2011 NHL Playoffs: Players Whose Postseason Performances Could Sell Jerseys
Like every other business, the NHL loves making money. One of the ways they depend on revenue, aside from ticket sales, is through sales of team jerseys.
Although the price can be thought of as steep, some fans still can't resist the temptation to splurge on a hockey jersey. They are among the most creatively designed jerseys in all of professional sports with different striping patterns, a wide variety of fonts and an endless array of colors and logos. Some teams change their jersey designs on an almost yearly basis to keep fans coming back from more.
During or after the playoffs is just as good a time as any to add a jersey to your collection. Whether you have been zoned in on a player to customize your jersey with for awhile or became a fan of someone in the playoffs, your jersey will no doubt look good in your closet.
Here are some players who, based on their playoff performances, may sway you to go out and put down your cash or credit card. As a bonus, I will make suggestions on what jersey you should purchase.
Alexandre Burrows, Vancouver Canucks
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After two 50-point seasons in 2008-09 and 2009-10, Burrows just missed the mark this year, finishing with 48 points.
However, he still had a good campaign that included posting a plus-26 rating.
In the playoffs, he scored two goals in Game 7 against the Chicago Blackhawks in the Western Conference Quarterfinals. His second goal of the game was the game-winning overtime goal that sent the Canucks into the second round and dashed the Blackhawks' hopes to pull off an extremely rare series comeback.
He scored Vancouver's lone goal in Saturday's Game 2 loss to the Nashville Predators. So far in the playoffs, he is second on the team in both goals scored (four) and points (seven).
Uniform: No. 14
Which Jersey: The Canucks' blue and green jersey with the orca, shown in this picture, blends one of the league's unique color combinations. However, if you prefer to go retro, the Canucks' 40th anniversary jerseys do not have the players' names on the back. The blue and green stick in the rink jersey is also a popular choice.
Mike Cammalleri, Montreal Canadiens
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Cammalleri put on one of the league's best playoff performances last year, putting up 19 points in 19 games.
Although Montreal was eliminated in the first round by the Boston Bruins this year, Cammalleri was still coming up big. He had three goals and 10 points to lead the Habs in postseason scoring. It wasn't even close, either, as Brian Gionta and Tomas Plekanec were second with five points.
During the regular season, he finished just shy of the 50-point mark with 47 points.
Uniform: No. 13
Which Jersey: Montreal is an Original Six franchise, and their jersey design has remained consistent in their deep history. You can't go wrong regardless of whether you choose the white road jersey pictured here or the red jersey with the blue stripe.
Corey Crawford, Chicago Blackhawks
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Going into this season, Crawford was not even supposed to be the Hawks' starting netminder. That role was supposed to go to veteran Marty Turco, who was coming to Chicago after spending a large part of his career with the Dallas Stars.
However, Turco underperformed, and Crawford stepped up big time. He went 33-18-6 with a .917 save percentage, and his 2.30 GAA was ranked eighth.
Despite the Hawks' first round exit this year, Crawford was still solid. He went 3-4, finishing with a fifth ranked .927 save percentage and a fourth-ranked 2.21 GAA. He also shut out the Canucks in Game 5, making 36 saves.
Uniform: No. 50
Which Jersey: Like the Canadiens, Chicago is an Original Six franchise who have almost never altered their jersey designs. Although I prefer their road white jersey, you can't go wrong with the red. Furthermore, the 2009 Winter Classic back jersey with the retro circle logo is still very popular.
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Logan Couture, San Jose Sharks
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A 2011 Calder Trophy finalist, Couture had 56 points and a plus-18 rating in his first full NHL season. He was also seventh in the NHL with eight game winning goals.
In the playoffs, he had multiple point nights in Games 3 and 4 against the Los Angeles Kings. He is currently second on the Sharks with seven points in the playoffs and is one of four players with five assists.
Uniform: No. 39
Which Jersey: Your first choice should be the home teal, as no other team in the NHL has a color like it. The jersey also boasts orange accents.
