 and even 25 years from today if they choose to maintain their classic royal blue and gold color scheme.

For Sabres fans, unleashing the Heritage Classic jersey serves as a relief from other concepts they came up with in the past. Remember the infamous gold alternates?

With the rest of the NHL, the Sabres also unveiled a Reverse Retro concept in 2020 which was a definite leg up from what some considered to be the worst jerseys in NHL history. Earlier in the season, rumors also swirled the Sabres may even break out the black and red goat head look worn during the 1990s-2000s.

Of all the prospective alternate jerseys, the Heritage Classic look is by far the best. It’s timeless and it doesn’t carry the fads that the gold jersey or the goat head look carried. Ditto for the Reverse Retros. So if the Sabres continue to wear their Heritage Classic look, it will be a uniform well worn.