A King's Ransom?

Earlier this afternoon, the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Los Angeles Kings agreed on a trade sending Jonathan Bernier to the Leafs in exchange for Matt Frattin, Ben Scrivens, and a second round pick in either 2014 or '15. Let's break it down.



In Jonathan Bernier, the Leafs get a goaltender with tremendous upside and a very strong hockey pedigree. He's won a QMJHL Championship with the Lewiston MAINEiacs, World Junior Gold Medal for Canada, and Stanley Cup (as a back-up) last year with the Kings. In the juniors, he won the playoff MVP during the MAINEiacs' championship run. In 2009-10, Bernier won the Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award for outstanding AHL goalie. Oh yeah, he was also the 11th overall pick in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.

While all of that sounds nice on paper, he's also put up some respectable numbers so far during his short time in the NHL. Bernier has only had a goals-against average of more than 2.40 once in his career: his first four games in his rookie season in the NHL, winning one of them.

The main question is how he will respond to potentially being the starting goalie for a full season. In two full seasons in the AHL, Bernier posted GAAs of 2.40 and 2.03 and 53 total wins. How will that translate to the NHL? It will take some time to tell, but he's had success at every level he's played.

For the Leafs, it will give a lot of flexibility in net. They must hope that James Reimer and Bernier will push each other for the starting spot. If Reimer responds well, then the team has two quality, young goalies. If he doesn't, he becomes a trade asset for the team. Either way, it's a win-win situation.

As for the Kings, Bernier wasn't going to get any playing time behind former Conn Smythe winner Jonathan Quick. With Bernier's impending restricted free agent status, it made sense to get a quality and inexpensive back-up goalie. According to CapGeek.com, the Kings will be $2 million under the cap next season, without having restricted free agent Kyle Clifford and unrestricted free agent Rob Scuderi signed.

Photo from cbc.ca

Ben Scrivens will be a nice fit for the Kings to back up Quick. He's making just over $600,000 next season, has NHL experience, and led the Toronto Marlies to the Calder Cup in the 2011-12 AHL campaign. Scrivens has shown some promise for the Leafs, but he couldn't challenge James Reimer for the starting job. However, he'll be a great fit for the Kings in their defensive system.

Photo from ourhometown.ca

Matt Frattin has been a very inconsistent pro. He was very hot for the Leafs at the beginning of the year, but fizzled out by the end. Frattin is still probably recovering from a knee injury suffered in the final game of the AHL Conference Finals, but what is his ceiling? Personally, I see him ending up as a third liner, nothing more.

So, who do I think won the trade? Well, if you couldn't tell by now, it was the Leafs. They added a potential franchise goalie for a back-up and third line forward. It makes sense for LA based on cap situation, but I feel like they could've held out for more. There were multiple teams interested in the services of the former first round selection.

What are your thoughts us in the trade? Let us know in the comment section or on Twitter.

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NFL Offseason Review: NFC South

With my look at the NFC West in the books (or on the blog), it's time we turn our attention to the dirty south... that is the NFC South. This division has a lot of interesting storylines going into the season: Sean Peytons return in New Orleans, Cam Newton and if can he bounce back from an average season last year, can Atlanta finally get over the hump and make a Super Bowl push, or can the upstart Buccaneers get back to the playoffs and beyond with their two All-Pro additions this year.

Atlanta Falcons

As I just said in the paragraph above, the Falcons are all but set as a team but they have yet to push over that hump to make the Super Bowl. They are a year older and the window is starting to close a little more. Let's see if the Falcons made enough moves to break through. The Falcons did nothing to improve on offense really. Getting Tony Gonzalez back was a big coop for them, but really this will likely be his last year and he is a major part of this offense. They signed away Steven Jackson from the St. Louis Rams, who will take over for Michael Turner. In a way it's just a slight upgrade, but don't expect Jackson from 5 years ago. He will be a capable back with Rodgers assisting him in backfield. The wide receivers are set and form the best pairing in the NFL. The offensive line is where the questions of this team lay. Resigning Sam Baker was a smart move, but they extremely overpaid for him. He got All-Pro money for a fringe Pro Bowl caliber player. Releasing Tyson Clabo is going to hurt too. Hopefully the next man up can protect Matt Ryan, or Matty Ice is going be taking a lot of ice baths this year.

