10 jerseys that just looked wrong on NHL greats

There’s something jarring about seeing an NHL great in the jersey of a team that isn’t theirs. Trying to picture Martin Brodeur in a St. Louis Blues sweater is almost impossible. That isn’t, and will never be his team. He’s a New Jersey Devil, he wears black, red and white, and paints his helmet the same damn way every year. That’s who he is to hockey fans.

And now ...

Unfortunately, sometimes players have to do this late in their careers to stave off retirement, when the needs of their team don't include what they have left to offer.

Below are 10 times we’ve seen a player do it and simply thought, “Nope, that doesn’t work.”

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10

Chris Chelios in Atlanta

Chelios had amazing runs in Montreal (red), Chicago (red) and Detroit (red). At 47, he did not have an amazing run in ... I dunno, whatever the Thrashers' colors were. Blue, yellow, red, white, light blue and orange, I believe.

9

Mike Modano as a Red Wing

Twenty-one years in the (North) Stars organization … then one with Detroit? I think it looked so “off” - more so than, say when Daniel Alfredsson did it - because of the disparity between the Stars and Wings' colors.

8

Mats Sundin in Vancouver

It's like a fever dream or something. If it weren't for pictures, I'd absolutely deny it ever happened.

7

Wayne Gretzky in St. Louis

Eighteen games and eight goals for the best player in the history of hockey in that goofy jersey. It just didn’t work.

6

Peter Forsberg in Nashville

The team hadn’t even been around a decade yet, and certainly hadn’t won. So seeing Peter Forsberg pull on that undignified jersey was strange.

5

Brett Hull as a Phoenix Coyote

Actually happened! For five whole games!

4

Guy Lafleur and the New York Rangers

The Nordiques thing was weird too, but who even remembers that this happened?

3

Ron Francis in Toronto

He was a great Whaler, a great Penguin and a proud member of the Carolina Hurricanes. Then he did this. Those were odd years in Toronto that saw cameos from Brian Leetch, Phil Housley, Glen Wesley, Owen Nolan and others.

2

Grant Fuhr in Calgary

If someone had a gun to your head and said, “Did Grant Fuhr ever play in Calgary?” you’d get shot, right?

1

Bobby Orr as a Blackhawk

Aw man. Too bad this even happened.