Predators Peering Into the Future?
Sunday · Jan 16 · 2011 | 1:55 AM PST
Predators "limited edition" jersey / from Seth WrightIt seems Nashville Predators fans at tonight's game may have been treated to a preview of a possible new sweater.
Teams hold special auctions and giveaways at games all the time. But Icethetics reader Seth W. wrote in to let us know about one in Nashville that involved a rather unique prize. He sent this photo (right) along with the following note:
I'm a graphic designer from McMinnville, TN and a Nashville Predators fan and season ticket holder and also a big fan of your blog. Your blog combines two of my biggest obsessions: design and hockey. Thanks for all you do.
At tonight's Predators-Blackhawks game, they had this jersey on display at the silent auction table where they auction off memorabilia for charity. The card next to this jersey identified it as a "limited edition" jersey that will be auctioned off for the Predators Foundation.
It seemed to match up with all the speculation I have read on your site about what the rumored new Preds road jerseys will look like next year. That's all I know about it. Hopefully you can shed some light on it for me.
First of all, as you can see, it's exactly what was rumored through most of the JerseyWatch 2010 updates. We believed the Predators were adding this design to their arsenal all the way up until September. Even The Hockey News was unaware of the last-minute change.
In case you weren't following along, here's the gist: Last year, the Predators were planning to ditch their current home and road sweaters, promote the new third jersey to home and add a white version for the road. It seems at some point over the summer, these plans were nixed.
To see the jersey now being auctioned off means it clearly moved beyond the prototype phase. So what do you do with a product that won't see action this year? Sell it to the highest bidder, of course, as a "limited edition" item. Not only that, but it serves as a convenient way to get feedback from the fans.
Jersey koozie / from PredatorsBy the way, this is unrelated to the auction jersey, but it is timely. Tonight the Predators tweeted a photo of a jersey koozie they were giving away at the game. What I wouldn't give to have a Lightning one like that.
Anyway, my impression is that last year's sweater-swapping plan will be revisited and this jersey will hit the ice to open the 2011-12 season. I think the Predators have been looking to lose the current look for a while, in favor of simplified logos and sweaters.
Things probably didn't materialize properly to get the jerseys out this season. If I had to guess, I'd say the league wasn't happy with a third jersey being promoted that quickly. It would've been an awfully fast turnaround.
We'll see where it goes when summer rolls around, but I think it's a good sign to see fans now getting a look at the jersey at least. And hey, if it's not a popular design, maybe they'll go another route. What's your theory and do you like this white jersey better their current one?
Reader Comments (43)
Simple and very sharp, the sabartooth goes well with the color scheme. I hope it's the new away, are still planning to get new third or will they just swap the current home and make that the third ?
Odds are if they change the home and road jerseys, we won't see a third for a little while. The Islanders are a good example of that this year. And if it wasn't for their 40th anniversary, the Sabres probably wouldn't have had an alternate uniform either.
Pretty much what we all pictured, so no great surprise, still it looks good to actually physically see, and it's keeping with the mysterious blue and black checker pattern on bottom striping. if these become the new home and roads, i'd be interested to see what they could come up with in the next year or two for a replacement third - a preds logo inside a circle perhaps ha
I kind of like it, but hate it at the same time
hmmmm..... interesting, I'm hoping my Flyers bring back the ORIGINAL black uniforms kinda to go with the uniforms we have now.
In my opinion, the old color scheme was so much better for the Preds.
I really like the look of that jersey, it looks very clean and snappy. The only gripe I have is the shoulder patch, I don't think the circular patch works so well, so perhaps another shoulder patch and they may have one of the better jersey's in the NHL.
yet another really plain rbk jersey design, zzzzzzzzzz.....
cant believe these designers get paid for this work!!!
at least they haven't put 'nashville' or 'preds' over the top of the logo!!!
this design is so simplistic that it works despite the lack of color other than blue/white. normally i'd go bat shiat crazy over the use of blue and white as a color scheme, but it works here. although, i don't think there's much wrong with the Preds current uniforms, the yellow is a great accent color. can't really tell if there's those random checkerboards on the striping though in this pic...will be interesting to see if they bring that back when they switch their unis.
