I know the official contract doesn't even begin for another 12 months, but its becoming increasingly hard to ignore just how poor the official player worn Draft and Championship merchandise has become over the last couple years. Lets just look at the official locker room hats of Stanley Cup Champions, which have slowly devolved to a collection of patches on hats, growing pathetically more generic by the year:
2018:
2019:
2020:
2021:
2022:
2023:
For the brand that is going to be handling everything about on-ice apparel and fan merchandise going forward, this is an incredibly worrying trend to be seeing playing out, especially as they're still charging a premium for these items.
For comparison sake with the other leagues:
I know the official contract doesn't even begin for another 12 months, but its becoming increasingly hard to ignore just how poor the official player worn Draft and Championship merchandise has become over the last couple years. Lets just look at the official locker room hats of Stanley Cup Champions, which have slowly devolved to a collection of patches on hats, growing pathetically more generic by the year:
2018:
2019:
2020:
2021:
2022:
2023:
For the brand that is going to be handling everything about on-ice apparel and fan merchandise going forward, this is an incredibly worrying trend to be seeing playing out, especially as they're still charging a premium for these items.
For comparison sake with the other leagues:
That Toronto hat is just dreaming about having "CHAMPS" on it.I mean its not just Vegas. This was their entire aesthetic this year. Look at the division champs and conference champions gear this year:
Even the 2023 Draft caps are equal levels of dogshit for this summer
these designs are all so badI said the exact same thing last year. The hat designs have been AWFUL the last 3 years.
Even going back before 2018, the designs were pretty good IMO
The designs used to be somewhat original and creative.
Look above.
I remember my 1995 Wings draft hat and this is just beyond embarassing.I mean its not just Vegas. This was their entire aesthetic this year. Look at the division champs and conference champions gear this year:
Even the 2023 Draft caps are equal levels of dogshit for this summer
All of those aside from the second Pittsburgh one are pretty awful. I think the problem with concepts like those is there's just way too much occupying the hat. Like, I'm not enough to have cheered on two cup winners but I absolutely had no qualms skipping this f***ing monstrosity.I said the exact same thing last year. The hat designs have been AWFUL the last 3 years.
Even going back before 2018, the designs were pretty good IMO
The designs used to be somewhat original and creative.
Look above.
I know the official contract doesn't even begin for another 12 months, but its becoming increasingly hard to ignore just how poor the official player worn Draft and Championship merchandise has become over the last couple years. Lets just look at the official locker room hats of Stanley Cup Champions, which have slowly devolved to a collection of patches on hats, growing pathetically more generic by the year:
2018:
2019:
2020:
2021:
2022:
2023:
For the brand that is going to be handling everything about on-ice apparel and fan merchandise going forward, this is an incredibly worrying trend to be seeing playing out, especially as they're still charging a premium for these items.
For comparison sake with the other leagues:
The way I see it, it's the locker room hat given to the players on the ice. It should be over the top and obnoxious because they just reached the mountaintop and that's the time to be in your face about it. If you want other apparel that is a little more restrained, provide it, but the official merch should be loud and proud to coincide with the moment.I don't hate Vegas' official championship hat. It could absolutely be better, but I'd wear it, hence I ordered one.
I think a design with more contemporary concept work done with the cup with the vgk logo superimposed over it would have been a better look (I can only visualize what that would actually look like, I can't describe it with words) but this is fine. A safe look, maybe a bit boring, but it could've been a lot worse. For example
All of those aside from the second Pittsburgh one are pretty awful. I think the problem with concepts like those is there's just way too much occupying the hat. Like, I'm not enough to have cheered on two cup winners but I absolutely had no qualms skipping this f***ing monstrosity.
Like the Fanatics ones are a little too minimalist without showing the cup on the front, but I'll take a more understated look than these busy eyesores.
www.nhl.com
I don't hate Vegas' official championship hat. It could absolutely be better, but I'd wear it, hence I ordered one.
I think a design with more contemporary concept work done with the cup with the vgk logo superimposed over it would have been a better look (I can only visualize what that would actually look like, I can't describe it with words) but this is fine. A safe look, maybe a bit boring, but it could've been a lot worse. For example
All of those aside from the second Pittsburgh one are pretty awful. I think the problem with concepts like those is there's just way too much occupying the hat. Like, I'm not enough to have cheered on two cup winners but I absolutely had no qualms skipping this f***ing monstrosity.
Like the Fanatics ones are a little too minimalist without showing the cup on the front, but I'll take a more understated look than these busy eyesores.
