Surprise! EDGE jerseys not so popular

[omnipotent_hudler 0]

So it seems that the new EDGE jerseys are causing some problems for players. Specifically, the "moisture wicking" fabric causes the moisture to go straight into skates, gloves, equipment etc., causing quite a bit of discomfort for players. The players on the Penguins have actually come out and voiced their concerns over this, but the problems they are describing are problems with the fabric itself, so I'm sure players on other teams are likely having the same issue.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07266/819908-61.stm

"[The sweaters] don't soak anything in, which I guess is what they wanted," Recchi said. "But the problem is, it goes through all of your equipment. It goes into your gloves, goes into your skates."

And eventually saturates the leather in both, leaving the players feeling as if their hands and feet are immersed in liquid. Perhaps because, at least in some cases, they are.

"They do what they were designed to do, as far as repelling the water," defenseman Mark Eaton said. "But we've found, the last three or four days of wearing them, that, when the water's repelled, it has nowhere to go but into your skates and gloves.

"By the end of the second [period] or the start of the third, your skates are sloshing around and you have to change your gloves because they're [soaked]."

"My hands are soaked, my feet are soaked," he said. "I feel like it's May, in the playoffs, I'm sweating so much. That seems to be a complaint with a lot of guys."

"My gloves never got soaked like [they do now]," he said. "They're literally drenched by the end of an hour[-long] practice.

"I'm going to have to have two pairs of gloves ready [for games]. I've never done that. I've always used one pair a game. Some guys are used to that, but that's going to be different. Maybe I'll have to change my socks between periods, which I don't like doing. You start sloshing.

"I think you'll see skates break down quicker because of it; they'll absorb more [perspiration], because it's all going down into your skate and your socks."

Now, I'll be the first to say that I like the look of the new jerseys. But I always thought it was kind of interesting how the only practice run players got with the jerseys was at the all star game and a few practice sessions during last years season. If it turns out that this a complaint lodged by a majority of players in the coming weeks ahead, the NHL is going to look very stupid indeed.

[Guest jaytan]

HAHAHA!

Wow, this is like the NBA's new ball fiasco, but even more of a train wreck. I wonder if Buttman will give it up and go back to the old jerseys mid-season.

[betterREDthandead 58]

Maybe they should wear the jerseys inside out to send the water the other way

[Guest jaytan]

There'd be 30 zamboni drivers out of a job.

[eva unit zero 271]

Why didn't the players complain about this during the testing phase? Seems like an important thing to not care about during testing.

[Jwo 7]

They should use the jersey that has the size tag on the front.

[Sting 11 0]

It should go back to the days where each team chose their jersey manufacturer. Having one manufacturer, with a radical new design, forced down the entire league's throat was not a good move.

[vangvace 12]

Why didn't the players complain about this during the testing phase? Seems like an important thing to not care about during testing.

I thought the players testing was pretty much only the all star game and all the testing was done by RBK?