Maple Leafs Hometown Remix jerseys leak online and they're uglier than expected
Photo credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs' Hometown Remix jersey leaked online hours before the team planned to reveal it, and the first look feels more like a shrug than a showstopper.
editorinleaf
The design surfaced Tuesday through the jersey account @The_JerseyNerds, which shared artwork for roughly 20 teams before any official announcement.
What the Leaked Leafs Jersey Looks Like
Toronto went with an off-white base built around the shape of the original Maple Leafs logo, with the city name across the top.
It is a salute to a century of hockey history, and the same leaf already sits at centre ice at Scotiabank Arena.
That is the problem. A cream sweater featuring a logo fans can already see on the ice does not feel like a remix. It feels like a reheat.
Other clubs swung bigger. The Capitals are returning to their pre-Reebok roots, the Kings are bringing back purple and the Penguins are going double blue.
Next to those, Toronto's look comes across as safe, and the cryptic teaser the team posted last week set expectations the design does not quite meet.
Reaction is mixed. Some fans called the leaked look fantastic, while others were lukewarm on the 1927 leaf the first time it was shown.
A cream base can also read washed out under arena lights, which could blunt the impact even further.
When the Leafs Will Wear It
Toronto has nine Remix Nights at home, starting Nov. 7 against the Montreal Canadiens, who will wear their own Hometown Remix jersey that night.
The rest of the slate includes Edmonton on Nov. 14, Los Angeles on Nov. 19, Philadelphia on Nov. 30, Anaheim on Dec. 13, Tampa Bay on Dec. 19, St. Louis on Jan. 18, Columbus on Feb. 8 and Carolina on Feb. 16.
The NHL is set to unveil the full Hometown Remix collection officially Monday at 10 a.m. ET, and until then, the leaked Leafs design remains unconfirmed.
If the finished version improves on the leak, Toronto could have a hit on its hands. If not, the buzz may fade quickly once the puck drops against Montreal.
Also read on House Of Hockey :
Dylan Larkin trade hits major snag as two teams off his list reportedly have the best offers
Dylan Larkin trade hits major snag as two teams off his list reportedly have the best offers