New Hockey Uniforms Preview

There's been a lot of hoopla about the new hockey uniforms (most of it bad it seems) so I've been really curious about just how radical these new "modern" uniforms would be. There's an article in today's USA Today, which a pic of Sidney Crosby modeling the new NHL hockey uniforms. Ya know, it doesn't really seem THAT different to me.

They were supposed to make the players look sleeker and sexier too if I remember correctly. I suppose that's the effect the slightly tapered sweaters are suppoed to achieve, but they really do look sleeker there, then the new Michellin Man shin padding nixes any greater illusion of stealth.

Well, here's the article:
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/...-uniforms_x.htm

I find it really hard to tell much from the airbrushed photo that accompanies the article - I'm curious how it will work when the player's in motion.

(Personally, I think the article is worth reading just for Scott Hannen's quote near the end.)

Ok, after watching the All-Star game last night, I conclude that the new uniforms were a little snugger fitting, but otherwise didn't look all that different from the old style jerseys and pants. The new unis were ok, but the uni design for the Western Conference? Who da hell came up with that putrid design? They looked like they were playing in full body Underoos.

It seemed that the snug fit of the jerseys was slightly awkward for a number of players who had heavy padding around their low back. A bunch of them, especially in the first period, chose to either tuck the back of the jersey in or let the pad sit outside the jersey. It could be those problems were corrected (or mandated away) by the second and third periods, because I didn't see too much of that then.

There seemed to be a big different in the stockings, particularly. I'd be curious to know what the players thought, but I don't think we're going to hear an honest answer anytime soon...