2021-2022 NHL Jersey Changes

[andrewharrington]

31 minutes ago, YELDARBfield said:

THIS THIS THIS

 

As @andrewharrington said, Hatch Show Print is within spitting distance of Bridgestone Arena. And yet for whatever reason, the Predators did not reveal the sweater at HSP or mention them by name in any press/social release. They didn't even use a country track for the initial unveiling video! It's like if the Nets had released their City Editions last season without mentioning Basquiat, or the Sounders not playing any Hendrix when they revealed their purple kit.

 

Correct. The effect looks okay on the "PrEDs" collar mark, but it does not translate to a cut-and-sewn crest. HSP style is more than just goofy font. They overlay colors (like that Ringo poster), always look somewhat distressed due to the wood blocks, and they very, very, VERY rarely print on a primarily dark background like navy blue. The Preds have the perfect base in their gold for a HSP-inspired sweater, and they decide now is the time to attempt the navy jersey a large number of fans have wanted as a regular alt for a decade.

 

Would've been better off sublimating HSP-style words and graphics into the gold stripe and doing a two-color tiger head or guitar pick for the crest. This solid color block approach just does not translate at all.

 

I swear, this freaking team makes it so hard to be a fan sometimes. I'm just glad it doesn't say "SMasH VegAS."

Preaching to the choir (at Ryman), my man…

[Digby]

1 hour ago, YELDARBfield said:

THIS THIS THIS

 

As @andrewharrington said, Hatch Show Print is within spitting distance of Bridgestone Arena. And yet for whatever reason, the Predators did not reveal the sweater at HSP or mention them by name in any press/social release. They didn't even use a country track for the initial unveiling video! It's like if the Nets had released their City Editions last season without mentioning Basquiat, or the Sounders not playing any Hendrix when they revealed their purple kit.

 

I asked because that omission seemed glaring. Can't help but wonder if a.) they didn't want to have a formal partnership because they'd have to pay royalties for the idea, which is kind of uncouth, or b.) they knew that this is a real bastardization of that distinctive letterpress look and the Hatch people wouldn't roll with it. Based on images posted, seems there's been a relationship between the two in the past, which I think is a nifty thing. But makes this whole situation a bit sadder.

 

I'm a proponent of people around here having some Design 101 knowledge, but Hatch prints is a level obscure enough that I don't blame people here for not getting it if Nashville isn't going to make the acknowledgement. OTOH, locals are more likely to see the connection (and, if they have taste, think this application of it sucks), which speaks to this board not being the target audience of much of what we critique.

[Sport]

2 hours ago, IceCap said:

It's the worst NHL sweater in history in my opinion. I can't think of a worse one. 

 

Things  keeping it from being my worst ever is it's for only one game and the actual sweater striping and construction of the jersey itself isn't visibly upsetting and actually kind of attractive. The only problem is sMashVIlLe on the front.

 

Here's a few I dislike more:

 

This gets my vote for all-time worst uniform in NHL history. 

 

 

 

 

 

[Patchey13]

I always really liked the Buffaslug template

[DEAD!]

12 minutes ago, Sport said:

 

Here's a few I dislike more:

 

This gets my vote for all-time worst uniform in NHL history. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aside from the shoulder patch, this really isn't a bad jersey.... just not what I would associate with the Florida Panthers.

[Ridleylash]

16 minutes ago, Sport said:

 Eh, I'll disagree with you here; I always thought these were pretty good as an exploration of the Panthers' brand if they'd come in during '67 or around that early period of NHL expansion instead of the 90's. Its only real issue was being similar to the Pens' double-blue alternates from around that same time period, otherwise it's a pretty good-looking alternate.

[Bmac]

3 hours ago, Digby said:

Has the team acknowledged the Hatch Show Print influence formally? That's the kind of obscure local reference detail to make the NBA City Edition proud. Can't blame Nike for this one! Should've screenprinted the jersey then, the effect is lost with the medium.

 

From the press release:

 

"According to adidas, the primary crest of the Predators jersey pays tribute to the fans with the SMASHVILLE mark, and the look was inspired by letterpress music posters which are part of Nashville's rich history. The "NP" in Nashville's guitar pick and lace collar gets a modern tonal color treatment with navy-on-navy details."

[YELDARBfield]

1 hour ago, Digby said:

 

OTOH, locals are more likely to see the connection (and, if they have taste, think this application of it sucks)...

From what I've seen from folks in Nashville, this is exactly right. And it doesn't help that actual locals see this as a continuation of the city of Nashville's tourist/interloper look and culture. The local reaction has been similar and compared to the "Predal Tavern" disaster from early 2019-20.

[IceCap]

3 hours ago, andrewharrington said:

Could you even imagine the amount of negativity that would have unleashed?

I don't see how much worse it could get. It's not just here either. Social media isn't treating this thing any kinder.

 

 

 

4 hours ago, andrewharrington said:

But what the heck, I’ll bite: a poster is a good idea for a jersey when your city is well known for its show posters and the most famous show poster print shop on Earth is located a half-block from your front steps (inside the Country Music HOF & Museum lobby).

