Golden Opportunity Gone to Waste

Today, the NHL All-Star rosters, as well as the jerseys, were revealed. While there are bound to be questions about the choices of the rosters, that happens every year, and some are warranted. As for what the players will be wearing, well, you're seeing it in the picture above.  According to the press release:

Each All-Star jersey features the official NHL Shield infused with the Predators' gold in the crest. For the on-ice version of the All-Star jersey, the crest has been constructed with reflective material which glimmers in certain light as a salute to Nashville's vibrant night-life scene. The black and white color scheme in each jersey shares the colors of the keys on a piano to celebrate the city of Nashville's "Music City" nickname.

The All-Star jerseys will feature numbers and letters designed as modern interpretations of traditional country music poster lettering, which has been a defining aesthetic of Nashville. The numbers for the on-ice versions of the All-Star jerseys also will have the same reflective material as the crest. The tri-star mark, which appears in the neck gusset as well as on the pant, is a tribute to the Tennessee state flag and the Predators and a symbol of the elite athletes participating in the 2016 Honda NHL® All-Star festivities. Each All-Star jersey will feature two full-color shoulder patches – the player's home team logo and the NHL All-Star logo.

 Now, for my analysis. The most obvious thing to notice is the fact that the game will feature black and white jerseys, and I feel the analogy to piano keys is far-fetched. Here, the league had an opportunity to go with gold and navy blue jerseys to give it the distinction that it is Nashville's year for the All-Star game. Instead, it is a missed opportunity. The crest on the front, while it could be better, is as good as it's going to get, given that two different teams will be wearing the respective home and away jerseys for the game.  Name and numbering has not been officially been revealed for public view as of this time, so judgement will be held off until then.  However, the neck gusset is where it actually hits on the mark, as it is same tri-star mark found on Predators gear, as well as the Tennessee state flag.  Overall, the All-Star jerseys for Nashville will be remembered as opportunities missed to create an identity for the game and year.

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