This year will be a mixed bag on defense. Their defensive line took a hit, losing solid pass rushing specialist John Abraham. Replacing him with Osi Umenyiora is pretty much a wash, minus the leadership Abraham already had on the team. The corners on the team are going to be the big question in the ATL. Letting their two of their three starters from last year go and replacing them with rookies Desmond Trufant (who has the pedigree of his brothers),and Robert Alford from Southeastern Louisiana. These rookies will be tested quickly in the pass happy NFC South. Expect this defense to go as far as the rookies go. My expectations for the Falcons are a little murky. They have all the talent to push for a playoff spot and a deep run in the playoffs, or they have the chance to be knocked off the top of the NFC South. The Buccaneers, Panthers, and Saints should all be a lot better this year. I expect 9-10 wins, but who knows if that will be enough to make the playoffs out of the NFC South.

Carolina Panthers

The Carolina Panthers will only go as far as Superman (aka Cam Newton) and their running game can take them. Last year the sophomore semi slump hit Newton. He had numbers comparable to his rookie year, but the fumbles killed him. If he can limit the turnovers and get some help from any wide receiver not name Steve Smith, he should have a year that tops his rookie season. The Panthers really only addressed the depth of their receiving core in the offseason signing Domenik Hixon and Ted Ginn Jr. They added depth, but did not give them any other solid weapons other than Smith and Greg Olsen. They must hope for Brandon Lafell to make large gains in production to help Cam out. If not, it will be The Cam Newton Show again. I haven't even spoken to the mess of the Panthers quadrillion dollar backfield yet, who couldn't have produced any less they did last year. Jon Stewart and DeAngelo Williams will need bounce back years in the worse way. If one of them struggles in mini camp this offseason expect one to be cut, with Mike Tolbert picking up that guy's slack.

Carolina's front 7 on defense is one of the most solid units in all of the game after the offseason. The draft was kind to them, letting Star Lotulelei drop to them and double dipping on the athletic Kawann Short in Round 2 to solidify their defensive line. Greg Hardy and Charles Johnson are a solid duo on the outside, fantastic pass rushers and solid against the run. The real strength (when healthy) is the linebacking corps lead by... well I can't choose who I think is better. So, Luke Kuechly and Jon Beason will both be mentioned as the unquestioned leaders of this defense. Those two men are a scary combination and there are very few teams with 2 better linebackers. Only the 49ers come to mind. If Thomas Davis can also finally stay healthy, that front 7 will be dominate. The linebackers are very rangy and solid against run. The BIG - and I can't underestimate that enough - problem that the Panthers have is in their secondary who - outside of Captain Munnerlyn who is really a number 2 corner - have nothing at safety or corner. Carolina better hope their front 7 is good enough to mask the back end, or teams will eat their secondary alive. Unfortunately for the Panthers, the division they are in will eat them alive in the passing game. I see a 4-6 win season coming.

New Orleans Saints

Sean Peyton's return to the sidelines in New Orleans will get a ton of headlines this year, but the focus should be on the retooled defense. That will be the key for the Saints to get back to the playoffs this year. The offense will still keep chugging along as long as Drew Brees is the man slinging the football. The running situation is a volatile one, with no one man taking the bulk of the carries. Look for the Saints to try and get Mark Ingram to finally be the man in New Orleans. If not, it's running back by committee again with the explosive Darren Sproles doing a little bit of everything for the offense. They added a little more receiving depth with the drafting of Kenny Stills out of Oklahoma, an absolute burner who will help their vertical game. But expect Brees to pretty much still sling the ball to whoever is open and just march up the field. Tight end Jimmy Graham is top 3 in the game. He is a threat all defensive coordinators must account for and, with the addition of Ben Watson, gives the Saints that look most teams are going for now: two big athletic tight ends to catch the ball making Brees that much scarier. Losing Jermon Bushrod at tackle is going to hurt, but the selection of the raw, but talented Terron Armstead will lessen the blow. Maybe not so much this year, but in years to come.

