The Value of a good start

Prelude - To talk sports is to use cliches. Here is an example. 'The team is off to a hot start.' How insightful. Yet, right now we have a great example. Ottawa just lost its 4th game in a row. Yet, they are still in first. That's the power of great start.

Sport - Hockey

Event - Ottawa Senators lose to the New York Islanders. They have now lost four games in a row.

Issue
Four losses in a row is usually indicative that something is going wrong. Not cause for panic. However, the Sens have now lost 5 out of their past 6 games. Two losses are shoot-out losses. Meaning, these games could have just as easily been won.

When the losses pile up, the focus turn to goal scoring. Of note, the Sens have scored one less goal then they have given up in the past five games. The previous sixth game was a 3-0 loss to the Leafs. The issue, therefore, is that they just aren't scoring like they did at the start.

Perhaps they are starting to play like the rest of the league.

Point to say - "So, the Sens have lost four games in a row. What's going on?

Follow up point - "Maybe this will start up the talk about who should be playing nets for the Sens."

Get out of the conversation - "I'm sure the Sens will turn it around soon."

Backgrounder
Daniel Alfredsson, who plays on their top line, missed a few games with a groin injury. He was back for the game against the Islanders.

Link

Sens past game results.

Changes Coming to Toronto

Prelude - In the Centre of the Universe, otherwise known as Toronto, the knives are coming out and getting sharpened fast. The Leafs, the centre to the centre of the universe, are doing very poorly this year. In short, there is little hope of making the playoffs. Changes are coming, so lets get you ready to be in the know as attention now turns to the big Swedish Centre who sits in the centre of the centre of the universe.

Sport - Hockey

Event - Focus is turning to what changes the Toronto Maple Leafs will be making to their management and roster.

Issue
Leaf fans are now out of patience with the current General Manager. He claimed that the changes he would bring would continue to make this team competitive aka a Stanley Cup contender. The evidence points to failure more than success.

The Toronto Maple Leafs currently sit second last in the Eastern NHL standings, and didn't make the playoffs last year. They have traded away many upcoming high level draft picks over the past two years. So, help is not being developed in the farm system.

All media outlets are now reporting that there will be changes come perhaps as soon as December. How drastic and to whom is the question.

Point to say - "So, the Leafs are having a bad season so far*. Do you think they will trade Mats Sundin? "*
* If you are Sens fan, you may change this statement to your own satisfaction.

Follow up point - "Do you think they could trade him for some players that would help the Leafs make the playoffs?"

Get out of the conversation - "Well, it's still early yet. We have to see what they do."

Backgrounder
Mats Sundin is the captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs. He has been with the team since 1994. His status with the team has taken on iconic status now that he has past Leaf fan favourite Darryl Sittler in the Leafs all time scoring categories (goals, assists and points).

The trading of a captain is a big deal in hockey. Captains represent the heart and soul of a hockey team. Fans typically identify these players as their favourite. So, the trading of a captain is a big signal to a team, and its fans.

Analysis
No trade, save Sundin for an entire first line (best left winger, centre, and right winger of a team), would help the Leafs make the playoffs. Whoever gets traded, a trade should focus on the future and not a quick fix. No, if you are a Sens fan, you have still some time before the Montreal Canadiens or the Leafs will be giving you competitive games.

The Little Engine that could

Prelude - How does an athlete garner the respect of sports fans? He could break a record. But ultimately, its about leading his team to victory. This weekend capped a story that is simply, heart warming: the rise of Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Kerry Joseph. The heart of his team, this is a guy who kept pursuing his dream, even if it meant playing touch-football with his buddies just a couple of years ago. Now he's the champ. Sport can offer us role models. Well, here is one.

Sport - Football

Event - Saskatchewan Roughriders defeat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 23-19 to win the 95th Grey Cup championship. Kerry Joseph, quarterback for Saskatchewan is named MVP of the league for 2007.

Issue
In previous blogs we've explored how the Roughriders are representative of the little engine that could. This weekend they capped off a great season by winning the championship game. Their quarterback represents, very much, the athlete that perserveres to finally win the big prize.

Point to say - "So, Saskatchewan pulled it off. Regina will be going wild today."

Follow up point - "Their quaterback is quite the player."

