There was really no avoiding it.

As the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrate their centennial season, there was no way we wouldn't see them lace up — at least once — in the classic green and white that marked the franchise's earliest years. Back when they were known as the Toronto St. Pats — from 1919 to 1927.

And so we will. On Fri., March 18 — the day after St. Patrick's Day — the St. Pats will skate again as they face the Chicago Blackhawks. The Leafs revealed the throwback sweater on Tuesday. It's modeled after a design worn by the club in the early 1920s.

The numbers on the back are rather unique. Retro-inspired green numerals are stitched onto a big rectangular slab of white felt — which, in turn, is stitched onto the back of the sweater. It's a bit much but it does achieve the throwback feel it's aiming for.

I knew the Leafs had one more sweater in the pipeline but I'm surprised it took this long for them to finally show it to us. I can't deny I'm also disappointed we didn't get more throwback jerseys from the Leafs this season.

I realize the team just underwent a rebranding but you only hit the century mark once. And it would've been nice to see a Toronto Arenas sweater or a couple of other designs from Leafs history — if only for a night or two. The Canadiens pulled it off quite well in 2009.

Regardless, one is better than none. And I'll take a St. Pats jersey over almost any other. Plus, it's not like we've been starved of Leafs throwbacks in recent years. There have been a couple of third jerseys in addition to their 2014 Winter Classic appearance.

By the way, the Leafs have worn St. Pats colors one other time since 1927. On March 2, 2002, they went green against the Buffalo Sabres to mark the 75th anniversary of the name change.

Are you looking forward to seeing the Leafs in green? Or do you consider anything but blue sacrilege?