Hey, I know I told you guys to expect some announcements today about future tournaments, but unfortunately I've been experiencing computer troubles which I'm really not happy about. You should expect to see some news for sure tomorrow. Cross your fingers.
The NHL's official online shop suggests that the Buffalo Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins will be donning vintage sweaters for the Winter Classic which takes place on January 1, 2008. The photos listed can be seen below.
Those are nice jerseys. See Sabres fans? This is still your real logo, regardless of what your team wears every night. It makes it more special when they save it for occasions like this. Or maybe that's just me.
For more on this story, check out Going Five Hole. My thanks go out to Sean for the tip!
SABRES & WHALERS NAMED CHAMPIONS!
Congratulations go out to both the Buffalo Sabres and Hartford Whalers vintage logos! In an unprecedented event, voters at the NHL Tournament of Logos were evenly split on which logo they felt was best. After 3,136 votes, both logos finisehd with 1,568 each.
On a personal note, I'm shocked by the tie. I really didn't expect it. Although it makes sense to me that it happened in a championship round before any other round. I want to thank everyone who voted and participated in this poll.
And just to address the "controversy" — which is becoming a disturbing commonplace among some of you guys (I know, you can never please everybody) — nobody got "robbed." The polls are set to close automatically. Also if you check the original post, there is no longer a scheduled closing time of 11:59 PM as there used to be. I addressed that a while back. So just because the poll didn't close at 11:59 PM your time doesn't mean it didn't automatically close when it was supposed to.
Starting to love controversy, by the way. Maybe I"ll work that into the title of the blog. The Controversial NHL Tournament of Logos! Nice ring, but probably a bit too many syllables. Looking forward to the next tournament. Expect an announcement this afternoon!
Folks in Vancouver have been hard at work putting together concept art for their team. I'll share some of it with you now.
When the Canucks unveiled their new uniforms a few months ago, I was of the belief that they'd planned to introduce a completely new look and a brand that could last a very long time. Well, that's where this team seems to be really challenged. They need an identity and this logo — among the new marks unveiled this season by the club — could've have been just the thing. I really do hope it makes its way onto a jersey one day.
Even one just like this. Although it does stink of Whalerness. Maybe not so much with the silver or something. I don't know.
Or we could just go all out with the old Johnny Canuck logo.
Personally, I prefer that "V" logo. It's just killer. Oh, and where's the green? Perhaps you ought to just revert to the '80s colors.
That's a heck of a jersey. And 08 as a sweater number? Weird. This barely escaped the clutches of Freak Out Friday.
And lastly, there's this.
What say we just go nuts with the crest and wrap it completely around the sweater? That would be interesting if teams started experimenting with something like that. Remember those original Mighty Ducks third jerseys from the '90s? On second thought, maybe not such a great idea.
More later, perhaps.
Oh yeah! Don't forget to get your votes in on the Vintage Logo Tournament final if you haven't done so yet. It ends tonight!
Tomorrow I'll have lots of big announcements on TWO new tournaments beginning next week. That's right, two! Should be exciting! Be sure to check back.
It's lucky number 13 tonight on Freak Out Friday. Hope you guys get weirded out by what I have to share here.
I don't quite know where to begin.
Wow, I don't know what you did to deserve that, but it must've been pretty bad. Now if you're thinking that looks somewhat familiar, consult a post from last month.
And the hits just keep coming. Flames, take a clue from the Thrashers. This is how you do it up if you really want your provincial/state flag on your jersey. The scary part is that half of it is what seems to be the Confederate flag. Yeah, 'cause rednecks and hicks just dig hockey.
All right so let's head up north where they can really claim the sport. Scary thought alert. Imagine the Rangers and Flyers swapping colors.
On second thought, don't. It's too horrible. Speaking of horrible, check out this Rangers jersey concept.
That's what scary is. I know the new EDGE jerseys are supposed to have larger crests, but somewhere a line's been crossed.
Anyway, let's head west. Here's a color combination that doesn't work on a jersey.
The Nashville Predators are a hockey team, not a figure skating team.
Right?
Yikes! That logo. And while we're on the topic of bad logos, consider the following.
Oilers fans, you think you've got it bad now with your half-a-stripe elbows and practice-jersey looks. What if this happened? Don't even think about it too much. Your head will explode.
We'll wrap things up in California now, if you don't mind. And sometimes you have to reintroduce a winner — like the 1996 Mighty Ducks third jersey. Only the Ducks have new colors now.
That is something.
What we're finishing the night off with might be hard to look at. Remember the old Lightning third jerseys from the mid-90s? They had the rain pouring down, lightning bolts down the arms and — the selling point — the wild waves of the bay around the bottom. Well Sharks live in the water.