Backgrounder
Kerry Joseph's story has him bouncing around the NFL and it's affiliate NFL Europe for the first part of his career. Without having established himself with a team, he removed himself from the game and, in 2002, instead competed in a flag football league in his home state of Louisiana.

The story wasn't over though. He was signed by the CFL franchise in Ottawa in 2003. He immediately started to establish himself as premier player. When this team folded, Saskatchewan claimed him. With this team, his place as a star athlete took hold. In fact, this year, just before the Grey Cup on Sunday he was voted the league's 2007 MVP.

His never say quit attitude roled into Saskatchewan, and can be said to have fuelled this team over the last two seasons. This is their first championship in 18 years, and but their third championship in 41 years. This is a franchise that in any other city would have folded. But fan loyalty entrenched even further by an effort like Joseph's, have produced something truely, all fans can respect.

Links
Kerry Joseph's web site.
Story on the Roughrider win.

Party Time in Canada

Prelude- Two things are for sure in Canada when it comes to sports: Saturday nights are hockey nights, and Grey Cup is an excuse to party. Seeing how this Sunday is the Grey Cup, let's get you ready for the party with a good conversation starter.

Sport - Football

Event - Grey Cup Game - Sunday November 25, 2007 (Annual Championship game for Canadian Football)

Issue
The game is being played in Toronto this year. It features the Winnipeg Blue Bombers against the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The winner will be the 2007 champion of Canadian football.

Saskatchewan is favoured not just by the odds makers, but by the sport fans as well.

Point to say - "Who you rooting for?" or "Do you think Saskatchewan will win?"

Follow up point - "It's wild; Saskatchewan has only won this thing only twice (in their entire 97 year history)!" - you add the part in parathesis if you feel brave enough.

Backgrounder
The appearance of the Saskatchewan Rough Riders in the Grey Cup is rare indeed. They've made it the finals only four times since 1976. But when they make it, it is much welcomed. This team is the league's heart-and-soul franchise. They are community owned. They play out of the smallest CFL city. There is nothing big-city about this team, its fans or its style.

Stephen Brunt, a columnist for the Globe and Mail, sums it up:

For the 'Riders, for their fans in the province, and for the great green diaspora (Saskatchewanians in exile run head-to-head with displaced Newfoundlanders in this country, and both places belong in any discussion of distinct societies), the relationship remains intact, remains as real as any in sport, anywhere.

To be in the company of 'Rider fans is to be reminded why you ever gave a damn about a team, about a player, about a uniform, in the first place. Not sports marketing or game presentation or brand loyalty, but our guys versus their guys, joy and agony experienced in the company of those who share a place, a background, and a passion.

Links

Canadians still care about their game vs the American game.

Stephen Brunt's column.

Mixing drama, sports, and sexy talk

Prelude- Sports and the City delivers to casual sports fans sports, tension, heightened drama, and sexy talk. Well, maybe that is a stretch, but yesterday CBC unveiled that they will be trying this format for a TV drama. In light of the fact that our two goals are similar, I bring to your attention, something else that mixes Sports, small talk and scandal.

Sport - Hockey

Event - CBC television unveiled that they will be launching a TV show that is called "MVP"

Issue

From the press release, "MVP" is another show that's undeniably Canadian but deliciously steamy - it's a look at a fictional NHL team of hunky players and the women who love them, including wives, girlfriends, lovers and puck bunnies. It debuts Jan. 11.

Let's be frank: it's Canadian made. Don't expect desperate Housewife quality. But like Corner Gas or Little Mosque on the Prairie, that doesn't have to be the case to have a successful show. However, showing sports in a real way has always been tough to do. So, let's not expect too much on that front.

But you won't be watching for the play on the ice, rather the foreplay off the ice.

Point to say - "Do you think a show on hockey will be interesting?" -

Follow up point - "I wonder which team they'll have win the Cup?

Backgrounder
Unless this shows story line has the sport fan's team standing a chance of winning the hallowed prize, quite frankly, the ardent sport fan will be cynical right away about a TV show on hockey. Depending on how they play up the mistress angle, most ardent fans won't be interested.

Reason? Not many movies or TV shows have pulled off the realism of a sport within their show. Mostly, it's a case of actors being actors (good for drama purposes) and athletes being athletes (good for swinging a club purpose). Kevin Costner wasn't so-so at being both. The best bet yet is Les Boys, a French drama about a hockey team..... wait a minute,.. hockey, drama, sex... is CBC English copying a successful French drama? Go figure.

