Will the Sabres' New Logo/Uniforms Be Included This Time Around?

[CarryTheWeight]

Let's jump back to 2006. The Buffalo Sabres announced they would be changing their uniforms and logo to a new blue and gold color scheme (the horrid "Buffaslug"). NHL 07, due out that year, did not arrive with this new change in tow, due to the Sabres' publicly unveiling their new uni's and logo late in development, leaving gamers playing with the outdated black and red uniforms and logo in the team's most successful season on record. (For trivia's sake, the only title to offer the "slug" logo and uniforms that year was NHL 2K7 for PS3, as it released in November as a PS3 launch title).

With that being said, I'm just putting this thought out there: with all the "unlockability" EA has done in the past with team logos and uniforms (due to RBK Edge or the recent influx of third jerseys), even if the Sabres organization chooses to do the same "late unveiling" of their new logo and jersey combination as they did in the past, would NHL 11 actually include their changes this time around, or will Sabres and NHL fans be left hanging by using last year's design as they did in 07?

To those unfamiliar with the pending changes, here's a bit of a catch-up: the Sabres will be switching back full-time to a modernized version of their 1970-1996 circular logo (as seen on their current third jersey) in celebration of the team's fourtieth anniversary season. Their current thirds will become their new home jerseys (as seen in this year's playoffs), a new away jersey based on the third will be designed, and a new third inspired by the long-defunct Buffalo Bisons hockey club will also be introduced. More information on icethetics.info points to this change:

Quote:

New home, road and alternate jerseys. The Sabres will be undergoing big changes to celebrate their 40th anniversary season. Their current third jersey — a throwback with some modern updates — will take over as the home jersey, as has long been rumored. Reebok lists the Sabres' road sweater as TBD, but it will most likely be a white version of the current alternates. I also understand they'll be adding an entirely new third jersey, but I'm told it may be only for the 40th anniversary season. http://www.icethetics.info/blog/2010...atch-2010.html

I know we may not get an official word from EA this early in development, but let's speculate: knowing the results of NHL 07 and the Sabres' first brand change in the last little while, do you think these new logo and uniform designs will make it into the game regardless of if the Sabres organization plans the unveiling date a little too late?

[pf8363]

not to mention, the colors on the alternate sabres jersey (soon to be the home) are wrong in the game.. please fix this ea!

[CarryTheWeight]

Quote: Originally Posted by pf8363

not to mention, the colors on the alternate sabres jersey (soon to be the home) are wrong in the game.. please fix this ea!

True. Not only that, but the logo itself is incorrect, both on the uniform and on the ice itself...EA uses the classic Sabres logo, not the "modernized classic" logo the team has used for the last two years:

NHL 10:

(From Pebble19's Sabre dynasty, "City of Hockey"...if you look closely, that isn't the modernized circular Sabre logo, but the classic one. The logo on center ice is the same as the one on the jersey, as said before.)

Real Life:

Not only is the logo different (the silver outline and different shade of gold/yellow), but the colors, as pf8363 mentioned, are also different. Not to mention the numbers are a LOT thinner.

Combine this with the incorrect Sabres third in NHL 09 and the one-year-late change to the slug logo/jerseys, and EA hasn't had much of a good track record with the team. Although this could simply be blamed on the team itself and their tendency to unveil their new logos and merchandise immediately before the NHL preseason.

[BooShay]

More importantly will the new leafs jerseys be in 11

[CarryTheWeight]

BooShay, the Leafs have already designated a new uniform unveil date, June 15th (according to this article: http://www.crashthecrease.com/2010/0...rseys-june-15/). It's all but guaranteed they'll be in the game.

I'm just worried that the Sabres will be late unveilers as always and, for that reason, not have any updates officially announced in time for the launch of the game.

[Qb]

Remember, EA had a way around late unveilings for the third jerseys the last two years... the infamous "jersey code". Perhaps they could do the same in this case. I don't know from my time with NHL11 if the jerseys were updated, as I didn't play with or against Buffalo, nor did I think to ask. Sorry.

[BlueNGold]

Quote: Originally Posted by CarryTheWeight

BooShay, the Leafs have already designated a new uniform unveil date, June 15th (according to this article: http://www.crashthecrease.com/2010/0...rseys-june-15/). It's all but guaranteed they'll be in the game.

Not to go off topic but damn, I didn't know the Leafs were getting re-designed jerseys. That's awesome! Finally the stripes on the bottom are coming back.

Every year since the new RBK jerseys have been used, I've always used the Leafs 3rd jerseys on the road because I couldn't stand using the stripe-less unis.

BTW is there any mock-up pics of the new Leafs and Sabres jerseys?

[B_rad13]

Well considering they are getting rid of the slugs they have to get the jersey right in 11.