CBS Beats NHLToL To The Punch

I'm not sure how prudent it is to go promoting your competition as such, but I've never been one for prudence so here goes. I got an email today from Jeff who pointed out an interesting new feature at CBS Sports' web site.



Well crap, they even thought of a better name than I did. Sweater Showdown. And here's their bracket.



My guess is they just started within the last few days judging by when each voting period ends. So since I won't be doing a head-to-head jersey competition for some time — if ever, at this point — I don't mind sending you guys over there to cast your jersey votes with CBS.

However, if you'd like to rate the individual jerseys for the ranking I'll be publishing next month, go ahead and continue voting here at NHLToL. And if you guys want me to, I don't mind doing a head-to-head sweater tournament here as well.

Just drop me a line and let me know how you feel about it. And let me know what you think of the setup over there at CBS Sports. Do you like voting on one round all at once they way they have it, or do you like how I post a new poll every day? I'm all ears.

Bolts Add Numbers At Home

I made reference to this in the Rbk EDGE Review for the Tampa Bay Lightning, but I thought I'd do a separate post to keep everyone up to date.

After the jerseys were unveiled initially, the Lightning were the only team to have numbers on the front of one jersey but not the other. In this case, the white road sweaters had them but not the black ones. Seems the team has changed their mind though. The numbers are now on the front of the black jerseys too.



You can see that in this picture from Thursday's opening night game against the New Jersey Devils.

Speaking as a Lightning fan, I kind of like them as a design element by themselves. With the white shoulder yoke gone, the jerseys would've looked very plain up there for guys who don't have an "A" to wear. Anyway, just thought I'd share that.

Poll: North Stars vs Sabres

	vs
Minnesota NORTH STARS		Buffalo SABRES

The Vintage Tournament is kicking off today! It's going to be a good one. Remember, polls in this tournament will only be open for five days so get your votes in now!

Place your vote and then feel free to leave a comment as to how you came to your decision. Tell all your friends to drop in and vote! The more voices heard, the more accurate the results!

Poll opening date Sat Oct 6 @ 9:00 AM

Poll closing date Wed Oct 10 @ 11:59 PM

07VNTRN | #1A | MNSvBUF70

Result: Coyotes Logo History

BEST ALL-TIME
2003
71% 2,829 votes


3,965 total votes

1996
29% 1,136 votes

Click here to see the original poll

Poll opening date Sep 28 @ 4:25 AM

Poll closing date Oct 5 @ 11:59 PM

07BONLH | LHPHX

Rbk EDGE Review: Ducks

Part 12 of 30. All 30 NHL clubs have unveiled new jerseys under the new Rbk EDGE Uniform System for the 2007-08 season. Here at the NHLToL, we're going to review every one of them. Read up and then rate the new sweaters. We'll do a full ranking after completing all of the reviews.

Rbk EDGE Uniform System

Anaheim Ducks

New Uniforms

Old Uniforms

The Unveiling
Friday, September 14. The Ducks unveiled their new jerseys to fans during their first preseason game.

Home vs. Road
Home: Black. Road: White. The two sweaters are essentially mirror images of each other.

The black home jerseys feature swooshing gold-white-black-orange stripes around the bottom. These stripes are broken up by solid side paneling. Similar stripes are found around the sleeves. The collar is orange with gold trim and the primary logo serves as the crest.

The white road jerseys feature swooshing gold-white-black-orange stripes around the bottom. Black extends down to the bottom of the jersey from the orange stripe. These stripes are broken up by solid side paneling. Similar stripes are found around the sleeves. The collar is orange with gold trim and the primary logo serves as the crest.

In The Details
Because of its proportions, the crest is the smallest on any of the new Rbk EDGE sweaters. The same numbering and lettering style has been retained.

New & Old
Little has been changed on the new sweaters as the Ducks just introduced new ones last summer. Some slight differences include the collar (as with all of the jerseys) along with the way the side paneling breaks up the striping of the jersey.

Standard FAQ
Numbers on the front? No.
Laces at the collar? No.

NHLToL Editorial by Chris
I know these jerseys now have a Stanley Cup behind them, but I cannot get over how poor the logo is. I understand the marketing team wanting to disassociate themselves with the "Mighty" name, but surely there are better ways of doing that. I should say that without the logo, I really do like these jerseys. But a uniform is more than just colors and stripes. The logo is the biggest part and I have never been a big fan of it. That and the numbers and captains' letters are oversized when compared with the crest. The lack of imagination has spurred me to award my lowest rating yet. 2/5

View the photo gallery

Buy your new Ducks jersey!

Reworking Some EDGE Jerseys

I've gotten some pretty decent artwork this week I feel like sharing today. We've got a handful of various Rbk EDGE jerseys that have been modified. I wouldn't necessarily categorize them as "fixes" but they're worth a look.

I actually like this one, but probably only because the elbow stripes go completely around the arm and don't stop inexplicably. But it could be anything.

It's a recolored Canucks jersey, obviously and the stripes aren't proportional to what the Oilers typically wear. Not that that's a bad thing entirely, but I'm not really a fan.