Links
A bit on the French TV show Les Boys.

500 Channels and nothing on

Prelude- It`s Monday morning. You need to visit the "sports fan", and you need something to say to open up that conversation. Typically, that small talk topic will come right from the sports highlight of the past weekend. But, what happens when there isn't a highlight? Let's take this weekend for example. CFL playoffs happened, but unless you bump into someone from Saskatchewan, well, there really isn't anything to make small talk about. How about the Leafs beating the Sens? Yeah but the game wasn't special, and it really is you win some you lose some. One regular season game does not a season make. What about the Patriots absolutely manhandling one of two possible teams that might stand a chance at beating them. Perhaps. But honestly, nothing of significance happened this weekend. So, what we need is a `break glass in case of emergency` quote. A simple to use opening line to use on your sports fan.

Sport - Emergency Sport Topic

Event - You need to talk sports but nothing happened on the weekend to talk about.

Issue
A sports fan will always be ready to talk about 'their' team. But does that really make for good conversation? For example, my team, the Leafs, beats the Sens, but talking about that this Monday will simply unearth tired sport cliches. A good sport conversation focuses on an event that crosses the boundary of that sport and let's sports fans talk about the ramifications. Everyone in sport has an opinion because everyone is a coach. For example, the last blog discussed an athlete taking liberties with the rules of the game thereby allowing us to discuss the ramification (hall of fame worthy?) or social perspective (what kind of message is that sending my kid?).

So what we need today are some questions that allow the door to open on topics that only need visiting when there truly is nothing fitting the above criteria. That is the case this weekend, so today, try these on...

Point(s) to say - Follow up point(s)
"What game did you watch this weekend? - "Are you fan of one of those teams?"

"Have you gone to any ______ games so far this year?" e.g. hockey, football - "How often do you get to games in a year?"

Best one (but be ready to really try hard at caring) "How's your son' hockey team doing?" - "What position does he play?"

"Are you in hockey pool?" - "How's that going?"

Backgrounder
Unfortunately, our "emergency only" quotes take you down the path of the sport fan talking about himself. However, that is in fact, the saving grace of small talk. When given the chance, who doesn't like to talk about themselves? For a guy, nothing is safer then talking about himself and sports at the same time. The trick for the casual sports fan is to minimize the length of the small talk conversation out of your own self preservation. Otherwise you are in for a long ride about how the ref sucks and if that penalty wasn't called his kid would have scored.

So, best bet is the hockey pool talk. The conversation will typically be a short one because once 1) placement is established, 2) excuse for poor showing explained, and 3) strategy to get back in it is covered, and then, voila, conversation is complete and you are ready to talk about the subject necessitating why you really showed up in the first place.

Remember casual sports fans, your role is to open the door to a sport conversation that gets your recipient to let loose with the sport talk. Once done, you can move on, confident that they think you've had a worthwhile sport related conversation. All the best, and I'll catch you again, once I see something of interest pop up on the highlights.

Links
Story on the The female brain: How it really works.

Baseball`s King to be dethroned?

Prelude- Chances are you've heard of Wayne Gretzky, Tiger Woods, and Michael Jordan. All kings of their respective sports. If you are a casual sports fan, you've probably heard of Tom Brady, Sidney Crosby the current kings of their sport. But are you familiar with the current baseball king Barry Bonds? Perhaps you've heard of him for some good reasons and for some not so good reasons. Well, you are about to hear his name a whole lot more for some awful reasons. Let`s explore the situation.

Sport - Baseball

Event - Barry Bonds was indicted for perjury and obstruction of justice yesterday.

Issue
Since 2003, there has been an investigation into the illegal use of steroids by elite athletes. Barry Bond`s name has been involved in this investigation. Nothing has yet been proven regarding his guilt or innocence on that subject. Of note, he previously testified under oath, of having no connection to an illegal steroid lab supplying elite athletes performance enhancing drugs

However, the indictment is the result of a related investigation into steroid use by elite athletes. Bond's connection to this issue now appears one step closer to being proven in court. "During the criminal investigation, evidence was obtained including positive tests for the presence of anabolic steroids and other performance enhancing substances for Bonds and other athletes," the indictment reads.

If he lied, and thus cheated, how can the Baseball Hall of Fame crown the new King by honouring him now?

