Wednesday
Jul102013

NHL Sweater Switch 2013

Sweater Switch was an annual tradition on Icethetics going back to 2009 — until I accidentally skipped it last year. No one asked for it and I quite simply forgot about it. Not this year.

Now that we're several days into NHL free agency, teams are starting to hold press conferences to introduce their newest members. So I'm gathering up photos to give us all a first glimpse at a handful of big names who will be sporting new sweaters in the fall. Enjoy.

Photos from Philadelphia Flyers (via Instagram)

Flyers add Lecavalier, Streit and Emery

This has got to be the most bizarre one of them all. And I'm not just speaking as a Lightning fan here. Vincent Lecavalier wearing anything but the bolt is just not right. Even if he is on the downswing of his career. Trading blue for orange. Four for forty. And temperate Tampa for chilly Philly. Just bizarre.

Lecavalier was forced to dump the No. 4 jersey he wore for many years in Tampa since it was retired by the Philadelphia Flyers in 1975 for Barry Ashbee. But here's a fun fact: Lecavalier wasn't always No. 4. After being drafted by Tampa Bay in 1998, he actually wore No. 8 since his Jean Beliveau-inspired jersey was taken by previous Lightning draftee Cory Cross. However, the following season, Cross was traded for Fredrik Modin, freeing up the number we all associate with Vinny. I'm hoping he's the last Bolt to wear it.

Mark Streit also had retired-number problems. His standard No. 2 was raised to the rafters in Philly just last year for Mark Howe. For Ray Emery, on the other hand, Tuesday's media event was all very deja vu. He held up that same No. 29 Flyers jersey for pictures when he was signed four years ago.

By the way, the Courier-Post has a neat shot of the trio wearing their new threads.

Photo from Dallas Stars (via Facebook)

Stars welcome Seguin and Horcoff

Also on Tuesday, two new Dallas Stars players got to model two new Dallas Stars jerseys. Shawn Horcoff, in green, will wear No. 10 next season as he has for nearly all his years in Edmonton. (I believe he had No. 36 briefly as a rookie.)

Meanwhile, Tyler Seguin, donning white for the media, was forced to swap digits as his No. 19 was retired by the North Stars for Bill Masterton in 1987. They still honor Minnesota's retired numbers in Dallas. He'll now wear No. 91 in Dallas.

By the way, don't forget that this franchise will be retiring another number next season. On March 8, 2014, No. 9 goes up for Mike Modano, a fact made public last month when the Stars unveiled these new uniforms.

Photos from Columbus Blue Jackets

Nathan Horton joins Blue Jackets

The Columbus Blue Jackets wasted no time getting their biggest free agent signee in front of the media. Nathan Horton met the cameras on July 5, the first day of free agency and the day he signed his new deal. As you can see, he'll take on No. 8 with R.J. Umberger occupying No. 18.

But this is the last time we'll see Horton in a Blue Jackets jersey for a while. He's about to undergo shoulder surgery, which will put him out of commission for four to six months. Meaning we probably won't get to see him in action until November or December.

By the way, speaking of Horton and Seguin, I was amused by this photo from 2010, depicting the pair showing off their new Bruins jerseys. Just goes to show how futile these things can be sometimes.

Anyway, I'll leave it here for now. There will be more of these press conferences as the summer goes on, so I'll just keep adding updates to this post.

By the way, I know the the Minnesota Wild already introduced Keith Ballard, but I understand they're doing Matt Cooke on Wednesday, so I'll post their pictures together once that happens.

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Reader Comments (17)

I didn't know Steve Martin worked for the Stars. (that's a joke)

Jul 10 · 11:04 AM PDT | Unregistered CommenterDon

Really like those new Stars sweaters. Very sharp colors (green!) and eye-catching logo. The more I see them, the more I like them.

Jul 10 · 11:22 AM PDT | Unregistered CommenterADL

The Devils could have at least used more than one stock Jersey photo for those guys. Sheesh.

Jul 12 · 1:03 AM PDT | Unregistered CommenterMinnesota Jeff

In Devils GM Lou Lamoriello is old school guy and does not allow players to use big numbers. I'm remembering that only numbers ever used over #35 are #89 Alex Mogilny, #93 Doug Gilmour, #44 Stephane Richer and #40 Scott Glemmensen. Other old school thing in Devils is jerseys itself. Those hasn't change even a bit in 25 years and team has never used 3rd jersey, only old 80´s retro every now and then.

Jul 12 · 1:31 AM PDT | Unregistered CommenterIlpo

All I know is that Lou has something to do with it. I don't really know why he's against them though.

Jul 12 · 1:54 AM PDT | Unregistered CommenterAdam

As far as the Devils and not having high numbers, it's Lou's philosophy that no one player should stick out from the rest of the team. He made exceptions with Mogilny (89) and Gilmour (93) so it'll be interesting to see if he thinks highly enough of Ryder to let him keep his 73. Forget about Olesz.

