According to James Mirtle, players are not enthusiastic about the new jerseys (not Devils).  He could not think of any moment in his coverage of the league (he’s not a newcomer) where a player chose the new uniforms over the previous sweaters.  From reading numerous other intelligent reports, I have no idea why league commissioner Gary Bettman decided to make this switch.  I had never heard of a complaint around the league and instead of focusing on ratings, which are lower than poker and PGA bowling, he altered the uniforms.  Despicable!!!  From the moment that he arrived in the NHL, “he'd guided the league from a legitimate Big Four sport to an athletic afterthought.”

Reebok claimed that "Many NHL players are satisfied with the current Rbk Edge jersey, but since the start of the season we have received player feedback about the jersey’s moisture management and durability."

“After working with NHL players, teams, and equipment managers to gather feedback on the Rbk Edge uniform system, Reebok has decided to provide an alternative jersey to the players who request it.”

The decision to alter the jerseys was not decided until the NHL’s future (current) prodigy Sidney Crosby complained.  Is the league going to return to its older more efficient ways and bring back the old jersey? Unlikely.

Bettman said that the jerseys were done “for performance and safety.”  Last time I checked, players get injured due to getting crushed into the boards face first, not because a jersey got intertwined with another player’s uniform.  Apparently, this is one of Bettman’s “nail in the coffin” decision-makings.  What do you know- ratings are not improving, but the cost of jerseys is. Great!!! Aren’t fans spending enough money to attend a game? I guess not.

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