If you walk into the Xcel Energy Center—or "The X" as basically everyone in St. Paul calls it—you’re going to see a sea of green. But it’s not just one shade. You’ve got the deep, forest green of the primary home sweaters, and then you have that loud, bright Kelly Green that looks like it was ripped straight out of 1978.
That’s the minnesota wild 3rd jersey. Or, as the team officially dubbed them, "The 78s."
Honestly, the story of this jersey is kinda hilarious when you think about it. For years, Wild fans were told to forget about the North Stars. The history went to Dallas. The colors went to Dallas. We were supposed to embrace the "Iron Range Red" and the "Harvest Gold." But hockey fans in Minnesota are stubborn. We never let go of that specific shade of green and yellow. Eventually, the team realized that if you can't beat 'em, you might as well sell 'em a jersey.
The 78s: A Nostalgia Trip That Actually Worked
The current minnesota wild 3rd jersey isn’t just a random design. It’s a very specific homage to the 1978-79 Minnesota North Stars. After two seasons of testing the waters with the "Reverse Retro" program, the Wild made the look permanent as an alternate in late 2023.
They basically took the classic North Stars color palette—Kelly Green, bright yellow, and white—and slapped the modern Wild "Bear Head" logo on the chest. But they didn't just copy-paste the old logo. They recolored the Wild crest so the sunset is yellow and the "eye" is the North Star in that vintage gold.
It works. It really shouldn't, but it does.
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There are a few small details that separate the official third jersey from the old Reverse Retro versions. You'll notice a "State of Hockey" patch on the right shoulder. Plus, the captaincy letters (the C and A) are housed inside a small patch shaped like the state of Minnesota. It’s a nice touch that keeps it from feeling like a total carbon copy of a defunct team’s gear.
Why 2026 is a Weird Year for Wild Sweaters
We’re currently in the 2025-26 season, which marks the 25th anniversary of the franchise. Because of that, things are a little crowded in the equipment room. While the 78s are still the official "third" jersey, the team also introduced a special 25th-anniversary throwback this year.
This anniversary jersey is a "near-duplicate" of the original white home sweaters from the 2000-01 inaugural season. You know the ones—the jagged, "fuzzy" numbers that were meant to look like pine branches and the original script font.
So, if you're watching a game this month, you might see:
- The standard Forest Green home jersey.
- The 78s (The Kelly Green and Yellow alternates).
- The 25th Anniversary whites (The Y2K throwbacks).
It’s a lot to keep track of. The Wild are actually wearing those 25th-anniversary whites for four specific "White Out" home games this season, including the upcoming matchup against the Florida Panthers on January 24, 2026.
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What Fans Get Wrong About the Colors
There is a persistent rumor that the Wild are going to ditch the Forest Green entirely and move to the North Stars colors full-time.
Listen.
The team has explicitly denied this multiple times. While the minnesota wild 3rd jersey is a massive bestseller—seriously, it’s hard to find them in stock at the Hockey Lodge sometimes—the organization still views the Forest Green and Iron Range Red as their primary identity.
Some fans hate the 78s. They think it’s "nostalgia bait" or that it’s disrespectful to the current brand. Others think the Forest Green is too dark and muddy on modern TV broadcasts. There's no middle ground here. You either love the neon glow of the 78s or you want to bury them in the basement of the Met Center.
Buying Guide: What to Look For
If you’re looking to pick one up, you need to be careful with the branding. Since the NHL switched from Adidas to Fanatics as the official uniform provider, the "on-ice" specs have changed slightly.
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The "Premium" version of the 78s will run you about $250 to $280 depending on whether you want a player's name like Kaprizov or Faber on the back. The "Authentic Pro" versions—the ones actually made in Canada that the players wear—are a much tougher find and usually end up on the secondary market for $500+.
One cool thing to look for right now: The 25th-anniversary patches. Even if you’re buying the Kelly Green alternate, many collectors are adding the commemorative 2025-26 patch to the shoulder to mark this specific season.
Next Steps for Fans and Collectors
If you want to snag the minnesota wild 3rd jersey before the season ends, your best bet is to check the official Hockey Lodge at Xcel Energy Center or their online store mid-week. Stock tends to fluctuate based on the home game schedule. If you’re specifically hunting for the 25th Anniversary white throwback, remember they are a limited run for this season only—once the anniversary celebrations end this summer, those jagged numbers are likely heading back into the vault. Check the team's official social media for "Jersey of the Game" announcements to see which version they'll be wearing before you head to the arena.