Latest looks?

With more teams breaking out new looks this season, thanks in part to the NHL's adoption of the RBK Edge system, this thread shows quite a few. Some, like the Pittsburgh Penguins jersey shown above, are confirmed. Others should be taken, as the site suggests, with grains of salt.

Some teams, too, are using the RBK Edge to introduce updated logos. San Jose is expected to announce its new look on Tuesday, though someone apparently has spilled the beans. Provided you can afford one, you can already buy, or at least preorder, the new Boston, Columbus and Washington jerseys.

For hockey hounds, all these changes mean one thing. Last season's look should start appearing soon on clearance racks or discount department stores. Just today, we picked up a youth Vinny Lecavalier CCM replica home Lightning jersey for $60. Now if he'll just sign it.

Editor's note: This is the 500th posting since Aug. 15, 2006.

Sid's no longer a Kid

Though I'd hoped that the Penguins would allow Sidney Crosby even more time to mature, Pittsburgh named him as team captain for the upcoming season, making him the youngest ever in NHL history to wear the "C." Seeing that he already bears the burden of a sport, nation and RBK Hockey upon his shoulders, assuming the leadership role on this relatively young squad should come naturally.

Caps new look?

Here's a link to what could be the Washington Capitals new RBK Edge sweaters. What do you think? Those look like Avalanche colors to me.

New threads: Washington Capitals

The Washington Capitals will take the wraps off a new look at a practice-rink fan party during the NHL Draft in June. Maybe they'll look like this.

As more teams don the new RBK Edge sweaters, Washington's announcement is unlikely to be the last we'll see of new looks.

Valentine's Day gift guide

In conducting a highly unscientific and biased study of Valentine's Day commercials, I've found that not a single one is geared toward the ladies. Mostly, they're designed to guilt men into buying everything from diamonds to bustiers to roses to a box of high-end chocolates.

I'm sorry, but aren't these commercials a little sexist? As far as I know, Valentine's Day is a two-way street. Though I'm reminded, on a daily basis, that women are smarter than men, I believe there's an unfulfilled advertising niche.

So, ladies, to even the playing field, so to speak, here are some suggestions to show your hockey-loving man that you do, indeed, care for him:

~ Tickets to this weekend's game, be it in the National Hockey League to the Southern Professional Hockey League.

~ One of those slick new RBK Edge jerseys. Sure, they may cost a pretty penny, but they are lighter, more form-fitting in design and have greater moisture-wicking technology.

~ A box or two, not a couple of packs, of Upper Deck Hockey Series II cards. You must know, too, that the Evgeni Malkin Young Guns rookie card, if he's lucky enough to pull one, will be worth considerably more than that $39.99 trinket he bought you at Wal-Mart.

~ A Bauer Vapor XXX Lite hockey stick. Don't worry, he'll know what to do with it. Just make sure you know if he's left-handed or right-handed. It'll makes a world of difference.

~ Round-trip tickets, lodging and meals for two to Toronto as well as admission to the Hockey Hall of Fame. You're on your own, though, trying to get tickets to a Leafs game.

Oh, yeah, don't forget a Valentine's Day card for him, too.

You can thank me later.

Addicted to Hockey? All Star Game edition

In honor of tonight's All Star Game at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, this round of questioning, to determine whether you're addicted to hockey, will take, maybe even predictably, an All Star Game slant and could even have a few rants.

Let's see, shall we?

Are you addicted to hockey? Should you answer "yes" to a majority of the following questions, I suggest you book a flight to Atlanta, Ga., on Jan. 14, 2008, book a room at a nice hotel near the Philips Arena through Jan. 17, 2008, and get yourself some tickets to the 2008 NHL All Star Game.

Make sure you buy one for me, too, because, after all, it was my idea.

Getting back on point, so to speak, here are some ways to tell whether you're addicted to hockey:

~ You'd gladly trade places with Martin Brodeur, Cristobaul Huet, Miikka Kiprusoff, Roberto Luongo, Ryan Miller and Marty Turco, even if it meant being the biggest duck in the shooting gallery. Granted, the players would be trying to shoot past you, but you could actually get hit by one of their shots. Trust me, if hockey balls at 20 mph hurt, just imagine frozen pucks in excess of 85 mph.

~ You're wondering why in God's name did the NHL hold the game on a Wednesday night. For poor saps like me, who had to work, I missed out on the game. Why not have it on the weekend before the NFL's Super Bowl? I'm certain, too, that with the 2008 event set for Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2008, I'll raise this question again.

