TORONTO (Dec. 13) – In the interests of marketing, the Maple Leafs will make slight alterations to their Reebok Edge jersey for next season; both the home/blue and road/white uniforms to be modified. When the Edge jerseys were introduced as part of a league-wide initiative with Reebok for the 2007-08 season, horizontal striping near the bottom of the jersey was eliminated for the first time, as was the “TML” shoulder patch that adorned the uniform since 2000. A league merchandizing source has told me that both will be returned to the Leafs’ jersey for 2010-11 – either a single or double horizontal stripe, and a shoulder patch of origin that has yet to be revealed. The club had a miniature Leafs logo as a shoulder patch from 1992-2000, then the “TML” design afterward.
The Leafs’ third jersey – a predominantly white replica of the mid-‘60s road uniform, with blue shoulder piping and the old-style 35-point maple leaf on the front – will remain in place, as it is both handsome in appearance and consistently marketable.
Other jersey notes, to this point, for next season:
BUFFALO is doing away with the so-called “slug” logo on both its home/blue and road/white jerseys, presumably returning, full-time, to the club’s original “cross-swords” logo, now in use on the throw-back third jersey.
PITTSBURGH will, somewhat unfortunately, retire its baby-blue third jersey – a replica of the late-‘60s/early’70s uniform – that came into vogue for the New Year’s Day outdoor game at Buffalo’s Ralph Wilson Stadium in 2008. The Penguins will introduce a new third jersey before next season. The baby-blue design, once worn by the likes of Andy Bathgate, Les Binkley, Jean Pronovost, Bob Woytowich and Glen Sather, was among the best throw-back jerseys in the league, but has apparently run its course as a licensing product.
NASHVILLE is said to be making a significant alteration to its original design – the dark-blue, gold, silver and white uniform it has worn since arriving in the NHL for the 1998-99 season [if the Predators find themselves in another city, the alteration could really be dramatic]. The Preds’ third jersey from a few years ago – a Dijon-mustard color – was widely ridiculed, but I thought it was rather striking. Details of the club’s new jersey to follow.
PHILADELPHIA is changing its current road/white jersey and will reportedly adopt the design used for the up-coming Outdoor Classic on New Year’s Day, a game against the Boston Bruins at Fenway Park. It is virtually identical to the home uniform worn by the Flyers during their championship seasons in the mid-‘70s, with orange piping on the exterior of the arm extending from shoulder to sleeve; large orange numbering on the back [outlined in black], and white-lettered name-plates on a black base.
NEW YORK ISLANDERS are apparently replacing their current white jersey, but no further details are yet available.
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