Preseason Update
Thursday · Sep 24 · 2009 | 8:35 PM PDTI'm taking a one-night detour from the Icethetics Season Preview to catch up on some news from around the NHL.
The Columbus Blue Jackets have a third jersey in the works, according to the Columbus Dispatch. Initially reported an online chat last Thursday, further confirmation came today via another session with beat writer Aaron Portzline.
The report include anything about elements of the design, just that it will make its debut for 2010-11 — meaning Icethetics is apparently not yet finished following third jersey news after this season.
First, the question posed to Portzline on Thursday, September 17.
[bucknuts07] Any word on the Jackets unveiling a third Jersey anytime soon?
[Portzline] It won't happen this season. But it's already in the works, I'm told, and it'll be out next season. They really like the current look and want to let it develop roots in the marketplace, which makes good sense to me.
Also makes sense to me. But that didn't stop the Sharks, Lightning, Senators, Bruins or Canucks — all of whom introduced new logos in 2007 only to immediately launch new third jerseys the following season.
But everybody's trying to make a buck, as Portzline pointed out in Wednesday's chat.
[Moe Bartoli's Ghost] I would love to see the Jackets wear their white jerseys at home in order to see all the other teams colors, sort of like the Browns do. Any chance of suggesting this?
[Portzline] The NHL is always looking for ways to sell sweaters. (By the way, the Blue Jackets will have a third sweater next season, it looks like.) I don't know about always wearing the whites at home. I prefer the blues. As for the Browns ... those brown pants should be put away forever.
I also agree with not wearing whites at home. Best move the NHL has made in the last several years. Why would you want your team to blend into the ice? Anyway, it's not even that great for most fans since the majority of teams wear red, dark blue or black at home.
It'll be nice to see the Flyers finally make that switch to orange this year. Lucky Wild fans will be treated to green sweaters for a handful of games this season. Unfortunately, there's not much else to look forward to until the Winter Classic — unless the Panthers whip out a yellow alternate.
Now onto our next subject. I get scores of emails every year during the preseason from irate Red Wings fans wanting to know why they've ditched the classic arched lettering style on the back of the jerseys.
The emails are already starting to come in again this year so I thought I'd head them off but informing the Icethetics public. First, see the following photo from Tuesday's game between Detroit and Philadelphia.
Chris Osgood in his preseason only sweater
So what's with the nameplate? It's the wrong font and it's not arched! Fear not, Wings fans. It will only last as long as the preseason. Once the regular season hits, everything will go back to normal. They do it every year.
Why? Glad you asked. First, think about what it takes to make an arched nameplate. Every letter has to be set and cut individually. An L in the middle of the name would be shaped differently from one on one of the ends. This requires extra time and energy on the part of the person in charge of that.
Now think about how many players see action during the preseason — certainly more than the 25 or 30 that may play during the regular season. As many as 50 or 60 guys can dress over the two-week span. And since the preseason doesn't really count anyway, why the hassle?
They use a simple, straight nameplate to get through the September matches and the guys who actually make the team are treated to the fancy arched surnames in October.
I'm sure there was more I meant to write about tonight, but I cannot think of anything. If you've got any related questions, I'll expand this post tomorrow. Meantime, Part 4 of the Icethetics Season Preview will slide to Friday and Part 5 will go up on Saturday. Finally, a reason for you to visit Icethetics on the weekend!
Reader Comments (17)
Do the Rangers do something similar with their arched nameplate?
If you're a Red Wings fan, how do you not know that the team goes with the block lettering in preseason? They've done it for decades.. It's almost a tradition at this point.
Glad to see the Jackets working on a third jersey. They currently have one of the best jesey sets in the league, and should treat us to an excellent alternate. Bring back the bug, anyone?
Ah ha I did not know about the explanation for the Wings' preseason antics. Thanks for that info.
...who must have JUST started following the Wings, because as Art said, the Wings have been doing the preseason variants for years (I don't know if it's been for decades, but definitely for longer than just a couple of years). The first time I recall paying attention to it was probably '98 or '99.
So why can the Rangers do their arched names, but not the Wings?
During the preseason, the Rangers keep their arched lettering style but use screen-printed letters for the names instead of the regular stitched on letters. Or at least they have in the past. I don't know whether they still do.
@ Glen - While I don't mind the current patriotic theme the Jackets use now, I really thought the bug logo looked pretty neat. I was under the impression that blue jacket was another bug, like yellow jacket. Turns out they were paying tribute to the North during Civil War years.
I'm actually a fan of white jerseys at home. It's what I grew up with and have always enjoyed it that way.
But there come times I can enjoy the colored jersey at home. An example I can give is the Flyers in the post-season. Seeing the crowd dressed in the orange of the team's jersey is fun to see. Same goes for Calgary (The "C" of Red as they call it). The only time I prefer the colored jerseys at home is when the crowd wears t-shirts of that color that fill out the arena.
It would be real boring seeing each arena filled with white if every team wears white at home.
And something I've always wondered: Is Pittsburgh color blind? They have the entire crowd wear white while the home team is wearing black. Am I the only one who feels like the visiting team has the crowd supporting them?
The same goes for teams that have the crowd swing white towels while their home team is wearing the color jerseys (My home team Montreal does that). I wonder if someone with the power to do something about that ever notices it.
Habitant...think how much more difficult it would be to glance up in a second and find one of your teammates in white with an entire crown in white behind them as well. From a hockey players standpoint its pretty good strategy to do that to your opponent, might be why Crosby supports the idea for every big Pens game. Just my opinion though.
One idea that the NHL could use home jerseys for both home and away and have alternate jerseys for when two teams with the same colour jerseys meet ex. Montreal and Detroit in the original six
Ok, white at home is about the tradition... its what was almost always worn in the NHL... Bettman just decided to conforn to the other major sports leagues in the states, personally i hate the whites on the road... my dad always said that the good guys (the home team) always wears white!
As for the white towels comment... again, its about tradition, Roger Neilson started waving a white towel at the referees in 1982, a WHITE towel. The next home game in Vancouver the fans showed their support by waving white towels.
and im pretty sure a good hockey player wouldnt be distracted by the colour of the crowd, making it hard for him to see his team mates. :s
Im all for tradition.
Brad.... I'm all for tradition as well.
But in hockey's early years, when only a handful of teams existed, the home teams wore the colored jersey..... hence, the Rangers nickname of Broadway Blueshirts. As the league progressed and added more teams they began wearing white at home..... which is what I prefer.
I'm not even crazy about football teams being able to wear whatever color they choose at home.
Look at MLB now. Rarely do you see a home team with a white jersey anymore. Many times we see 2 teams with colored tops and grey or white pants! Looks like the old spring training games when teams sported their bp jerseys. I don't like it.
All 4 major sports should go back to white at home, grey or non-white on the road, and wear whatever the hell you please as an alternate on special occasions.
"Looks like the old spring training games when teams sported their bp jerseys."
They still do, actually.
I prefer colored home uniforms rather than white uniforms. It gives some individuality to all the teams. Besides, most European leagues were already wearing dark home unis way before the NHL made the switch. I am a Rangers fan, and I always hated it when I went to games in my blue jersey when my team wore white. So I think they should keep it the way it is for the forseeable future.
In The OHL you get a bit of both. See in the "O" you wear your Whites at home from Opening game 'til new years and then you switch
the OHL has the right idea. i like that.
but i know to many people that would easily get confused and complain about it.
Only those who can't tell their own team from the opponents E.X. Florida fans in the green shirts opps sry thats the empty seats