It still looks bad. I'm not trying to be snarky or dismissive either. I see what the intent was. I get it...but it's one of those things where it's lost in translation. A jersey is not a poster. I don't think what works with one necessarily carries over to the other.

 

It's like the Buffaslug. The guy who designed it came around these parts and offered a very in-depth breakdown of why it turned out like it did. It was very educational- especially on the nature of the designer/client relationship- but knowing how the logo came out didn't make it any better. Easier to understand, yes, but not better.

 

When I look at this Preds jersey I see a confluence of font and design choices that make for a very tightly packed and uneven design. It's very unappealing to me. Knowing the why doesn't make it look any better.

 

1 hour ago, Sport said:

Things  keeping it from being my worst ever is it's for only one game and the actual sweater striping and construction of the jersey itself isn't visibly upsetting and actually kind of attractive. The only problem is sMashVIlLe on the front.

 

Here's a few I dislike more:

 

This gets my vote for all-time worst uniform in NHL history. 

I can't disagree with any of these on a design level. They're all bad...though I think you missed the ill-fated Chris Chellios-approved red Thrashers alternate.

 

Regardless, I get it. These are all bad. Buffalo's Turd Berger shoulder captain patch is really tacky.

 

The reason I put the Nashville Stadium Series alternates at the absolute bottom is because they're the only NHL sweater to make me physically uncomfortable. admiral called it Deep Hurting. To me...the tightly packed and uneven fonts, and the alternate logo jammed in there, just give me a slightly uncomfortable feeling. Like my gums and teeth are reacting to me seeing a poorly maintained smile or something. I donno. It's visceral.

 

It's 100% a "me" thing, but no other NHL sweater has that effect on me. So I have to rank it at the absolute bottom.

 

50 minutes ago, YELDARBfield said:

2 hours ago, Digby said:

 

From what I've seen from folks in Nashville, this is exactly right. And it doesn't help that actual locals see this as a continuation of the city of Nashville's tourist/interloper look and culture. The local reaction has been similar and compared to the "Predal Tavern" disaster from early 2019-20.

This raises an interesting paradox. A city is known for some design quirk. That becomes one of the city's defining features to outsiders. The city becomes a transplant/destination location. Outsiders come in and want to play up the design quirk because to them it's part of the city's cultural identity.

 

The design quirk- while legitimately part of the city's identity- is now associated with outsiders.

 

Fascinating.

 

[hormone]

Does the EA video game patch these stadium jerseys and new releases like the devils and penguins in? I bought this recently and haven’t had a sports game in years so I don’t really know how they handle that or wait til next season 

[Ridleylash]

10 minutes ago, hormone said:

Does the EA video game patch these stadium jerseys and new releases like the devils and penguins in? I bought this recently and haven’t had a sports game in years so I don’t really know how they handle that or wait til next season 

They usually have a jersey update for stuff like that, yeah.

[andrewharrington]

3 hours ago, IceCap said:

It still looks bad. I'm not trying to be snarky or dismissive either. I see what the intent was. I get it...but it's one of those things where it's lost in translation. A jersey is not a poster. I don't think what works with one necessarily carries over to the other.

I’ll just say that the final version is rarely the best version. That’s just how it goes.

[IceCap]

7 minutes ago, andrewharrington said:

I’ll just say that the final version is rarely the best version. That’s just how it goes.

Oh I understand.

[The_Admiral]

Nashville's culture now is bachelorette parties from Creve Coeur throwing up all over airbnbs and rickshaws, why don't you do a jersey about that

[wildwing64]

Without knowing the context of its inspiration, it comes off as something made for a pro wrestler or an over the top extreme hype video. That was my first impression anyway.

 

Now I have a better understanding and can appreciate how and why it came about, but "SMASHVILLE" is still groanworthy.

[Sport]

10 hours ago, IceCap said:

I can't disagree with any of these on a design level. They're all bad...though I think you missed the ill-fated Chris Chellios-approved red Thrashers alternate.

 

I didn’t include that uniform because I…………kind of liked it. Gotta go!

[IceCap]

2 hours ago, Sport said:

I didn’t include that uniform because I…………kind of liked it. Gotta go!

 

[Digby]

15 hours ago, Bmac said:

 

From the press release:

 

"According to adidas, the primary crest of the Predators jersey pays tribute to the fans with the SMASHVILLE mark, and the look was inspired by letterpress music posters which are part of Nashville's rich history. The "NP" in Nashville's guitar pick and lace collar gets a modern tonal color treatment with navy-on-navy details."

Lack of a proper Hatch reference seems glaring! Maybe it’s because prints were my entry into design. But this only confirms my suspicions… it’s knockoff-brand all around.

[Corvus]

Ahem:

 

 

[AFirestormToPurify]

58 minutes ago, Corvus said:

Ahem:

 

 

Okay so have I become an old man who yells at clouds and should I just chill or is this deeply disrespectful and childish? It's one thing to make tweets as a fan or even as the NHL's marketing account aimed at a younger crowd but to actually treat a professional team's jersey as the butt of the joke and paint that on your mask when you're employed by the team? Doesn't sit right with me

Makes the whole thing a joke basically. A meme jersey