I can't tell if there are checkerboard patterns in the stripes. I figure thouse would be on the away as well. I like thisa lot. Very simple. jersey
If I could tweak one thing about this, it would be the color of the checker stripes. I would make the checkers silver and white (to keep the subtle look established by the current third) and add navy stripes above and below them. I think this would fill the jersey out a little better. I hope the Preds are moving in this direction though. The third is wildly popular around Nashville and a simplified color scheme and jersey is more (ice)thetically pleasing (pun always intended).
That is what a hockey jersey should look like. Very nice.
Its basically a Maple Leafs road sweater but with Nashville's logos. I'm not a fan of it just because it's not original at all.
I like them! I'm also a big fan of the old school Sabres logo. Nice site, just came across it.
were they not allowed to use these because they didn't put any powder blue in it?. this sweater isn't stupid looking at all which is amazing for nashville, i thought bedazzling and strobe lights were their next step.
One of the best Rbk edge designs to date, very sharp, and a great combination of colours.
I like the simplicity of this road white jersey and I think it pairs well with the current third jersey, which could easily become the everyday home colors.
I like that white jersey much better than the current road (especially without the "NASHVILLE" over the logo), but I like the current home much more than the current 3rd. Plus, why go to the uber-simple numbers instead of the Predators' signature numbering style?
I understand that they are going for a more traditional look, and even mentioned something about being inspired by the Original 6. But did they really have to steal the template that the Maple Leafs have been using since 1934? Thickening the lines is not original.
The only thing I hate about this new look is the checkered pattern. Everything else is very good. Like Karim said, the logo looks very sharp with this simplified color scheme. Just drop the checkered thing and we have a winner
Labatt has been giving out koozie's like the predators one for all 3 of the sabres jerseys for the last couple of months in their 28 packs, here in Buffalo atleast.
Nice. Are the stripes checkered like on the alternate? Also, those jersey koozies are missing that yellow piping, a refreshing omission.
i gotta say, thats a pretty sharp looking jersey. nice color scheme and the logo works really well with it. i hope this is the new away next year for the preds. i dont mind their current unis, but these just look better.
Without the yellow, it just seems kinda bland. I really wish they just stuck with the originals.
RBK has NEVER done a Hockey Jersey right, ok I take that back! When RBK first took over CCM, they still used CCM's box cut style(that's a hockey jersey) The RBK Edge crap, That stupid DIAPER Hem at the bottom of the jersey ruins it(Det,Chi hands down have best unis and the Diaper Hem F***'s it up), That stupid piping ruins it(this is the NHL not RHI) That one jersey style fits all ruins it, this may fall on the teams as well BUT it's RBK stupid design(my Pens,Ott,Cal,Edm,Nsh same F'n design) speaking of my Pens, when Mario brought back the Skating Penguin logo, he changed the color scheme from blk/yellow gold to blk/shiny vegas gold(took time but vegas gold grew on me, still prefer yellow gold though) since the Edge crap came out the Pens colors are Blk/Beige,Tan(whatever you want to call it, the City of Pittsburgh's official colors are Blk/Gold not Beige....F'n RBK!)
As a Nashville based designer who LOVES his Predators I think:
1) The Preds want to look more like the Tennessee Titans, which for whatever reason are the sports kings here.
2) They look too close to the Leafs. I like turning on the TV an knowing immediately what team it is. The Preds/Blue Jackets/Panthers/Penguins are all getting too close
3) The Preds logo I've always thought was outstanding but it's too modern and flashy to go with a plain jain 1930's looking sweater. Orig 6 logos are very flat, simplified.
4) They've wanted to use the skull version of the logo more and more prominentely for years (was supposed to be the main logo on the hated mustard yellow jerseys) but the NHL found it too frightening or some BS.
5) I hate to seem them lose gold as the accent color. That's been a big part of their identity.
6) This might just be an abandoned prototype jersey, my logic being the Bridgestone Arena flooded last spring and the Predators completely had to redo parts of the arena including the dressing room. When they did they put in the traditional navy/gold/orange/silver Pred head logo and not the 3rd jersey color scheme logo. That tells me they have no plans to change over to the new color scheme anymore as I don't seem them redoing the locker room anytime soon.
