The NHL Winter Classic always turns a regular-season matchup into a living postcard, where ice, history and spectacle collide. In 2026, that outdoor magic returns with two franchises ready to step into the cold carrying decades of identity on their sleeves.
For the New York Rangers and the Florida Panthers, the spotlight isnāt only on the puck. The classic is as much about visual storytelling as it is about hockey, with uniforms designed to echo heritage, ambition and a sense of occasion.
As the teams prepare to share the same frozen stage, their jerseys hint at more than colors and crests. They frame the narrative of the day, blending nostalgia with modern edge and setting the tone before the first faceoff is even dropped.
What are the Rangers and Panthers wearing in the 2026 NHL Winter Classic?
The Panthersā Winter Classic uniform takes a bold step into hockeyās past while anchoring itself firmly in South Florida culture. For their first-ever outdoor game, Florida leaned into a vintage aesthetic, reviving the original āleaping pantherā crest from their early years.
That classic emblem is reimagined here with felt and chain stitching, giving the sweater an aged texture more in line with sweaters from the 1920s than the 1990s. The color paletteādark crimson, navy blue and yellowāblends tradition with warmth and small design touches nod to local pride and history.
Decorative chevrons in the stitching reference South Floridaās military heritage, and tucked into the rear hem loop is a tiny silhouette of a rat, a wink to the Panthersā quirky, decades-long rat-throwing tradition after home wins.
(Source: NHL)
The Rangers brought a different sort of history to Miami. Riding the momentum of their Centennial season, the Blueshirtsā Winter Classic jersey is essentially a cream-colored evolution of their anniversary threads. Instead of the usual bold blue, this sweater opts for a lighter base, honoring the franchiseās traditional light jersey look.
Diagonal lettering reading āNew Yorkā replaces the typical squad name seen on their Centennial jerseys, and oversized stripes on the sleeves and hem echo the design language of the Rangersā heritage kits.
A quirky additionāthe red apple logo with āNYRā embroidered on the shoulderāpays homage to one of the teamās historic emblems originally seen tucked on the hem of earlier celebratory jerseys.
Itās a uniform that feels both familiar and festive: rooted in the franchiseās long lineage while also tailored for a marquee outdoor stage. In a matchup that pits tradition against tradition, the Rangersā Winter Classic look becomes part of the story as much as the game itself.
