The Toronto Maple Leafs' plan was to unveil their new jersey - featuring their new logo - at the 2016 NHL Draft. It would have been a fitting way to usher in the new era: the first overall pick, presumably Auston Matthews, donning the first-ever new jersey that celebrates the Leafs' 100 years of history.
And while things will still likely go down that way, it may not be a reveal anymore. Not if these screen captures, courtesy of @neverstopbeleaf, are accurate.
The new @MapleLeafs jerseys have leaked via their app. Post was quickly deleted. pic.twitter.com/ppmaoqEE1g
— Never Stop Beleafing (@neverstopbeleaf) June 23, 2016
So, there we may have it: new jerseys.
They're pretty plain overall, maintaining a classic, simple look - but they feel just a little bit... off. That single white stripe on the bottom is likely the biggest offender; in the previous edition of jerseys, it was at least two thin stripes that matched the arms.
In fact, when the Leafs last had a single white stripe at the bottom of their jerseys, back from 1970-92, they didn't have any stripes on the arms at all. Rather, the shoulders were a different colour from the rest of the body, and it looked much cleaner and put together as a result.
When you dig through the Leafs' jersey history, you see various striping patterns - but none of them ever really clashed quite like this.
One thing everyone seems to agree on: the home ones look much better than the away.
How do you feel about the new Leafs jerseys?
Love it! Can't wait to buy it! | 328 |
They look nice. | 583 |
I don't really like it - something's off. | 556 |
HATE it. Hate it. Hate it so much. | 123 |
I'll buy one, but mostly just because I want a Matthews jersey. | 98 |