If the teal is a little adventurous for you, the Sharks' alternate jersey is a popular choice. It is all black except for teal trim on the sleeves.
Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings
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Datsyuk is a three-time Selke Trophy winner who is up for the award again this year.
Although he missed 26 games with an injury, his numbers were still impressive. He had 59 points and a plus-11 in 56 games.
He has returned to form in the postseason and has eight points in six games. His six assists are ranked sixth in the NHL, and his plus-six rating is fifth.
Uniform: No. 13
Which Jersey: The Wings have a classic look that has stood the test of time. There is no bad choice between the red home or the white road jersey.
Better yet, if you never got your 2009 Winter Classic jersey customized, it's better late than never. That is one of the only times the Wings have used a jersey other than their traditional looks.
Benn Ferriero, San Jose Sharks
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Ferriero played part of the season with San Jose for the second year in a row, but he is in his first postseason run.
In 2009-10, he played 24 games, posting five points and a plus-four rating. This year, he improved by playing in 33 games and putting up nine points with a plus-eight.
He scored the game-winning goal in Game 1 against the Red Wings. In addition to his goal, he is a plus-one in two games.
Although Ferriero's numbers aren't flashy yet, he is a rising star in the Sharks organization, and you want to jump on his bandwagon now.
Uniform: No. 78
Mike Fisher, Nashville Predators
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Since coming to Nashville from a trade with the Ottawa Senators, Fisher has been one of the Preds' standouts.
After posting 24 points in 55 games with Ottawa, Fisher had 12 points and a plus-two in 27 games in Nashville. But he has really stepped up in the playoffs, as he is tied for the team scoring lead with six points.
Fisher tallied the game-winning goal in Game 3 against the Anaheim Ducks in the Western Conference Quarterfinals,
Uniform: No. 12
Which Jersey: The Predators third jersey has a clean look. The white horizontal striping is classic, and the blue checkerboard pattern is modeled after the Tennessee Volunteers' football field. College football fans who also dig the Preds will love that.
The primarily navy home is not a bad choice either, but it does look kind of messy with the silver arms and the gold piping.
Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh Penguins
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After a slow start, Fleury put up some of the best numbers of his career this year. He had a record of 36-20-5, and his 36 wins were sixth in the NHL. He also posted a .918 save percentage and a 2.32 GAA (ninth in the NHL).
Fleury's playoff numbers may not look that great on paper (3-4, one shutout, .899 save percentage, 2.52 GAA), but he still put up a solid performance. He made many big saves to keep the scores from looking lopsided, especially in Game 7 against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Had it not been for his early season struggles, he could be in discussion for the Vezina Trophy.
Uniform: No. 29
Which Jersey: Pittsburgh's black home jerseys are the more popular seller. Prior to the RBK uniform switch, the Penguins had a black jersey with gold side trim that was beloved by many fans. The current home jersey is the closest thing to that.
You may also want to get the powder blue alternates before they officially leave the shelves for next season.
The dark blue Winter Classic jersey is best avoided in my opinion. It is not a true throwback jersey. But if you were to get it, I'd leave it blank rather than sticking Fleury's (or any other player's) name on it.
Michael Frolik, Chicago Blackhawks
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Frolik came to the Blackhawks after being acquired in a trade with the Florida Panthers. He had nine points in 28 games to finish his season with 38 points. It was the third consecutive season that he had at least 30 points.
In the playoffs, Frolik scored on the first successful penalty shot in Chicago's playoff history. The goal occurred in Game 6, which the Hawks won 4-3 in overtime to force a Game 7 against Vancouver.
He ended the postseason with five points and a plus-three in seven games.
Uniform: No. 67
Claude Giroux, Philadelphia Flyers
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Giroux, who played his first full NHL season this year, led the Flyers with 76 points. His 51 assists were eighth in the NHL.