The big news on defensive side of the ball is the complete change in scheme from 4-3 to 3-4 that Rob Ryan will bring with him. The Saints will have a solid front 3 in Cam Jordan, Akiem Hicks, and draftee (and big mountain of a man) John Jenkins from Georgia. For making the switch only this year, this front is a solid start and good base to work from in the 3-4. The big question is if the line backers can make the switch. Most of the team's line backers are more suited for the 4-3 scheme, or in Will Smith's case, the defensive line. Losing Victor Butler already to an injury is going to hurt. Expect early struggles, but to be a fine unit for the team later in the season. The secondary, which was a big problem, shouldn't be as bad this year with the drafting of Kenny Vacarro, and the signing of Keenan Lewis from Pittsburgh. Don't expect an elite unit back there, but they have some play makers and won't be as bad as last year. Like Atlanta, being stuck in this ultra competitive division will limit wins and make every game late in season a must-win to sneak into playoffs. I am looking at a 9-10 win season for Saints as well. This division will be a dog fight all the way until the end.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The most difficult team in this division to peg are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They have all the potential/ talent in the world to be contenders for a Super Bowl berth, or have the potential to have a high draft pick next year.  It all starts with signal caller Josh Freeman. He has all the gifts in the world: a strong arm, mobility, and durable. But he makes terrible decisions when pressured, and can throw a turnover in the blink of an eye. Freeman needs to be more stable this year for the Buccaneers to move forward. If need be, he can hand the ball off to the Muscle Hamster, Doug Martin. He had a remarkable breakout season in his rookie campaign. One of the better runners in the league, Martin can do it all. The problem is the depth in the backfield. If something were to happen to Doug, the cupboard is bare for a runner to take his carries. The Buccaneers need depth in the worst way. Mike Williams and Vincent Jackson are one of the better 1-2 punches at receiver in the league, but once again behind them there is a lot of questions. Tampa has a lot of young bodies and need some to step up and show something. The tight ends in Tampa are questionable at best. Luke Stocker needs to mature and show something or might be buried on the depth chart. Free agent signing Tom Crabtree will need to show off what he can do coming from Green Bay. The offensive line is healthy. Expect Davin Joesph to come back hungry after being injured all of last season and the same for Carl Nicks. These are two road graders who could propel Doug Martin into the stratosphere.

Even more maddening is the defense who has the talent to be a top 10 defensive unit in the league, but needs its young players to mature and produce. First and second round picks from 2011 Adrian Clayborn and Da'Quan Bowers will need to live up to their draft statuses. They have shown flashes off being Pro-Bowl caliber players when healthy. Up the middle, Gerald McCoy finally had his break out season and no longer is under the shadow of Ndamukong Suh from Detroit. The question is who will start next to him coming out of camp, where there is a bunch of middle of the pack veterans and late-round draft pick Akeem Spence fighting for a spot next to McCoy. The line backers for Tampa are solid, and led by underrated potential break out player Lavonte David who was a heat seeking missile last year tackling everything that moved. Mason Foster in the middle of the defense does a solid job, but the other line backer spot will be a fight once again for a lot of players who all have a chance to slide in the spot for the Buccaneers. Now, here is where things get interesting. Last year, the Buccaneers were first against the run and last against the pass. Darrelle Revis and Dashon Goldson were both brought on board in the offseason to remedy that. Along with the drafting of John Banks in the second round, and another year of maturity out of Mark Barron, the secondary has the chance to become one of the elite units in the NFL, propelling the Buccaneers forward. Here is another hard prediction to make. The Buccaneers have the chance to be really really good or really really bad. I expect either a 6-7 win team if they don't live up to their potential; if they do, a 9-11 win team. It really could go either way sorry to say.