Point to Say - "Do you think Barry Bonds will make it into the Hall of Fame?"

Follow up point - "Do you think a team will sign him now?"

Backgrounder
Currently, Barry Bonds is without a team (free agent). His contract ended this year with the San Francisco Giants. It was with this team that he reached the high of his sport (baseball) when he passed the most one of the most famous players of all time, Hank Aaron to become the all-time home-run leader in major league baseball.

The Home-run record is sacred in baseball. Held by Babe Ruth, then Henry Aaron, this record is considered one of the most prized records in baseball. To be the leader should mean that you are the King of the sport. This isn't the case with Bonds.

Why? The situation around Bonds has been going on since 2003 as he approached the record. Questions came out as a result of an investigation into the gym he was attending handing out steroids illegally. The controversies with Bonds really came to public attention in 2006 when the book "Game of Shadows" was published. The book alleges Bonds used stanozolol and a host of other steroids. This book, and subsequent articles in Sports Illustrated are perhaps most responsible for the change in public opinion regarding Bonds' steroid use.

Special Backgrounder
The ball hit to break the record was put up for auction and one by someone who said he will mark it with a large asterix before donating it to the Baseball-Hall-of-Fame.

Links
Story from Globe and Mail.
History of Barry Bonds from Wikipedia.org

Break out "Rider Pride": Saskatchewan Roughriders fast becoming the feel good story.

Prelude- In Canada, 90% of sport related small talk turns around hockey. The other 10%? That would be football. Mostly American football. However, for a few weeks a year, the Canadian sports fan turns his attention to the big Canadian excuse to party: the Grey Cup. It's now two weeks away. Let's set you up based on a feel good story that happened this weekend.

Sport - Football

Event - Saskatchewan Rough Riders defeat the Calgary Stampeders to move to the Western Finals.

Issue - The Saskatchewan Roughriders are the only professional sports team in Saskatchewan. They are owned by the local community. So it goes without saying, the pride of the province rides the wave of the team.

To be blunt, the Roughriders do not have an overly victorious history. They have only twice won the Championship final game (Grey Cup) and the last time they even hosted a playoff game was in 1988. So, to win this weekend once again starts off the discussion about maybe this being the year to break out the "Rider Pride" and start wondering if this could be the feel good story of the year.

Point to Say - "Do you think Saskatchewan stands a chance at winning the Grey Cup?"

Follow up point - "They did defeat the Lions in Vancouver earlier this year."

Backgrounder
The Saskatchewan Roughriders is a Canadian Football League team based in Regina. Founded in 1910, the Roughriders have won the league's Grey Cup championship twice, in 1966 and 1989.

Regina's is the 24th largest city in Canada. Meaning it doens't have a large fan base to draw from. If you consider that it doesn't win much either, only ever won twice in its 97 year history, then "Rider Pride" means a kind of loyalty that only Chicago Cub fans can understand.

By defeating the Calgary Stampeders 26-24, they now face the Bristish Columbia Lions in the Western Final. The winner will the play the Eastern winner (Toronto vs Winnipeg) in the final, known as the Grey Cup.

Analysis
Will they win the Grey Cup? No. First they have to defeat the British Columbia Lions, and BC is by far the favourite. Not only is BC last year's Grey Cup winner, this season they finished first in the West Division going 14 wins, 3 losses and 1 tie. Though the Roughriders started the season win a 7-2 win/loss record, their best since 1976, they finished the second half of the season 5-4. Put all this together with the fact that Roughriders didn't exactly dominate their playoff game against the Stampeders this Sunday, well, in short, it doesn't look good if you wish to cheer for the Riders.

BC has home field advantage for the upcoming game. Of note, Saskatchewan did win in BC back in game 6 of this season. But BC's best player (their quarterback Dave Dickenson) did not play in that game.

But what if? What if Saskachewan got hot? How can you not cheer for this team? They embody the very essence of Canadian football, and their fans are just so darned nice.

Links
Story on Roughriders win over the Stamps.

Read about some of the pride Roughrider fans were showing going into the game.

Eric Lindros Announces Retirement

Prelude- A quiet little event is taking place today (Thursday Nov 8, 07). But from the small talk around the water cooler point of view, it is worth a visit. Let's do just that.

Sport - Hockey

Event - Eric Lindros announces his retirement from professional hockey.

