A new Leafs sweater always invites a closer look. The colour is familiar, but a different crest or a change in the stripes can send you back to an entirely different version of Toronto hockey.
On November 2, 2026, the NHL and Fanatics unveiled Hometown Remix, including a new Toronto Maple Leafs jersey. See the NHL announcement. It is a good reason to revisit the sweaters that came before it: the green St. Pats years, the classic blue and white, the sharp-edged seventies crest and the throwbacks that brought older designs back into view.
This guide follows the major changes in Toronto Maple Leafs jersey history, with a few details to look for when you come across an older shirt yourself.
The new Maple Leafs jersey: 2026 Hometown Remix
The new Hometown Remix design pairs an off-white body with navy accents at the sleeves and waist. That softer background gives the sweater a different feel from a crisp white jersey, even before you notice the crest. The Hockey News covers the release.
The crest revisits the original Leafs mark with vein detailing and an arched Toronto wordmark. See the official design breakdown. To our eye, that combination makes the history the focal point. You can enjoy the new sweater on its own, but knowing the older designs makes it more interesting.
1917–1927: before the familiar blue leaf
Toronto's NHL story began in 1917, before the Maple Leafs name. The early blue sweaters carried a large T; the Arenas name appeared on the 1918–19 version. In 1919, the St. Patricks identity brought green and white. That is the history behind Toronto's green heritage jerseys.
Conn Smythe's 1927 takeover introduced the Maple Leafs name. The first Leafs sweaters were white with a green crest; blue and white followed for the next season. The name and the familiar colours arrived in separate steps. Explore the early uniforms in the NHL Uniform Database.
The 1930s–1960s: the classic sweater takes shape
By 1934, two equal-width stripes on the sleeves and waist had established a lasting Leafs look. The detailed leaf crest became central to the team's identity through the following decades. In 1967, just before the playoffs, Toronto introduced a simpler, 11-point leaf inspired by the Canadian flag, alongside revised striping. The club's media guide records these uniform changes.
Look at the outline of the badge when comparing sweaters from this period. A densely pointed leaf and a simpler geometric leaf can give two blue jerseys very different personalities. It is also why describing something as a “sixties Leafs jersey” leaves a lot of room for detail.
1970–1992: bold shoulders and a geometric crest
The 1970–71 redesign refined the 11-point crest, setting “Toronto” straight across above “Maple Leafs.” A broad contrasting panel ran from the neck down the arms, replacing the earlier sleeve bands. A single waist stripe completed the look.
For 1992–93, paired sleeve and waist stripes returned, along with vintage-style leaf shoulder patches. The geometric chest crest stayed. The club's uniform history connects that change to the enthusiastic response to its 1991–92 throwback sweater.
When browsing older jerseys, those shoulder-to-cuff panels are an especially useful visual clue. They make a strong graphic statement even when the shirt is worn loose over ordinary jeans.
The 2000s: small details, recognisably different jerseys
In 2000, TML shoulder patches and silver-outlined block numbers updated the uniform. The 2007 Reebok Edge redesign removed the waist stripes and shoulder patches. Waist stripes returned in 2010, together with vintage leaf shoulder patches. Compare these versions in the uniform archive.
These are useful details when two secondhand shirts initially look identical. Turn them around, inspect the shoulders and look at the hem. A crest alone rarely tells the whole story of a garment.
2014 and 2016: looking back to move forward
For the 2014 Winter Classic, Toronto drew heavily on its 1930–34 uniforms. The blue sweater used a felt-like white crest, repeated groups of stripes and a laced collar. The white was actual white, rather than the cream sometimes associated with heritage designs. SportsLogos.net documented the details at its unveiling.
The 2016–17 centennial redesign brought a more detailed leaf back to the main uniform. Its symbolism was deliberate: 31 points refer to the 1931 opening of Maple Leaf Gardens; 17 veins mark the franchise's founding year, 1917; and the 13 upper veins commemorate its Stanley Cup championships. The team's own logo guide explains each feature.
That makes the modern crest a good example of how a familiar design can carry several dates at once. The year a jersey was made and the era its artwork references are separate things.
Reverse Retro and the Justin Bieber jersey
The first Reverse Retro release in 2020 combined the 1967–70 crest with the striping associated with the 1970–92 uniforms, using silver-grey accents. See the original Reverse Retro overview. The 2022–23 edition reached further back, flipping the blue and white of a 1962-inspired design. Compare the second release.
Another 2022 release took a different approach. The Next Gen jersey, created with Justin Bieber, drew house, adidas and the NHL, paired black and blue on one side with a reversible gold-and-black look inside. The black-and-blue side was the version intended for game use at launch. Sportsnet covered the collaboration.
Together, these releases show how much room there is within one team's identity: reinterpret an old uniform, revive an earlier crest or build a piece that connects hockey with everyday clothing.
What to look for in a vintage Maple Leafs jersey
If the new release has you looking for an older Leafs sweater, start with the design you actually want to wear. The shoulders, collar and proportions matter as much as the name on the back. Then look closely at the individual garment:
- Separate the design's age from the jersey's age. A recently made throwback can reproduce a much older crest. Ask for clear label photos and compare the garment with documented examples.
- Check the complete shirt. Look at the front crest, shoulder patches, numbers, stitching and fabric together. One convincing detail does not establish authenticity.
- Read the condition. Check cuffs and sleeves for snags, pale panels for marks and lettering for lifting or evidence of a previous nameplate.
- Compare measurements. Use the chest width and length of a layer you already like. Leave room for a sweatshirt if that is how you plan to wear it.
For more help comparing older pieces, read our vintage hockey jersey guide. For outfit ideas, try our guide to what to wear to a Leafs game.
Our favourite way to wear a Leafs jersey is simple: relaxed denim, comfortable shoes and enough room for the sweater's shape to stand on its own. Choose the version whose details you keep coming back to. Explore Toronto Maple Leafs pieces at Throwback Vault to see what is currently in the vault.