Jul 12 · 3:52 AM PDT | Unregistered CommenterDeclzfan

It's because being the traditional GM that he is, Lou wants to keep the Devils like one the "old time" hockey teams where players were only permitted to wear #'s 1-30 (look at Montreal for example where ALL of their retired jersey numbers are between 1 and 33 (33 being Roy many many years later). Obviously due to players having their numbers retired and whatnot he's had to expand past #30, which is why you see #'s 32 and 33 and why Schneider has a chance to get #35.

Jul 12 · 4:22 AM PDT | Unregistered CommenterJames

Lou has done so much for the team, I stand by what ever move he makes. GO DEVILS!!!

Jul 12 · 10:48 AM PDT | Unregistered CommenterVince from Jersey

Clarkson is wearing #71 because he grew up idolizing Wendel Clark, who of course wore #17. Actually wearing that number would be a ridiculous amount of additional pressure (the Toronto Sun has already called him 'Wendel Clarkson' on their front page) so taking #71 makes for a more subtle homage.

That, or he's a Malkin fan.

Jul 14 · 2:18 PM PDT | Unregistered CommenterEric

If you want a prediction for the new Devils' jersey numbers, Cory Schneider gets 35, Ryane Clowe gets 25, Michael Ryder gets 23, Rostislav Olesz gets 15. Lou doesn't give higher than 30 (can't wait till those numbers get retired eventually).

Jul 15 · 2:35 PM PDT | Unregistered CommenterJeremy T

Mark Streit had worn 32 in Montreal, so it isn't a new number for him.

Mark Stone missed out on an even better pun with the change. Switching him from 16 to 61 is leaving no Stone unturned.

Jul 16 · 10:02 AM PDT | Unregistered CommenterJeff

Good For Lou! Ottawa and Anaheim had similar policies a few years ago as well. Sick of watching teams that look like football players out there with their crazy numbers. Now if we could also get teams to stop retiring numbers for mediocre players so the honour still means something.

Jul 21 · 2:31 AM PDT | Unregistered CommenterTim

I've always heard that Lou preferred numbers below 40 but makes exceptions for marquee players (which he is likely to do when/if their signing of Jagr becomes official).

Clarkson wore 17 in college for Wendel Clark (perhaps on other teams prior as well), so 71 makes sense.

Schneider wore 1 in college, so I'm not sure if that is his preference (Luongo had it in Van obviously).

Jul 23 · 10:12 AM PDT | Unregistered CommenterNHLJeff

David Clarkson not only chose 71 for Wendel Clark but because his number 23 which he wore with the Devils is taken by Ryan O'Byrne of the Leafs. Also Dave Bolland will wear number 63 with the Leafs because his number 36 which he wore with the Blackhawks is taken by Carl Gunnarsson. Clarkson took away number 71 from Jerry D'Amigo who could possibly make the team this year. I don't know for sure but I saw that he will wear number 29 which no one has and he wore that when he played for the Marlies last year and when he played for the US in international play. TJ Brennan will probably wear number 33 because 3 is obviously taken by Dion Phaneuf and he wore 33 with the Sabres. Tyler Biggs if he gets called up will wear number 22 for the Leafs which he wore with Miami University. I believe that Troy Bodie will probably wear number 20 which he wore with his most recent club the Carolina Hurricanes and Trevor Smith will probably wear number 77 which is what he wore with the Islanders, this is only if they play for the Leafs this year. Paul Ranger will likely have 54 but I also saw Frederik Gauthier had 54 but Gauthier won't be called up for a few years so Ranger can have his 54 which he wore with the Lightning. As you all may know Mark Fraser is wearing number 2 this season because Jonathan Bernier wanted his number 45 which he wore with the Kings. That's about it on the Leafs front

Jul 31 · 10:53 AM PDT | Unregistered CommenterPaul Ross

As it relates to the lower jersey numbers on the Devils, the thinking is that most players will wear lower numbers and that by wearing a higher one, that player is singling himself out from the rest of the team. That just doesn't fit the team-first culture that Lou has nurtured in Jersey for 30 years.

Aug 2 · 12:57 PM PDT | Unregistered CommenterMike Chiappetta

Whatever reason the Devils have for the low numbers I wish more teams would do it. It's eye-appealing and old-school. Besides, I would think most players would prefer to look like a full time player with a low number rather than like a minor-league callup with a football number. That's why a majority of players still switch to lower numbers once they've "made it" unless they have egos.

Schneider will have 35 because he is a life-long fan of former Ranger Mike Richter, any other number he's had in his life is because he had no choice.

Aug 21 · 3:28 PM PDT | Unregistered CommenterTIM

I think the ay Lou retires, you will see lots of players in Jersey start wearing higher numbers.

Nov 21 · 6:56 AM PST | Unregistered CommenterJohnny Baboon

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