COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO - FEBRUARY 15: Ian Cole #28 of the Colorado Avalanche advances the puck against Trevor Moore #12 of the Los Angeles Kings in the third period during the 2020 NHL Stadium Series game at Falcon Stadium on February 15, 2020 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

With the 2021 Stadium Series heading to Carter Finley Stadium, the Carolina Hurricanes have a lot to prepare for. Possibly the biggest thing they will prepare for will be one of the most anticipated and debated reveals for the event, the jerseys.

It’s the item that fans love to debate about, the item that the team hopes that the fans like and buy, the item that will receive the most air time on TV, and if done wrong it alone can ruin the 2021 Stadium Series for the Carolina Hurricanes.

That’s right. I’m talking about the jerseys. The item that can cost a fan upwards of $185 at the Eye will be the most important detail about the 2021 Stadium Series game at Carter Finley Stadium next February.

If you want to know why just think back to last year when the Carolina Hurricanes reveal the Whalers jerseys. Fans were so happy for the classic design that hundreds if not thousands of those jerseys were sold in just one day. Now imagine what would have happened if the jersey had a completely different design, one that fans hated, whalers night wouldn’t have been near the success it was and probably would have ended up being a one-off promotion.

The Carolina Hurricanes and their to be named opponent need to think carefully on their jersey designs to avoid those awful looking ones that the Colorado Avalanche and Los Angeles Kings had at this years Stadium Series game.

Here in my opinion are some do’s and don’ts for the 2021 Stadium Series Jerseys.

Do:

Take inspiration from the past NC hockey teams

Here’s a photo of Gordie Howe in a Raleigh IceCaps sweater at Dorton Arena. After a chat with Mark Howe, best guess is this was taken during the 65-city charity tour organized by Colleen Howe in 1993 for Gordie’s 65th birthday. Can any Raleigh folks confirm? pic.twitter.com/V1cbxcVX8H — Mike Sundheim (@MikeSundheim) August 14, 2019

If you actually dig a little bit, you might find that North Carolina actually has a rich history of hockey in the State. From the original Carolina Thunderbirds and Charlotte Checkers to the Greensboro Monarchs and the Raleigh Icecaps.

Each on of these teams are a part of this historic event because without them NHL hockey may have never came to this great state. Why not look into doing an homage to NC hockey history.

Don’t:

Use a circle logo

I really don’t have to say that much about this. The circle logo has been already done by so many teams already that it really feels over done. Just off the top of my head Columbus, Pittsburgh, and Chicago have all done one in the recent past.

Not to say if done right a circle logo does look good, if you need an example go look at NC State’s hockey jerseys, I’m saying that it’s a bit over done and is a bit of a cop-out at this point.

Do:

Play around with the team colors on the jersey

A good jersey could literally already be under our noses. Just from playing around with the arrangement of color on a jersey can be a good start. Just like how on the black take warning jerseys where the shoulders are a different shade of black.

Something as subtle as that can go a long way. Imagine a black jersey with red shoulders, or a red jersey with black tear marks similar to the NC State football team jerseys. Some that small can go a long way.

Don’t:

Just use a slightly different version of current jerseys

This will be the one jersey idea that will make me the most mad if the Carolina Hurricanes decide to go with it. It literally is the most lazy design change you can do, and for the Hurricanes this is your first outdoor game. Go big or go home. Take the chance don’t got with the safe choice.

Do:

Don’t be afraid to think outside the box

As I stated in the previous don’t, this is the Carolina Hurricanes first outdoor game. 60,000 fans packed in Carter Finley Stadium for what will be the biggest, in terms of attendance, hockey game in North Carolina history.

Go big or go home. Take the chance don’t got with the safe choice.

Yes, the jerseys from this years game were definitely out of the box, but don’t let that discourage you. Be creative, put forth the effort, and if you need help poll the fans. They ultimately are the ones who will buy the jersey so why not ask us what we think before you release it.

Question for the CC readers: What do you think the Stadium Series jerseys should look like?