The Colorado Avalanche have a visually dynamic jersey history, marked by significant changes due to the team's relocation and advancements in uniform technology. Since moving to Denver in 1995 from Quebec City, where they were known as the Nordiques, the Avalanche have cultivated a jersey identity that reflects the team's name and the surrounding environment.
Upon arrival in Denver, the franchise adopted a color scheme of burgundy, steel blue, black, and silver. The initial logo featured an "A" shaped like a mountain, with a puck symbolizing an avalanche. The original home jersey was burgundy, while the away jersey was white. These jerseys became iconic during the late 1990s and early 2000s, worn by memorable teams featuring stars like Peter Forsberg, Joe Sakic, and Patrick Roy. This original design remained largely consistent until 2007. The Avalanche wore these jerseys when they won their first Stanley Cup in 1996.
In 2001, the Avalanche introduced an alternate jersey: an all-burgundy top with black pants and the word "Colorado" written diagonally across the front. The white numbers were outlined in black, and a black stripe adorned the bottom. This alternate was retired in 2007, but a blue version appeared in 2009.
The NHL's switch to Reebok's Edge uniform system in 2007 brought changes to the Avalanche's jerseys. The mountain range design was removed, replaced with updated sleeves and a design that shifted the color to the sides. In 2009, a blue alternate jersey was introduced, marking the first time the team had a jersey that wasn't burgundy or white.
From 2015 onward, the Avalanche sported a unique third uniform consisting of navy blue jerseys and pants with navy blue and burgundy socks. In 2016, for the NHL's Stadium Series, the team wore white jerseys with blue shoulders and gray and burgundy stripes. The logo was the "C" from the Colorado flag with a black circle in the center. For the 2020 Stadium Series, the jersey was split blue and burgundy with a white line and a large "A" atop a mountain range.
A change occurred in the 2020-21 season when the Avalanche began wearing blue pants and helmets with their home jerseys, the first time blue helmets had been used since the team was in Quebec. In 2021, the Avalanche debuted a "Reverse Retro" jersey: a Colorado-colored version of the Quebec Nordiques jersey. In 2022-23, the team recreated their original look but in the colors of the former Colorado Rockies NHL franchise.
To celebrate their 30th anniversary of moving to Denver, the Avalanche will wear Quebec Nordiques uniforms for seven games during the 2025-26 season.
