Toronto Maple Leafs and Adidas unveil new jersey, old slogan

Tonight in Las Vegas there was a release party, sponsored by Adidas, of next season’s new jerseys. Thirty teams had a redesign; one team had their first jersey debut. I’m sure you’ve seen the photos of the Vegas Golden Knights one. The Toronto Maple Leafs’ jersey got just a tad retooled:

As Annie pointed out, they kept the “butt” logo, and the other change is just in the collar area, so ... it’s fine?

The basic premise of the Adidas design was to focus on “fit, feel, and lightweight construction.” According to the press release, the jerseys are:

Lighter – Featuring new cresting materials and construction technology, the ADIZERO Authentic NHL jersey reduces crest weight by up to 46% in order to deliver a new jersey that is up to 19% lighter when compared to the current NHL Jersey.

Cooler – The ADIZERO Authentic NHL jersey features adidas Clima® technology in each of the jersey fabrics to deliver breathability and enhanced performance. Combining moisture management technology and a streamlined silhouette to maximize air flow circulation with materials that are up to 133% more permeable than fabrics currently used on ice allows athletes to be cooler.

Stronger – Constructed for durability, the ADIZERO Authentic NHL jersey fabrics are up to 27% stronger in burst testing and up to 72% tougher in abrasion testing compared to the current NHL jersey.

I guess we’ll have to ask an actual player if these marketing points prove true — or maybe the equipment guys who mend the jerseys after each period. The Leafs’ jersey has lacing, which disappeared from a lot of jerseys this season, including Tampa Bay’s. I am jealous.

The Leafs’ oft-repeated slogan, “HONOUR. PRIDE. COURAGE.” is printed on the inside of the collar. The home version of the uniform might be released on Friday, for Reasons.

Of the new jersey, Species says, “New Jersey? JvR is from there.... I like it.”

What do you guys think?