~ A smile broke across your face when the Eastern Conference line of Philadelphia's Simon Gagne and Tampa Bay's Marty St. Louis and Vincent Lecavalier formed an updated version of the famed Buffalo Sabres' French Connection. The coach that put tonight's line together? None other than Buffalo's Lindy Ruff. I'm sure Richard Martin, Gilbert Perreault and Rene Robert wouldn't mind.

~ Speaking of Buffalo, you knew that MVP honors would go to a Sabres player. Daniel Briere, shown above, may be small, but he is the heart and soul of the Sabres, far more than Chris Drury. Also, Danny, if you're not sure what to do with that 2007 Dodge Nitro, feel free to call. I've got a spare spot in the driveway.

~ Believed Boston's Phil Kessel, considering what he's dealt with this year, was far more worthy of the YoungStars Game MVP award than New Jersey's Zach Parise.

~ Wondered why Toronto's Chad Kilger, who nailed a 106.6-mph slap shot during the Maple Leafs' team competition, wasn't involved in the hardest shot contest in the SuperSkills competition. For the record, Boston's Zdeno "The Prudential" Chara won individual honors with his 100.4 mph-laser.

~ Asked the American Airlines Center crew for the targets broken by Atlanta's Marian Hossa or Carolina's Eric Staal during the Shooting Accuracy contest. I also wonder how long it'll be before all four Staal brothers (Eric, Jordan, Marc and Jared) will play in an All Star game.

~ You spent $350 on one of those authentic RBK Edge jerseys so you would feel lighter and not worry about perspiration while standing in the beer line at your home rink. And then you plopped down another $75 to have your own name and "07" put on it.

~ Spent the past three days living out of your car because you couldn't find a hotel room with 100 miles of Dallas charging less than $300 a night, not including armadillos and cockroaches, and you bought one of those RBK Edge jerseys.

~ You considered this week, even if the All Star Game was the highlight, the longest of the year because you haven't seen a real game since this past Saturday.

Uniform resource

Though it's one of those annoying commercial sites (meaning your popup-blocker will be put to work), this entity provides looks at NHL uniforms, past and present.

The journalist in me, too, also notices a distinct familiarity between the site's renderings and those unconfirmed RBK Edge uniforms. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but I am curious about the true source of those images.

Backing away from the (RBK) Edge

It might take a few minutes, but this post (patience needed) and the subsequent comments (except those from a 14-year-old) should answer many of the questions being raised by the release of the RBK Edge jersey.

The major news, I believe, is that these renderings are just that -- renderings. There's nothing official or finalized about them.

NHL teams will be free to change or update their logos, such as the move announced last week by the Columbus Blue Jackets, but until next season, or through any announcements made until then, we can't be certain.

The RBK Edge site

Here's RBK Hockey's Web site on the new RBK Edge. Though it was downloading very slowly, most likely from visitor traffic, it seems to be working just fine now.

Don't get your hopes up, though, for confirmation of the jersey designs. The site provides information about the jersey as well as the creative process. The only hint of a date is the teaser: Coming 07/08.

As always, thanks for stopping by.

The last one, I promise

I'm hoping these unconfirmed renderings of the new RBK Edge jerseys prove to be correct.

This alternate for the St. Louis Blues is wicked cool, if you ask me. The uniform doesn't change much, but I do like the logo.

Just because I like it, though, doesn't mean I'd rush out and buy one, if I were to be a Blues fan.

A Capital idea?

I'm not quite sure what to make of this unconfirmed rendering of the Washington Capital's new RBK Edge uniforms.

I can see where the home and away try to incorporate elements from the past two uniforms. The alternate jersey, though, might be popular.

What do you think?

The Kansas City Penguins?

Just in case it happens, these could be RBK Hockey's chief poster boy Sidney Crosby's new RBK Edge duds.

Pretty sharp, eh?

For my friends in Boston . . .

. . . and especially the birthday girl, Wicked Bruins Fan Jaci, here's a look at what could become the Bruins new RBK Edge uniforms in 2007-08.

Enjoy!

Sneak peaks at new RBK Edge?

I found this thread that shows renderings of some of the new RBK Edge uniforms for several NHL clubs.

The original poster raises doubts to the authenticity of the designs, but who knows? We'll find out soon enough.