In the playoffs so far, he is again Philadelphia's leading scorer. He has 12 points, and his points total and 11 assists are first in the league.
Giroux is also a good defensive forward, as evidenced by his plus-20 in the regular season and fifth-ranked plus-six in the playoffs.
Uniform: No. 28
Which Jersey: The Flyers went back to a classic look recently, looking to remember their times as back-to-back Cup champions in the 1970s. An orange home jersey will help you blend right in with the home crowd at playoff games, but the white road with orange accents, used at the 2010 Winter Classic, is also well represented. Don't forget the Winter Classic patch.
Nathan Horton, Boston Bruins
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Horton is in his first season in Boston after being packaged in an offseason trade with the Panthers.
He put up at least 50 points for the fourth time in his career with a 53-point campaign. In addition, his plus-29 was ninth in the NHL.
Horton is relishing his first playoff experience, as he is seventh in the NHL with four goals, including two game winning goals. He is tied for fourth on the Bruins with six points, and his goal total is tied with three other teammates.
Uniform: No. 18
Which Jersey: Darker is the way to go. The spoked B is a great look, and it looks even better against horizontal striping.
However, the alternate jersey with a retro Bruins logo featuring the bear is a good choice, too. The jersey also has gold and white stripes on the sleeves.
Brooks Laich, Washington Capitals
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Laich is second on the Capitals in playoff scoring with six points. He is tied with Mike Green for first in helpers, with five assists to his credit.
He had one of his best regular seasons to date this year, posting 48 points and a plus-14 rating. He also had four power-play goals and three-game winning goals.
Although the Capitals are on the verge of elimination, Laich has two multi-point games. One of those was in Sunday's Game 2 against Tampa.
Uniform: No. 21
Which Jersey: The Capitals' main marketing theme for the playoffs is "Rock the Red." This home jersey combines modern and retro, using the Caps' stick logo from their early days. The blue piping makes the jersey even nicer and not distracting.
The 2011 Winter Classic jersey is a true throwback uniform. The red and blue stripes are bold, and the stick logo, toned down for the regular uniforms, makes a bolder statement on the WC uniforms.
As a Pens fan, I almost hate to admit this...but I actually really like the Caps' jerseys.
Ryan Miller, Buffalo Sabres
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Miller had 30 wins in net for the Sabres for the sixth straight win, going 34-22-8. His six shutouts were ranked sixth in the NHL, and he also had a .916 save percentage and 2.59 GAA.
Although the Sabres lost to the Flyers in the first round, Miller still stepped up to the plate. He had two shutouts against Philadelphia, which is tied for first in the league. He was also eighth with a .917 save percentage to accompany a 2.93 GAA.
He was the 2010 Vezina Trophy winner in a year that also saw him find great success at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
Uniform: No. 30
Which Jersey: Buffalo's navy home jersey, which was used an alternate jersey last year, is now the permanent home uniform. Their white jerseys have the same concept, but have navy and white stripes and navy shoulders. This is different from the home jersey, which is all blue and gold.
Both are a great choice, and I'm holding out for one myself.
Michal Neuvirth, Washington Capitals
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Neuvirth took over starting goaltender duties after various ailments sidelined Semyon Varlamov. Neuvirth responded well, going 27-12-4 with four shutouts. He also had a .914 save percentage and 2.45 GAA.
He has been a key part of the Capitals' playoff run despite their series deficit. He is 4-4, but his save percentage and GAA are improved over his regular season totals. He has a .920 save percentage (seventh in the NHL) and a 2.03 GAA (second).
If Neuvirth keeps this up, he is going to be the starter for years to come.
Uniform: No. 30
Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens
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Price was counted on to step up after last year's playoff hero, Jaroslav Halak, was traded to the St. Louis Blues in the offseason.
Price ended up having the best season of his career. He was first in the NHL with 38 wins and third with eight shutouts. His .923 save percentage was ranked seventh, and his 2.35 GAA was 10th.
