- From Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun: The NHL has reached a deal with Adidas and the company will begin producing jerseys for all 30 teams in 2017-18. Hornby explains that, after doubling Reebok’s former contract price of $35 million, Adidas will look to make its logo very visible. Hornby reports that the NHL believes they will generate approximately $4 million per team for selling ad space on the new team jerseys. There are rumours that the league will introduce some of the new look at the World Cup of Hockey next year. If Adidas completes the jersey deal, they may test run new designs for the eight-team tournament.
- More on jersey changes from Luke Fox at Sportsnet: In January, commissioner Gary Bettman said that jersey advertisements were a valuable opportunity to generate revenue for owners and players. He also spoke about using the 2016 World Cup of Hockey to test out the jersey designs. Fox cites Bettman speaking in Vancouver, where he said:
I’m in no rush to put advertising on our sweaters…I think we’ve got the best jerseys in all of sports. I like the history, the tradition. I like the way they look and I’ve repeatedly said we wouldn’t be the first and you’d probably have to bring me kicking and screaming.
- More from Fox: Speaking with current NHLers participating in the BioSteel hockey camp in Toronto. Free agent Lee Stempniak weighed in on the jersey ads topic saying, “I’m a big fan of jerseys the way they are…I think you have to find some common ground and maybe compromise” Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Michael Del Zotto said, “During the lockout I played over in Switzerland so I kinda got a feel for it…It wasn’t a huge deal.” New Jersey Devils forward Mike Cammalleri said, “You’d have to look at the financials of it and see what type of revenue might be drawn from it.”
- Martin Fennelly of The Tampa Tribune on Stamkos: Speculating on the lack of news on an extension for Stamkos in Tampa Bay, Fennelly writes that the Lightning have to make a new contract a priority, even at the cost of losing other key players if the team can’t afford to pay them too. Fennelly says that Stamkos’ agent, Don Meehan, will likely look to the 8-year, $10.5 million per year deals of Chicago’s Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane as comparables. Much like the Blackhawks, Fennelly expects the Lightning to lose core players after signing Stamkos:
Face it: Signing Stamkos will mean losing someone else. Ask the Blackhawks. They’ve already traded Brandon Saad away from the Cup team.
- Mike Halford of NBC’s Pro Hockey Talk on Nikolaj Ehlers: If Ehlers, Winnipeg’s ninth-overall pick in 2014, doesn’t earn an NHL spot out of training camp, he is open to playing in the Swiss league. Ehlers said that Switzerland was “at the top” of his list of destinations if he doesn’t secure a spot in the Jets’ lineup. Ehlers is not old enough to play in the AHL and Halford speculates that the talented youngster has nothing left to prove in the QMJHL. Auston Matthews – a candidate for the first overall pick in the 2016 draft – has already committed to playing in the Swiss league next season.