Either way, the "proposed" new looks for the Tampa Bay Lightning, including an alternate jersey, are shown above.

Sunday morning homily X

After 22-plus years of daily journalism, it's no wonder than the cynic in me views most every sports business-related move with a healthy dose of skepticism. For instance, take the combined efforts of RBK Hockey and the NHL with the new RBK Edge jersey. While those corporate entities extol the new product's benefits to players and insist that any retail gains are secondary, I have my doubts.

Granted, I think the jerseys, which will make their debut in Dallas later this week, look pretty cool. And I do believe Tampa Bay's Vinny Lecavalier when he praises the performance-enhancing virtues (lighter in weight with greater moisture-wicking technology) of the new jerseys.

"They're the real deal," he told USA Today. "The water doesn't soak into your jersey. So you don't feel like you have 10 pounds on your back by the end of the third period."

Though anything that adds speed to the game is worthy of applause, I'm convinced that corporate greed is a major role. With news that all 30 NHL teams will be wearing the new jerseys, there's also an indication that some teams will be changing their looks. And, of course, a new look, especially on a jersey, will prompt many fans to keep up with the times.

With RBK Edge versions of the All Star Game jerseys commanding anywhere between $110 (replica) to $350 (authentic) each, it's an easy leap to believe this pricing structure will continue with a team's new release.

Bottom line, kids, is that the jerseys are just another thinly veiled attempt to pry money from fans. In the meantime, I'll keep my eyes open for a Vintage Buffalo Sabres Mitchell & Ness jersey.

Kings needed Luc's luck

It's a shame that the Los Angeles Kings players couldn't contribute on a night when Luc Robitaille's No. 20 was raised to the rafters. After quickly jumping out to a 2-0 lead, thanks to Anze Kopitar's nifty shorthanded goal, the Kings let the Phoenix Coyotes leave the Staples Center with a 3-2 victory.

It's my guess that Robitaille, as well as the many former teammates (including Butch Goring, Jari Kurri, Larry Robinson and Rogie Vachon) who honored the three-time NHL All Star in the hourlong ceremony, would have done a better job of protecting and, most likely building upon, the lead. In fact, I would've loved to see those guys get one last spin around the rink.

The game also featured the L.A. debut of goalie Sean Burke, claimed last week off waivers from Tampa Bay. Too bad, though, that dehydration forced Burke, seeing his first action in nearly two months, to leave the game early in the third period. Yutaka Fukufuji, who made NHL history recently as being the first Japanese-born player to play and then start in an NHL contest, gave up the game-winning goal.

2 + 0 = 3?

I'll bet there will be a bunch of Carolina Hurricanes fans walking into Raleigh-area malls and sporting goods stores today with sheepish looks upon their faces. And, no, those looks didn't come from the Tampa Bay Lightning's 6-5 come-from-behind shootout victory.

After Scott Walker gave the Canes a 5-4 lead against the Lightning in the third period of last night's game, more than a few Carolina fans, thinking that Eric Staal had scored a hat trick instead, littered the ice with their ballcaps, a time-honored show of appreciation for such a feat.

Replay upon replay, however, showed that although Staal was on the ice, he wasn't even close to the puck nor was he involved in the play.

Now, I'm not saying this case of premature e-cap-ulation means Hurricanes fans aren't knowledgeable about hockey, but they might want to brush up a little on their math. Until then, they need to remember that 2 + 1 is what equals 3.

What's with all the fuss?

Anyone who knows me will vouch that I place very little emphasis on fashion.

To me, GQ is nothing more than a typo of the old newspaper proofing mark of CQ. As a kid, the only way I could tell what colors went together was to look at the uniforms of most NHL teams. Thankfully, I knew enough back then to stay away from the hideous hues of the California Golden Seals and Kansas City Scouts.

But when I take a look at the new NHL uniforms, modeled by Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby, I'm having a hard time figuring out why some folks don't like them. In fact, I think they have a cool Robocop-ish look to them.

The powers that be at the NHL apparently leaked the photo to USA Today for Friday's edition. These uniforms, known as Rbk Edge, will make their debut during All Star Game festivities in Dallas. And from what I understand, all teams will be wearing them during the 2007-08 season.

But, from where I'm sitting, wearing a coffee-stained gray T-shirt and dark-blue sweatpants, I think they look pretty neat.

That doesn't mean, though, that I don't have some issues with RBK Hockey and the NHL. I'll share those with you tomorrow morning.