Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Wings Rearrange Captains' Jerseys

A reader emailed me a link to this article from the Detroit Free Press regarding the Red Wings new uniforms today. Apparently, today the Wings officially unveiled the jerseys to the public (despite having posted images of it online last week).

Notice anything strange about it?



Traditionally, the captain's "C" is worn on the player's left shoulder — this is true across the league. But apparently, because the tip of the wing logo reaches too high, the "C" would have collided with the confluence of three different types of material. So to avoid that problem, Niklas Lidstrom's "C" will swap sides starting this year.



Here you see equipment manager Paul Boyer showing off the new threads. Not too shabby, if you ask me.

Naturally, this will affect Detroit's alternate captains as well. Just like the "C," the "A" will also go on the right shoulder now. What do you guys think of the new location? Does it really make a difference?

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think the 'C' on the left side of the jersey looks rather bad. I'm sure they could have lowered the Red Wings logo just a tad to fit the 'C' on the right side. We have to deal with enough changes, we don't need to start seeing 'C' or 'A' on the left of jerseys. Can't anything be the same in the NHL anymore!?

Anonymous said...

Blah.

That's stupid. They could have lowered the damn logo or made is just a bit smaller.

Anonymous said...

I agree with the others. They should have positioned the winged wheel a little bit lower so that the "c" would fit.

Anonymous said...

Just a thought have you guys noticed that on the original 6 jerseys (Bos,Det) havediferrent colored neck logo thingies on their home and away jerseys but all the other teams have same colored ones

Edward said...

Are people really bitching about a letter being moved to a different side? Really? It's *that* important?

Wow.

Anonymous said...

I really dont think its that bad. Its not like this hasnt been done before. Look at some older jerseys from the 50's and 60's.

Anonymous said...

the wings always used to have it on the right side in the past (50s 60s) ......and lots of other teams have to...whats the big deal?

Anonymous said...

Why can't they make the "C" and "A"s smaller so that it'll fit on the right side? Make them kinda like the size of the "C" on Jason Varitek's jersey (different sport I know) :

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/images/2006/05/07/S6NYQDZ8.jpg

Anonymous said...

as you can see this is *not* what you posted as the official jersey a week or so ago. This one has a smaller logo than the replica jerseys you proclaimed to be official jerseys and the curved bottom.

Edward said...

Wow.. dude.

Nobody claimed the jerseys in the photos themselves were the official authentic uniform.. what was said was that the LOOK was official, and that it was staying with the classic design. That is all.

Do you always take things so literally?

jkrdevil said...

Detroit's uniforms used to be like this with the C and the A on that side.

Anonymous said...

ah excellent. reebok continues its goal to ruin every jersey in the nhl.

Anonymous said...

They all have neck logo color that matches their jerseys, take closer look, and they can't make the C's and A's smaller because the rule is that the letter has to be at least 3 inches in height. And that is actual a very traditional place to put the letter.

Anonymous said...

right from todays blog "Apparently, today the Wings officially unveiled the jerseys to the public (despite having posted images of it online last week)."

they had *not* posted the real jerseys last week, they posted $130 replicas. that is not the same as showing off the real jersey. they do not look nor feel the same as real jerseys. If you look at the replica its not even cut the same way, and its not going to be panneled like the real thing. its going to be a cheap shadow of the real thing.

Anonymous said...

yes, a cheap shadow with the reebok logos everywhere.

so they win either way.

they try and make you buy the authentic and spend more money, or you buy the replica and sport their logo everywhere.

BS.

Anonymous said...

And have that hideous RBK logo thingy on the bottom left of the jersey. I guess they really do want you to spend the money. I have a feeling they won't be selling as many as the Authentics as they hope!

Anonymous said...

I have a question:

Are those numbers and letters printed on the jersey and not sewn on? It looks like that.

Anonymous said...

What happens if the Wings make the Finals and have to add the Stanley Cup Finals patch? So now *it* goes on the left and hits the wing on the logo instead of the C or A? Just make the logo smaller.

Chris said...

To k.d., it's a preventative measure to see to the Red Wings never again reaching the Finals. No, that's bad. I'm kidding, of course. I don't know what they'll do about that. That's something to consider for the Sabres and Isles, too though, as every player will be wearing his number there on the shoulder.

To the anonymous comment prior, the numbers and letters look stitched on to me.

That's all I got. Thanks for the comments, everyone!

Anonymous said...

has anyone thought that maybe they don't mind it being on the opposite side since they have done that in the past? If they do make it to the cup in those jersys i wouldnt be surprised if they put the patch on the shoulder....

Anonymous said...

....ummm how come the wings didn't just have their jerseys made in the same cut as the islanders? problem with panels solved.

Anonymous said...

God i hate Gary Betteman... How is he still the commish.

Anonymous said...

Re: the position of a potential Stanley Cup Finals patch...

In 1998, the Red Wings wore a tribute patch for Vladimir Konstantinov and team masseur Sergei Mnatsakanov, who were injured in the limo crash shortly after the 1997 Cup win. They wore this patch on the right breast for the entire season. When they got to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1998, they moved the tribute patch to the shoulder, and wore the Cup Finals patch on the left breast. Chances are if they make it back, they'll put it on the shoulder... if the NHL lets them.

Pictures from the 50s and 60s show that the C was worn on the right side back then. I think it even makes for a more symmetrical look, as the wingtip extends higher on the jersey than the wheel. The problem is not with the Red Wings' decision, but rather Bettman's insistence on destroying the league. Teams like Nashville, Florida, and now the Islanders have been all too eager to help with their recently revealed monstrosities.

Thank God the Red Wings had the sense to keep their jerseys the same. If a team feels the absolute need to change, Boston should be held up as an example to the entire NHL. Their new duds are nothing short of spectacular.

Anonymous said...

I'm just glad they haven't put player numbers on the front of the jersey a la Buffalo. They could put the C or A under the player's number on the back for all I care, just as long as they keep that feature well away.

Grummels said...

I wrote an article in the length of this discussion:

New RBK jerseys and lettering