Issue - Hockey fans have known of Eric Lindros since before his junior days. He has been one of the few to wear the heavy "the next Gretzky" tag, currently being worn by Sidney Crosby.

The issue centres around whether he lived up to this billing or not. He was just dominant during his peak years. But was he elite for long enough to warrant consideration for the the prestigious honour of entering the Hockey Hall of Fame?

Point to Say - "Do you think Eric Lindros will make it into the Hockey Hall of Fame?"

Follow up point - "Before his concussion injuries, he was truly one of the best in the game."

Backgrounder
Eric Lindros bio is a long one. In short though, he was a junior sensation leading the Oshawa Generals to the Championship of junior hockey (known as the Memorial Cup). At a very young age he played for team Canada during the Famous Canada Cup of 1991. Once joining the NHL, he won MVP in 1995 and was on 6 all-star teams.

A defining moment in the story of Lindros, was the draft of 1991. Taken first overall by the Quebec Nordiques (now known as the Colorado Avalanche) he refused to report demanding a trade. Unheard of a player to do this at the time. He was subsequently traded to the Philadelphia Flyers. From there he has played for four teams including the Toronto Maple Leafs for one year.

As a player he average more than a point a game for the first few years of his career (865 points in 760 games). This is very impressive accomplishment. Of note, in 1998, Lindros was ranked number 54 on The Hockey News' list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players of all time.

But any discussion of Lindros has to also include the number of games he has missed. In fact, he is synonymous with concussion related injuries. In fact, the injuries started to define the later half of his career. For example, over the past three years, he played in only 121 out of a possible 246 games.

Analysis
Will he make into the Hall of Fame? Usually it is based on your statistical performance. For Lindros, he has very good stats but the issue is, are the cumulatively big enough.

He scored a total of 372 goals and 493 assists in his 14 years in the league. However these totals don't put him near the top of any cumulative statistical category.

The answer is, some will say yes because he was such a dominant player. Some will say no, because he didn't sustain his dominance like most who get voted into the Hall of Fame.

Links
Excellent analysis of this situation can be found in Stephen Brunt's column.

Click here to see a chronology of Eric Lindros's hockey career.

Patriots Remain THE story of the football year.

Prelude- Without a doubt, the talk around the water cooler on Monday will be of the New England Patriots win over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. Having said that, once you've discussed that topic, you may wish to visit Saturday's blog topic of the recent signing of Jason Spezza by the Ottawa Senators. In hockey circles, that is big news. Click here for what to say.

Sport - Football

Event - New England Patriots win to remain unbeaten (9 wins and 0 losses)

Issue - On Sunday, the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts played in the most talked about NFL games in years. The reason? Heading into the match both teams were undefeated. This was the first time so late into a season two undefeated teams had played each other.

The last team in the NFL to go a full season without a loss were the Miami Dolphins of 1972. Ever since, all great NFL teams have been measured against that standard. A few teams have come close but stumbled toward the end of the season.

New England prevailed 24-20 after staging an incredible comeback victory. In doing so, they beat what is arguably the toughest opponent they will see this year. Now, NFL watchers are going to be discussing whether New England can go a perfect 16-0.

Point to Say - "New England staged an incredible comeback against the Colts! Do you think they'll go undefeated this year?"

Follow up point - "New England plays the Bills next week who've won three straight. But do you think it will be Pittsburgh that ends their winning streak?"

Backgrounder

Who are the 'Bills'? That's the Buffalo Bills who play in the same division as New England. They just won their third straight game and are playing the Patriots in Buffalo in two weeks. But the odds will be very long for the Bills to win that game.

Each team in the NFL plays 16 games in their regular season. Back when the Dolphins went undefeated they played 13 games.

The Patriots are playing week opponents. The have now defeated the next two best teams in the league. Four weeks ago, they completely dominated the Dallas Cowboys, arguably the third best team in the league right now after the Colts.

The Patriots are playing like one of the all time great teams. Evidence of their all time elite status can be seen in the amount of points they score each game. The Patriots are averaging scoring numbers each game like no other team has the history of the NFL.

Analysis

Can they win all their remaining games? The Patriots will have two more tough matches in their remaining seven games. Although the Patriots next game is against a team (the Buffalo Bills) who are currently playing their best football in years, it will be in 5 weeks that will be the next tough challenge. At that point, the Patriots will play the Pittsburgh Steelers a team that has given up the least amount of points out of all the teams in the league. If the Patriots pass that hurdle, it looks like it will come down the 16th and final game against the New York Giants, an away game in New York no less.

