Edmonton Oilers Logo PNG
The Edmonton Oilers logo has essentially never changed. The team’s careful attitude towards its identity demonstrates its consistency and high level of responsibility. Its emblem has always been a ring with an oil drop on top and the name at the bottom. On the one hand, it is a tribute to the region from which the franchise originates, and on the other, it confirms the proverb, “A drop wears away a stone.” That is, daily practice leads to grandiose results.
The Edmonton Oilers were formed in Alberta during the rise of the WHA, a region tied to the oil industry and junior hockey traditions. Local promoter Bill Hunter, owner of the Edmonton Oil Kings, had long sought to secure an NHL franchise but was repeatedly denied, leading him to establish a new club in the rival league.
The WHA initially planned two teams in Alberta. The Edmonton side was named the Oilers, while Calgary was assigned the Broncos, though that team moved to Ohio before the first season. The Edmonton franchise briefly adopted the name Alberta Oilers to represent the entire province and intended to split home games between cities.
Travel proved impractical almost immediately, and during the first season, the club reverted to the name Edmonton Oilers and remained in one city. The identity used orange, white, and blue, with a logo built around an oil drop above the wordmark. In 1974, blue became the dominant color, and the emblem shifted between red and white backgrounds depending on whether it was worn on home or away uniforms.
In 1979, the Oilers joined the NHL and retained only a limited number of players under protection rules. Among them was Mark Messier, then an 18-year-old prospect. In the following drafts, the franchise added Glenn Anderson, Jari Kurri, Kevin Lowe, and Grant Fuhr, forming the core that defined the team’s early NHL period.
Meaning and History
The round “Edmonton Oilers” logo, executed in a classic style, has not changed for 40 years. Although the team has seven logos, they are all of one type. There have been no serious changes since 1972. Adjustments were minor: color shades and edging. Such consistency speaks of the franchise’s stability, and the chosen emblem perfectly matches its concept. Therefore, the club retained its original name, the Edmonton Oilers, even after changing its name from the Alberta Oilers.
What are Edmonton Oilers?
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional hockey team in the NHL, playing in the Western Conference. It is also a member of the Pacific Division. The club was founded in 1971, when it played as the Alberta Oilers. The franchise received its current name in 1973. Since 2016, the team’s home stadium has been Rogers Place.
1972 – 1973
The original Edmonton Oilers logo was introduced in 1972. It featured the word “Oilers” inside a royal blue circle. The inscription resembled a flowing liquid. At the top, inside the blue circle, was an orange oil drop.
1973 – 1979
The club owners adopted the original logo without any changes. It served as the team’s emblem for six years.
1979 – 1986
In 1980, the logo’s overall design remained unchanged, but this was the period when the first color change occurred. The team name, circle, and oil drop all became darker.
1986 – 1996
Another modification occurred in 1987. The “Oilers” logo again changed its primary colors: orange became brighter and blue slightly lighter.
1996 – 2011
The fifth Edmonton Oilers logo, introduced in 1997, arguably changed the color palette the most. The colors of the team name and main circle became even darker than in previous logos. The blue turned to navy, and the oil drop became copper. A thin red circle frame appeared around the logo.
2011 – 2017
The 2012 Edmonton Oilers logo was a step back because it was very close to the original. The blue color became warmer and lighter. The oil drop was replaced with orange. The red ring was removed.
2017 – today
The modern logo’s color scheme repeats the color scheme used from 1996 to 2011. Otherwise, it is different without a red ring and with a bright oil drop. Meanwhile, the appearance of the letters, “flowing” downwards, corresponds to all other emblems, as the changes mainly concern shades. Thus, the current logo, in appearance, size, configuration, and elements, corresponds to the debut one approved in 1972.
Font and Colors
Throughout its existence, the team has avoided drastic redesigns and has preferred the original version. The most radical change occurred in 1996, when management introduced a version with a red edging line around the entire blue circle. At the same time, the oil drop was repainted beige. The emblem existed in this form until 2011, after which the familiar logo replaced it with dark blue “flowing” symbols and a bright oil drop.
Over the years, all the logos were individually set, with serifs and uppercase letters. Designers proportionally elongated the lower part of the signs to create the illusion of an oily, viscous liquid. Moreover, since the letters are arranged in a circle, the middle symbols are the longest, and the outer ones are the shortest. This technique helped create a sense of density and emphasized the connection between the club’s visual identity and its name.
The emblem’s main colors are orange (drop), navy blue (inscription, ring), and white (background). These colors make up the team’s official palette and are part of the logo’s structure.