NY Islanders retain final say on fan designed third jersey finished product

The New York Islanders have turned over plenty of creative control to their fan base in determining the team’s third jersey for the 2027-28 season.

But not all of it.

While fans are voting to determine the winning design, the Islanders will still retain final authority over what ultimately reaches the ice.

That is made clear in the official terms and conditions for the contest.

“The winning design may be referred to herein as the ‘Winning Design’. The Winning Design will be announced on August 24, 2026. Sponsor shall have no obligation to manufacture, distribute, or otherwise commercially exploit the Winning Design. Further, Sponsor reserves the right to alter the Winning Design.”

That final sentence is particularly important.

Even after fans choose their favorite, the Islanders can make changes before the jersey is finalized for NHL use. That could include adjustments to colors, striping, logos, numbering, proportions or other design elements necessary to satisfy the organization, equipment manufacturer or league requirements.

It also means the jersey that wins the public vote should not necessarily be viewed as the exact uniform Islanders players will wear during the 2027-28 season.

That may be a good thing. Fans seem overall content with the final two options announced on Monday, but they are also coming up with some slight variations to the design, such as changing the woodmark on the "Navy Islanders" option to a different woodmark the team owns but wasn't an option during the design contest. Even Mathew Barzal, in a video posted by the team, said he liked the "Navy Lighthouse" but thought it should have shoulder patches.

The contest has been marketed around giving fans a rare opportunity to help shape the look of the franchise, and that remains true. More than 80,000 submissions were received before the Islanders narrowed the field and turned the decision over to voters.

Still, designing an NHL uniform involves more than simply selecting the most popular concept.

There are branding considerations, manufacturing requirements, league approvals and practical considerations surrounding how the uniform will actually look and function on the ice.

So when the winning design is announced Aug. 24, Islanders fans will know which concept won the competition.

They may not yet know exactly what the finished product will look like.

Fans get the vote.

The Islanders still get the final say.

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