Links

Confused by football? Need a 101 description? Click here.

Want to see who New England is playing against in the coming weeks? Click here.

Read the full game recap from the Globe and Mail here?

Ottawa Senators Signs Top Player

Prelude- If you're in Ottawa the signing of Jason Spezza is big news. Let's give you some some lines to use Monday morning.

Sport - Hockey

Event - Ottawa Senators sign Jason Spezza to a seven year contract extension worth $49 million.

Issue - It can now be said, that by keeping Spezza, Ottawa will be considered Stanley Cup contenders for a few more years yet. This is impressive as they have kept their key players in check for another four years while staying under the NHL's salary cap.

However, the core of any good team is a top line defenceman. For Ottawa, Wade Redden is that guy. But whether Ottawa will be able to keep Redden becomes the paramount question.

Point to Say - "What do you think of Ottawa Signing Spezza?"

Follow up point - "Do you think Ottawa will be able to keep Wade Redden?"

Backgrounder
Heatly, Spezza and Alfredsson currently form Ottawa' top line. They are the top three scorers on their team and form one of the leagues top offensive lines overall.

Key members the Ottawa Senators have recently issued long term contracts to including forwards Danny Heatly and Mike Fisher signed long term deals. If you add these deals to the signings of captain Daniel Afredsson, defenceman Chris Phillips and goalie Ray Emery, the Sens now have secured key members of last years Stanley Cup finalist team.

Ottawa's 2008-2009 currently committed salary is $42.5 million. The current NHL salary Cap is $50 million. With the recent round of signings, there is only so much left to spend. But, Wade Redden is scheduled to become a free agent after this season. Meaning, it is speculated in the media that he would have to take a pay cut to stay with his current team.

Links
Bio of Spezza.
Bio of Redden.
Link to full article on signing from the Globe and Mail.

Now that Halloween is over...

Prelude- I was in Canadian Tire yesterday and noticed they are just about to put up their Christmas decorations. Nov 1st and 'tis the season! As your hockey fan starts to put together his/her Christmas list, you may want a heads up on one item in particular.

Sport - Hockey

Event - Christmas Present for the Hockey Fan

Issue - This year, all NHL teams have new jersey designs. If you have a hockey fan that must have his team's jersey, and the real one only, well, the one he had last year won't do anymore.

The new NHL jerseys issued at the beginning of the season are not receiving favourable comments from the players and may in fact be changed. So if the real deal needs to be the real deal, then heads up, the one you are about to buy may not match what his favourite player is actually wearing!

Point to Say - "What do you think of (insert favourite team's here) new jersey?"

Follow up point - "I hear that players are complaining about the jerseys and that the jerseys might be changing again."

Backgrounder
It is true that nothing says Christmas Present like a new NHL jersey. Pure Canadiana. The industry knows this and that's why they cycle out new jerseys all the time.

Starting in the mid 1990's, it started to get a bit silly, with NHL teams having 3 jerseys each (home, away, alternate).

Reebok owns the rights to design and manufacture all NHL jerseys. In order to increase sales all jerseys were redesigned. A casual fan likely won't notice too much of a difference. Ottawa is still red and white, the Toronto blue and white, and Montreal red white and blue. But there is a difference.

Sometimes there is quite a noticeable difference (check out Dallas last year; Dallas this year). But the subtle differences introduced by Reebok this year include a new fiber that is supposed to be better at wicking away moisture, and a lighter fabric that isn't as heavy as past types. All in the name or progress. But wait.

Recent complaints from the players postulate that the wicking isn't working: sweat isn't coming off the body and is staying trapped under the equipment. Reebok is indicating that the material might change.

In short, if you're in the game of keeping up with the regulation jerseys, you'll never win. Jerseys will always be changing in order to generate revenue for the team and the league. But be a savvy shopper and ensure that the jersey you buy this year has at least one year of life in it before the league changes it again.

Merry Christmas!

Links
Article update on the jersey situation from the Globe and Mail.

Have a fan that is obsessed about jersey's. Let him know about this fantastic site all about jerseys. How about retro jerseys?

See the history of all NHL Jerseys over the decades here.