The NHL board of governors has unanimously approved a policy that will add a small advertisement to player sweaters for the 2022-23 season, another move to help the league recoup some of the revenue it has lost over the last 18 months. Sportico was first to break the story that has since been confirmed by multiple sources, and reports that the ad must fit in a rectangle of three by three and a half inches. This follows the move to have advertisements on helmets this season, a change that will continue moving forward.
While fans may not like the idea of ad space being rented out on their favorite sweater, the league is looking for any opportunity to create revenue streams. The move, albeit indirectly, is another step towards increasing the salary cap down the line, which would, in turn, lead to higher player salaries as well.
- The Pittsburgh Penguins have hired Alec Schall as director of hockey operations, hiring the long-time player agent that previously represented James van Riemsdyk, Alec Martinez, and others. Schall will be responsible for “aiding Pittsburgh’s hockey operations department with player contract negotiations, managing the salary cap, as well as assisting with other hockey-related duties.” He will report directly to GM Ron Hextall, who took over the team earlier this year.
- The Buffalo Sabres continue to bring back former players, this time hiring Tim Kennedy and Nathan Paetsch as development coaches. Both spent time with the Sabres during their playing days and will get a chance to work with Adam Mair and Dan Girardi in the Buffalo development team. Paetsch, who played 167 games at the NHL level, also served as a sort of player-coach with the Rochester Americans between 2017-20.
I would like to see how the Rangers are going to do this. They practically have no room on the front of their sweaters … ♂️
i like the ads idea. good way to make money and probably will be easy to get used to.
The European Billboard Sweater Tour, coming to a North American barn near you. “Don’t worry, it’s only one or two. Don’t worry, it’s only five or ten. Don’t worry, it’s only 20 or 30. New York penalty, number…Hey, pal, what the bleep is your number??? Sorry, ref, I don’t remember, I haven’t seen it for two years!”
This is how it starts!! Connor McDonald Combo #97 of the Edmonton Esso’s! He currently leads the league with 150000 air miles!
@backhandinbaptist – He’d be up to 500K, if not for *certain* officials! :)
@Mac – Just think of the 3rd jersey designs where you can replace the team logo with one from a corporate sponsor instead! It can be made from removable velcro so you can rock a different company logo each day of the week!
Crap, I just gave Bettman a new idea……
@Gbear – Yep, you did give him an idea! Into the box for two for that “lapse of judgement.” The new sweaters could look like a mess of LEGO blocks, put together by somebody on LSD…
@Mac…right!!! those darn men of the stripe brought to you by Burger King! Wow that was a Whopper of a hook! Looks like the Bacon King is discussing with the Roasted Garlic King’s whether that’s two minutes in the Jack-in-the-Box.
@backhandinbaptist – And what was he in the box for? Five for having lost a valuable “league partner” patch and exposing a bare spot! I believe Hirschy has that company’s slogan nailed – “Score more, worry less!”
Hate the look of ads on jerseys
Are you ready for The California HOPE Crisis Counseling Program presents the Los Angeles Kings sponsored by Staples!!!!!
15 pieces of flair is the minimum on a jersey. It’s up to you if you wanna wear more. Look at Detroit over there. They have 37 pieces of flair. Anyone can watch hockey anywhere…they watch the NHL for the atmosphere and the attitude.
If you want me to wear 37 pieces of flair, then why don’t you just make the minimum 37?
It’s penny ante stuff by a Mickey Mouse league.
Jersey ads…cucks to China like most of the big biz in USA
Capitalism ruins stuff.
This isn’t capitalism, it’s corporatism. Big difference.
“It’s a hockey night on TBS, where the New York Coca Cola’s visit the Philadelphia Pepsi Cola’s in a battle of soft drink sponsors!”.
I’ve said it before, but now is the opportune time for some people of wealth to start a rival league.
That jersey is how you advertise your OWN product, you short sighted humps.
“The Pittsburgh Penguins have hired Alec Schall as director of hockey operations”
Whose kid is he?
“The Buffalo Sabres continue to bring back former players, this time hiring Tim Kennedy and Nathan Paetsch as development coaches”
Should you hire guys who never panned out as development coaches?
I always thought the same thing… like if you couldn’t cut it on the rink why do we think you can help someone else cut it…this is Buffalo though…
I don’t feel that way about other jobs. Gretzky was a better player than Mike Sullivan obviously, but Sully is a much better coach. Great players might not fully understand why they were great or be able to explain it in a useful way to others.
But, seems like the development coach should know each level.
“Coach, how do I make it to the show?” “Beats me. Wish I knew.”
Bloody great. Six years from now it’ll be like the Euro jerseys, where you have trouble making out what the team colors are supposed to be.