Otherwise, the Edmonton jersey's odd piping and lack of, well, anything visually appealing makes anything an improvement upon the present.

So it should be clear how I feel then.

Had to laugh at this one. Imagine the Devils reintroducing the green.

And then imagine them putting it on a Minnesota Wild jersey. It's definitely one of the more interesting concepts I've posted here. But it looks horrible if we're talking about the New Jersey Devils. That does not look like them at all.

I do like Christmas though. So maybe I can find a way to use this in my favor. It needs a Santa Claus logo on the front. I wonder what that would look like.

Then some minor league team could wear it as a specialty jersey for a holiday game.

This San Jose Sharks concept is only interesting because it does away entirely with the orange in the jersey. And I have to say, I don't really like it. I think the orange is all right. It really works.

I did like the old jerseys but I like that striping pattern better for those colors than this one. This one needs brighter colors.

This design also features dark cuffs that extend down from the elbow stripes vis-a-vis the Canucks' new duds.

Finally, it's the Dallas Stars we're going to take a look at. Their whole marketing thing was "black is the new green." But what if, as some of you believe, Reebok hadn't brainwashed team management into going all black with no logo?

Might it look like this?

It might. I actually like that a lot. But as one of you humorously stated — the NHL has banned jerseys that aren't white, black, red or blue this season. (And while you could argue the Sharks aren't blue, I'd argue that they're more on the blue side than the green side. Beside the point.)

I like the new Stars' uniforms the way they are and there's nothing wrong with that. But this isn't bad either. Perhaps something to consider for a future third jersey.

So now's your turn to tell me what you like and don't like. Leave me a comment.

New Sabres Logo Concept

Got some interesting artwork from a reader trying to redesign the Buffalo Sabres logo. Personally, I think John Slabyk has the perfect design which could never be improved upon — but then my opinion isn't the only one that matters. Shockingly.

Seriously, though, check this out and see what you think.



He even put it on a jersey for us.



Leave your comments as I'm sure he'd like to hear what you think.

UPDATE (5:14 PM): By the way, just so as not to confuse anyone, Slabyk did not design the logo posted here. This was sent in to me by a reader of the blog. Just wanted to clear that up.

Just To Freak You Out IX

It's time for another Freak Out Friday! Let's not waste time.

I've had this Buffalo Sabres concept for some time now. I think the idea is that this text would run down the front of the jersey, just like the Rangers.

Cracks me up though. But, hey, nothing says "Buffalo" and "Sabres" more than the city on a skewer. Anybody else getting hungry?

No? Just me?

Moving right along then to one of the scariest bits of artwork ever to grace my inbox.



Aptly titled Thrash Bling, this image frightens me to my very core. What you can't say, though, is that it isn't creative. The things people come up with.

I think the Anaheim Ducks missed an opportunity.



That is one pissed off duck. I think someone splashed him.

You might have to enlarge this next one to grasp its full scope.



I get the octopus thing, but where does it stop exactly? I'm voting for the purple one. Speaking of scary Detroit Red Wings art, look at this.



I mean it's not half bad as far as that goes, but yikes! I think the wings are swallowing the wheel. Poor wheel.

Apologies for the short post this week, guys, but it was a slow week in terms of "freak out" art. Hopefully you guys will send in more for next Friday's installment. Until then...

Freak.

Out.

Predators, Here's How You Fix It

I used to believe the Nashville Predators were among the clubs with the best jerseys. With the introduction of their Rbk EDGE sweaters, I'm now less than convinced of that. Anyway, it's not horrible, but some folks thinks it needs fixing. Hence this.

Here is one solution. Flyers fans should be able to pick out the design in a heartbeat.

This jersey is in fact based on Philadelphia's. Only the colors and logo have been changed. I do like that blue.

I don't know, though. I'm not sure it's that much of an improvement on what they're wearing now. But it certainly isn't a bad alternative.

Nor is this.



I think it looks an awful lot like the Buffalo Sabres — perhaps a little too much — but there you have it. Count me as a fan though. We'd have to lose the anniversary logo off the shoulders, however, before I'd fully approve. Otherwise, I really like the idea of contrasting the sleeves and torso like that.

What do you guys think? Do either of this fix it? Did it need fixing to begin with? You be the judge.

Coming next: Buffalo Sabres.

How I Feel About Brodeur

I don't know if any of you read my previous blog, Cathode Rays & Power Plays, but I wanted to carry something over from it. (I'm not going to link to it because I don't update it anymore.)

I covered last year's playoffs and every chance I got posted a picture of Devils goalie Martin Brodeur with a puck in the net behind him. It's not that I hate him or anything — well, maybe it is — but I thought I'd continue the tradition over there of posting my favorite pictures of him.



That just makes a person feel good, doesn't it?

Not that you were wondering, but Vinny Lecavalier scored on him twice last night in the Bolts' 3-1 in the season opener. GO BOLTS!

All right, now, just so you guys know, I'm not meaning to be a complete ass here. Just thought it would be funny. I have loads of respect for Brodeur as a goaltender, but he's always been a Lightning killer and so it just brings me so much joy when my Bolts can get a puck by him.