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What to expect from the new Fanatics NHL jerseys

  
Fanatics
Adidas hands over jersey production to Fanatics officially as of June 26, 2024 (Photo courtesy of Colorado Avalanche)

Love them or hate them, Fanatics will take over the on-ice jersey production for the NHL for the next decade. Many people adored the Adidas jerseys, and they garnered a devoted fan base. The debut of the Adidas jersey came during the World Cup of Hockey in 2016. Players raved about how they loved the Adidas jersey and could not wait to wear it the following season. Fast forward to July 2022 Adidas backed out of their last season as the official jersey provider. Later, the NHL announced that Fanatics would take over the role for the next ten years. Here is what you can expect as a fan after the transition completely takes place.

Changes to on-ice jersey

We will not see a significant difference in the product on the ice from what we are already used to. Some teams have changed their jerseys already. But most of the league is going to stay the same. There are a few physical changes to every jersey that will take place:

— An additional layer of fabric inside the lower sleeve to enhance uniform durability intended to reduce material wear from sustained friction against the boards. This enhancement directly resulted from feedback from NHL players and equipment managers.

— New shoulder fabrics replacing the debossed pattern fabric used on the shoulders of the prior NHL jersey.

— A new NHL Shield execution on the front neck of the jersey which includes a special hologram finish.

— Fanatics branding embroidered on the back neck of jerseys.

What will be available?

In previous years, the only way to get an official on-ice jersey was if the team sold them. Now to buy the same product that is being worn by the players and sold in stores. Adidas had made the same claim but ran into a lawsuit over it. Here are the levels of jerseys that fans can expect to see on shelves starting September:

— Authentic Pro: This will be the same jersey that the players wear on the ice. This will also be the most expensive. This will retail at $400.

— Premium: This jersey will be same as what Adidas sells in stores right now. It still has embroidered crests and patches, a fighting strap, but lacks some details of the Authentic Pro. This will retail for $180-$230.

— Breakaway: For Fanatics jerseys, the Breakaway style is what most fans are familiar with. They are lightweight and fit more like a t-shirt. The patches will be sublimated and lack embroidery. It will retail for $135-$175.

— Practice Jersey: The redesigned practice jersey will be available to purchase. The retail price is still to be determined.

What does the league think?

The players and equipment managers around the league played a role in designing the new jerseys. The front crest and sleeves were two things that were changed at their request. “Fanatics did a great job designing these jerseys,” Austin Matthews said. “They feel comfortable and look breathable, which is important during games. Any little detail that can help us perform at our best makes a difference.” Even the young rookies think they look good. “The Fanatics jersey looks good,” Connor Bedard said. “I like that there is not a lot of change from the older version, and I also like the design of the new practice jersey.”

Conclusion

The real debut will happen this week at the NHL Entry Draft on Friday night. I am sure there will be some feedback from both fans and players then. The same factory that has been producing the NHL’s jerseys in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, is still making the jerseys. So, this will definitely be something that we all will want to monitor as the summer progresses. But, I am trying to give Fanatics the benefit of the doubt that they will not make too many changes.

 

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