He helped the Canadiens get to seven games against the Bruins, where he went 3-4. However, his .934 save percentage is second in the NHL, while his 2.11 GAA was third.
Uniform No.: 31
Chris Pronger, Philadelphia Flyers
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Pronger is one of the strongest leaders in the Flyers lineup, and when he is absent, the team feels it.
When he returned for Game 6 against Buffalo, Philadelphia was able to pull out a 5-4 overtime win after trailing 3-1 after the first period. Pronger returned after missing 21 games with a broken hand.
The physical defenseman had 25 points and a plus-seven in 50 regular season games and currently has one assist in three playoff games. He won the 2007 Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks and participated in the 2006 Finals with the Edmonton Oilers.
Uniform: No. 20
Pekka Rinne, Nashville Predators
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Rinne is in contention for the Vezina Trophy for the first time in his career after going 33-22-9 in the regular season. His .930 save percentage was second among goaltenders, and his 2.12 GAA was third. He also had six shutouts.
In the postseason, Rinne has been making several clutch saves in the current series against Vancouver, as all games have been decided by one goal. His playoff record stands at 5-4 with a .909 save percentage and 2.53 GAA.
Uniform: No. 35
Dwayne Roloson, Tampa Bay Lightning
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Before this year, the 41-year-old Roloson had not been in the playoffs since going to the Finals with Edmonton in 2006.
He started this season off slow with the New York Islanders, but turned things around after being traded to the Lightning on New Year's Day. He concluded the regular season with a record of 24-25-5 with a .914 save percentage and 2.59 GAA. He also had four shutouts.
He has turned things up for Tampa's first postseason run in four years. He is first in the NHL with seven wins and shut out the Penguins in Game 7 of their quarterfinal series. In addition, his .943 save percentage and 1.92 GAA are ranked first.
Uniform: No. 35
Which Jersey: The Lightning home jersey is black with blue and white accents. The number on the right chest is a bit of an annoyance, but it is a simple, sleek uniform that doesn't draw any unusual attention to itself.
Teemu Selanne, Anaheim Ducks
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Selanne's playing days are just about over, and even though the Ducks lost to the Predators in the first round, Selanne still had a strong postseason.
He led Anaheim with six goals and was second with seven points. He is also currently first in the league with four power-play goals.
During the regular season, he had 80 points in 73 games, and his 49 assists were 10th. He also had 16 power play goals, which was the third highest total in the NHL.
Selanne was also a member of the 2007 Ducks team that won the Stanley Cup.
Uniform: No. 8
Which Jersey: The Ducks' home jersey bears a wordmark and has a gold trim that goes in a curve up the jersey. Their alternate jersey, which was introduced this year, has the "D" from the Ducks logo on the primary jerseys and features more orange than the home and away jerseys.
Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning
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St. Louis is 35 years old, but the Lightning alternate captain is not even close to slowing down.
He was second in the NHL with 99 points, five points behind Art Ross Trophy winner Daniel Sedin of the Canucks. His 68 assists were also ranked second.
He is tied with captain Vincent Lecavalier for the Bolts' scoring lead in the playoffs; both players have 11 points (five goals, six assists). His goal total is fourth, and his points total is third. He is also third with three power-play goals.
St. Louis is one of three members on the roster that was part of the Lightning's 2004 Stanley Cup team (Lecavalier and Pavel Kubina are the other two).
Uniform: No. 26
Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks
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Toews was a hero in Game 7 of the quarterfinals this year. He scored a shorthanded goal with just 1:56 left in the third period to tie the series deciding game with the Canucks at one apiece.
Although he didn't have the chance to repeat his Conn Smythe winning campaign from 2010 (29 points in 22 games), he still had four points in seven games this year.
The youngest active captain in the NHL had 76 points and a plus-25 in the regular season to earn a nomination for the Selke Trophy. He will go up against Pavel Datsyuk of the Red Wings and Ryan Kesler of the Canucks for the award.
Uniform: No. 19
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