The waves have been stolen. And so has what little dignity might've been left in the new Florida Panthers uniforms when an attempt to create a San Jose concept went horribly awry. This is what happens when folks have too much time on their hands.
Well I hope you all got freaked out enough on this Freak Out Friday. If not, accept my apologies. Better luck next week. Until then, I'm waiting to see what you guys have in store for me next in terms of crazy artwork. Email it along.
Today's concept post will deal strictly with recoloring things. Yes, that's right. For instance, let's suppose the Florida Panthers had opted for the more traditional red home sweater over the blue one they actually went with.
Not bad, but despite the fact that I loath the Stinkin' Panthers, I prefer the blue. The old red sweaters were nice, but I don't care much for this one pictured here. But that's just me.
Speaking of me being a Lightning fan, someone remade the Sharks' and Habs' sweaters with Bolts colors.
I don't know. No. They'll always be a teal team. That's just who they are. Don't question it. As for the Habs, you can't have that jersey in anything but red. Even blue would be weird.
Here's something else that might make you question whether this is the Freak Out Friday post. Not quite yet. Just a misguided attempt at giving the Canucks new colors.
I'm all for the return of a green team to the NHL, but this is not how that is achieved. No, no, no. I know I'm sounding very negative right now, but just no.
Anyway, here's something I like. The Blue & Bronze Age of the Washington Capitals was my favorite. Even though it fits them perfectly, thematically speaking, the red/white/blue combo is so overused in this sport. Check out the current EDGE unis in the old colors.
It may not be the most brilliant thing you've ever seen, but come on. That's not too shabby. I like the white "capitals." Very sharp, right there, if you ask me. I'd just like to see the black jersey in blue instead. I was more a fan of the blue '90s jerseys for the Caps. I like the black one as a third jersey — not so much a primary home sweater.
And finally, we'll finish off with something a bit different. This is the Islanders uniforms recolored — but for a different team.
Wow, no. I'm sorry, but those sleeves don't look good on any team if you ask me. The more I see it, the less I like it. Granted it looks better in black and orange than blue and orange, but still, I'll pass on this one.
What do you guys think? Any winners here? Or should we go back to the paint bucket?
I know I haven't updated you guys on the status of the NHLToL fantasy team in quite a while — not that you care — so here goes. We suck!
We're presently in 9th place in an 11-team league. Things were looking good early on but that was before the Lightning started sucking. And if you remember, I stupidly stocked the team with Lightning players. I'm going to have to rectify that because obviously having Lecavalier, Prospal, St. Louis and Kuba is just not working. A 4-0 loss to the Isles? Really? Shameful.
Anyway, I'll let you know how things go this weekend and maybe you guys can offer some advice. Who to drop, who to add, etc. Look for that by Sunday.
Things just keep getting more and more interesting with these Rbk EDGE jerseys. I posted some info last week about the possibility Reebok would be replacing the new "hi-tech" fabric with the old stuff. Here's an email I received earlier.
Hey Chris,
Just thought I’d pass this on. Today in the Ottawa Citizen, it had a brief clipping about the Senators-Thrashers game last night. The Sens wore ‘modified’ versions of the new jerseys and are the first to do so. They look the same, but they did look baggier, or looser when I watched the game last evening.
I still wished they had put horizontal stripes on the bottom of the sleeves and jersey. I loved the contrasting number they had on the white jersey of last year (white jersey had white numbers on the sleeves, red jersey had red numbers on sleeves against white material) That’s just me. But these new ones are starting to grow on me.
I agree with you, the Sens are a black team first, the red was adopted later. I think its time for BACK IN BLACK!
Nevill
First of all, partly I just wanted to show that someone actually agreed with me on the black thing. Seriously, the Sens were black from the beginning. "Be Red" is a new-fangled thing — like the Rbk EDGE jerseys.
Here's a pullquote from that article in the Citizen.
November 2, 2007
Sweat Surrender
Ken Warren
The Ottawa CitizenThe Senators last night wore modified Reebok game sweaters, becoming the first NHL team to wear the new models. Countless NHL players have complained that the overly hyped Reebok re-design, which included a moisture-repelling substance, was a disaster.
Turns out that players' sweat was dripping off the sweaters into the players' gloves, socks and skates, making them heavier than before — the polar opposite of what was intended. Egg is now dripping off the faces of the sweater designers, and all the NHL and Reebok officials who promoted the "uniform systems" in the first place.
Raise your hand if you saw all this coming.
This failure by Reebok has caused me to realize something depressing. More and more I'm losing faith in the things that I love. First, the hockey players get locked out and lose an entire season in 2005. Now, as a lover of scripted television — my shows are Lost, 24, The Office, and now Pushing Daisies — the writers in Hollywood are striking. Hopefully they get their issues resolved quicker than the hockey folks did.
Anyway, in the meantime I have my Wii and Super Mario Galaxy will arrive at my door in 10 days. All is well.