7) GO PREDS!
Is it just me, or does it look to be made out of some cotton-like material? quite light, thin looking, and creases and folds you don't see in the normal jersey material; almost looks like a long sleeved t-shirt. Not that it makes any difference to the design, which is bland.
This jersey is not going to be a uniform option by the team. I was involved in a focus group not too long ago and we actually viewed two very serious concepts for Preds home and road uniforms. While I'm not allowed to disclose what I saw, I believe I can say that I really liked the road whites, but I was lukewarm on the home unis. The road unis I saw were a LOT better than these. Very sharp design and style. This jersey is nothing more than an auction item.
^^ LUCKY ^^
9/10 Smart idea.
In a day where RBK puts both vertical AND horizontal stripes on the arms, this is a refreshing change to what a hockey jersey SHOULD look like.
I actually like this look. I'm a big fan of their new thirds, and think that promoting those to their homes and adding this as their aways would be a great move. Who knows? Maybe they can even make a yellow version to be their thirds for the 2012-13 season. I actually think that it could be done if they don't go with a bad logo (like last time, yuck), as yellow is a pretty underutilized color in the NHL.
I agree that this is not the road uni for next season. I can't give to much away without being turned into the Preds police but the home jersey will feature an accent color as the main color and a modified logo. The new leadership really wants the jerseys to have distinct color so they can form a following lke Rock the Red or Blueland. I've given away too much.
Oh Yay!!!! Yet another plain designed blue and white jersey. BORING! I'm sorry but I've always liked the Preds uniforms and I really am getting tired of all these "classic" inspired designs that every team seems to be going to. Not every team has to look like an original 6 team. Florida looks good in red, blue, and yellow and Nashville looks good in blue, gold, and silver. At this rate it won't be long till Reebok has nothing more to do then change the logo when making a jersey for each team since it seems to be the same jersey for every team.
I personally can't stand what they have currently, and this white one is pretty clean. I wasn't really a fan of the dark blue jersey, but this one is nice and simple.
I never liked Nashville's jerseys, until now. The yellow piping, silver top part, and there's too many colors on the logo. It was a mess. Now, its simplified and I like it. The Wings have one of the simplest jersey designs, but their jerseys are one of the best. Same with the Hawks.
I find it to be too plain for their logo. That' why I still prefer the jerseys they wore when the franchise was made. But since they wanna change it, I think it could use a little more detail or colour or something.
Nice looking... if it were a practice jersey. I still prefer their uniforms they broke in the league with over everything else. This jersey is just very very bland. Even some silver lining (no pun intended) around the blue stripes would significantly help imo.
The shoulders need some more color...this reminds me a lot of the old Toronto Maple Leafs jersey that they just adding the striping and shoulder logos to. Maybe it will look different with numbers and names, but it looks more like a Practice jersey in its current state. Kudos on the Toronto Maple Leafs throw-back...very cool. If the Kings go black and white like that leaked jersey at the Toyota Sports Center, that would be awesome. I am not a fan of the current crown jerseys and think having LOS ANGELES across the bottom, well...sucks. I like the Kings crown logo, which is why I own a few of their practice jerseys, but once they added the wording on the bottom...ruined it. I also like their alternate logo.
As one poster said, it does resemble the Leafs jerseys. I wonder if they had a hand in helping to nix them. In many ways, I wouldn't put that past MLSE.
Just be happy theirs no new baby blue jerseys with the team logo in a circle coming up.
Lifelong Preds fan, and I'd only accept one color for the team's home jersey - Dark/navy blue. I don't want this team to look like the Thrashers. Black would work ok, but I've heard the same rumblings about the team wanting to create a "rally color". WE HAD YELLOW. And it was NEVER used properly. No yellow shirts, no yellow towels in the last two playoffs, it could've been big. But nope.
I'd rather them go with the navy 3rd's as home, but that ain't happening. Wouldn't be surprised if we see if a light blue home shirt (vomiting sound) next year. I'd rather it be a black one.
ALSO TO BE NOTED: The team's practice jerseys have a straightened up number/lettering, but the same Preds font from day 1 with the new cleaner logo.
I hate the Preds current colour scheme.
This jersey is awesome. It works so much better on their logo.