Top Shelf – Islanders Daily 8/28/13

Yesterday Nike unveiled the jerseys the 2014 USA Olympic team will wear during the 2014 Sochi games, to a mixture of widespread indifference and scorn from the online community. Here’s a look at both the “home” and “away” styles:

After the announcement, the Internet reacted negatively for the most part, prompting people to think a) who at Nike was in charge of vetting this design before it went into production, and b) why does it matter so much to the fans what style of jersey their home country wears during the Olympics?

Two things: apparently Nike was going for shock value with the glittery stars on the shoulders and the faux lacing along the neckline. (At least, that’s what fans hope Nike was going for, otherwise the marketing department has some splainin’ to do.) And as for the fan reaction, the overwhelming negative response to the jersey reveal basically happened because it’s late August in what’s been a torturously slow NHL offseason.

So there you have it: Team USA will be wearing jerseys that resemble something from the Aeropostale spring 2008 collection—or a toned-down version of one of Jon Heder’s costumes from ‘Blades of Glory,’ depending on which color you’re referring to—but it won’t affect the quality of play on the ice.

End result: hockey fans were looking for something to complain about, and Nike gave it to them. Now that they’re done with the awkward, impromptu photo shoots, USA roster hopefuls can get back to focusing on making the squad and representing their country at the 2014 Olympics.

-Mike (@MichaelWillhoft)

In Case You Missed It

Metropolitan Division Preview: Columbus Blue Jackets (Eyes On Isles)

Team USA Wants 2014 Olympic Roster to be Full of Fast, Young Talented Players (Newsday)

NHL Metropolitan Division Cap Payrolls as of August 2013 (Lighthouse Hockey)

Moulson and Tavares Are New York’s Dynamic Duo (Pro Hockey Talk)

Projecting Every NHL Team’s Top 6 Forwards in 2017 (Bleacher Report)

Quick Hits: USA Olympic Jerseys Revealed (Winging It In Motown)

Ilya Kovalchuk says, “I Agree, of Course” With Russian Anti-Gay Law (Pucks and Pitchforks)

Two Minutes For Tweeting

The. Looks. On. Their. Faces. (That is all.)

Want the chance to meet Matt Moulson? Of course you do. Lucky for you, he’ll be at Macy’s in Bay Shore today starting at 5:30. Stop by if you’re in the area and let him know how excited you are for the upcoming season.

This one is a classic. Clean design, commemorative patches, home white…doesn’t get much better than that. Congrats on a solid purchase, Ben.

Someone get the owner of this Twitter account at Nike, pronto. Patriotic and Isles-themed? At least we know the fan response in the New York area would be positive for this design.

Here’s a man with his priorities in order. Sure, the NFL season is almost upon us, but that’s only a slight distraction from the monotony of the NHL offseason until the puck drops on the Islanders’ 2013-14 campaign Oct. 4.

As always, thanks for reading us at EyesOnIsles. Keep it right here for all of your NHL offseason coverage and up-to-the-minute Islanders news. Be sure to check the menu bar at the top of the page for ways to connect with the EyesOnIsles staff; we’re always happy to talk hockey.