Apologies, but the title says it all today. Not much going on. Freak Out Friday is tomorrow and I'm still in need of more crazy artwork from you guys, so send it along if you've got it!
All I can recommend today is that you get your votes in if you haven't yet. We're down to the final round in the Vintage Logo Tournament. It's Whalers against Sabres and so far, it's pretty close. Make sure your voice is heard. Go vote!
Also, if you haven't gotten involved yet in the AHL Tournament of Logos, now is your chance. We're getting into the second round now and the competition is fierce (well, kind of). Go cast your vote and help determine the best logo in the AHL!
And later this month, ToHL will turn its attention to the ECHL after we have an AHL champion. After that, we're moving on to other leagues. I'll hold a poll for that too so you guys can make your recommendations.
Hope you're enjoying your Thursday. And I hope you'll forgive today's lack of posts. I'm beat. For those of us who work in TV, an important month just started today. Check back for more tomorrow!
By the way, thanks to all of you who have stuck around. Yesterday, we surpassed the 3 million hit mark! Thanks for visiting! Now let's hit 4 million!
I hate to condone gossip, but a reader pointed out a very interesting article on SLAM! Sports. Not only does columnist Terry Jones "slam" the Edmonton Oilers' new duds, but he goes on to suggest a possible change in two years.
You can read the article in its entirety below, but I'll run down some of the bullet points:
October 28, 2007Threads of doubt
The jury's still out on the Edmonton Oilers new uniforms
O.K. Enough already. It's time to take the gloves off and deal with the No. 1 sports controversy in Edmonton.
Danny Maciocia's Gotta Go?
Hell no. Nothing left to say there that hasn't been said.
No, I'm talking about the total travesty of the Edmonton Oilers "pyjamas".
The folly and the farce of forcing them to wear "practice jerseys" in games.
Those especially embarrassing white away uniforms with the shirt tails it looks like they forgot to tuck in, that crappy costume they were wearing on Hockey Night In Canada out of Los Angeles last night.
The Oilers have been wearing these daffy duds long enough most of the fans I've talked to have only one question:
"How do we get our stripe back?"
O.K. Two questions.
"How do we lose that practice uniform piping on the front, too?"
The fans clearly haven't fallen in love with the Oilers new uniforms, home or away.
WORST IN THE LEAGUE
But the away whites may just be the worst in the league. In fact, they have been declared exactly that on sports desk highlight shows around the league already this year.
Heck, their own president Cal Nichols admits he can't stand looking at the damn things.
"They look, uh, a little plain," he chose his words carefully.
"I have to be careful here. Reebok paid a lot of money," he said of the project bringing the new uniforms to teams around the league and the obvious NHL memo to everybody in the game that they all must love them.
I told Nichols I was writing about the awful new Oilers silks.
"I think that would be a good article to write," he said. "But just put me down for saying I liked our old uniforms. I don't want to sound like an old stick-in-the-mud who can't go contemporary."
There have been other reviews.
"Ice Capades awful!"
"What was Edmonton thinking?
"I like the traditional horizontal stripes at the bottom of the old jersey."
"Why mess with tradition?"
"Wow. I feel like a Minnesota fan."
"Those are awful. Edmonton fans deserve better."
"Butt ugly. It looks like someone who hates the Oilers designed this one."
"The jersey is a little disappointing considering that Todd McFarlane, creator of Spawn, is a part owner. You'd think he'd have a say in the final design."
"Vancouver's looks better than those."
Those are just a few of the comments you can find by going to Google and typing in "Oilers" and "uniforms".
With the new Reeboks, everybody in the league has a new design, but the Montreal Canadiens look like the Montreal Canadiens, the Chicago Blackhawks look like the Chicago Blackhawks, theDetroit Red Wings look like the Detroit Red Wings ...
The Edmonton Oilers, a team of tradition which has won five Stanley Cup, just don't look like the Edmonton Oilers.
"I can't disagree," said Nichols.
WHO TO BLAME
Don't blame Reebok. Blame the Oilers. Blame CEO Patrick LaForge.
"We wanted change. A lot of things motivated us to look at change. We have a new locker room. A new team. We saw it as rejuvenation. A breath of fresh air," said LaForge.
"It was meant to be a sort of a Baltimore Ravens look," he said.
The Oilers have have their own identifiable look familiar to the entire world because Wayne Gretzky used to wear that uniform, and now they want to look like the Baltimore Ravens instead?
"A full black body from the ankles to the top, above the ankles and below the shoulders. A solid blue color," said LaForge.
So how do you get your stripe back?
"We can do it," says LaForge. "But not until 2009-2010."
Good thing they probably won't win a Stanley Cup until then.
Sunday · Nov 4 · 2007 | 3:25 PM PST