Next up we take a look at NFC East. Just as many questions as the South, but with a lot more exposure. Is RG3 healthy? How will Chip Kelly adjust to the NFL? How will Tony Romo respond to his massive exposure? Will the Giants get their two wideouts locked up?

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NFL Offseason Review: NFC West

With training camp about to start in the NFL, let's take a look at the offseason for each and every team and their potential outlook for the upcoming NFL season.

Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals made a big splash this offseason by trading for Carson Palmer from the Oakland Raiders. This will be a big upgrade from the spare junk quarterbacks they were putting on the field last year to throw to Larry Fitzgerald. New head coach Bruce Arians - coming over from the Colts in the offseason after turning the lowly Colts from the league worst record last year in 2011 to playoff contender in 2012 with head coach Chuck Pagano being out because of his cancer situation - will bring a methodical offense over to help out the Cards and let that incredibly underrated defense do it's thing.

The defense lost a couple key contributors in Adrian Wilson and Kerry Rhodes, but traded for Javier Arenas from Kansas City, signed Antoine Cason away from San Diego, and signed Yeremiah Bell to help out their already solid defense. The return of Karlos Dansby to help anchor the linebackers, and a very underrated draft by the Cards will help them push the other teams in the NFC West. I believe they hit on every single one of their picks, grabbing Jonathan Cooper in the first to solidify their line, Kevin Minter in the second to add depth to linebacker, and Tyrann Mathieu - if he can keep his head on straight - will be a steal in the 3rd. Overall, look for Arizona to have a good year, around 6-8 wins can easily be done.

San Francisco 49ers

The NFC Champs from last year did nothing to make anyone doubt they will be making a repeat trip to the Super Bowl this year. The loss of Michael Crabtree to injury will definitely hurt the champs, but the addition of Anquan Boldin and A.J. Jenkins stepping up will be more then enough to make that not a factor. Another year of Colin Kaepernick maturing and playing the full year will help. Hopefully his running style will not lead him to get injured like RG3. The running back position for the 49ers will get a nice boost with Marcus Lattimore coming in from the draft leaving that position stocked to the max.

One of the best defenses in the league only got better this offseason. True, the loss of Dashon Goldson to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is going to hurt. But replacing him with Eric Reid in the draft should lessen the hit. Also signing Nnamdi Asomugha away from the Eagles should help the secondary. I do believe he is much better then what he showed with Philly. The linebacking core is still intact and it's the strength of the team, with every starter being a Pro Bowl caliber player. The defensive line should be solid as long as Justin Smith can stay healthy. The additions of Glenn Dorsey from Kansas City, drafting Tank Carradine, and former track and field star Lawrence Okoye should help lessen the loss of Issac Sopoaga in free agency. I full expect the 49ers to be there at the end of the season, playing for the NFC Championship or even taking aim at the Super Bowl again. 

Seattle Seahawks

Let me start out by saying I believe the Seahawks overpaid to get Percy Harvin, but man will he just make this offensive that much more explosive. So, in the end, it might be worth it especially if they go deep into playoffs. Other than that, the Seahawks offense remains pretty much intact from last year: Russell Wilson doing his thing, the offensive line being solid, and beast mode Marshawn Lynch running over people not smart enough to get out of the way. The Seahawks had a weak draft in my opinion, taking Christine Michael with their 2nd pick was drafting for luxury at a position where they're already stacked. The rest of their picks were more depth moves. No real splash players there.

The 'Hawks lost a couple big defensive linemen in the offseason in Alan Branch - who for being a mountain of a man is quite agile - to the Buffalo Bills, and Jason Jones, an extremely underrated piece of that defensive line to the Lions. They gained 2 good pass rushers in free agency in Cliff Avril from the Lions (making it pretty much a trade of Jones for Avril a deal I think Seattle won). Also Michael Bennett from the Buccaneers, who is solid against the run and a good pass rusher, gives them another 2 ends to go with their already solid combo of Bruce Irvin and Chris Clemons. The secondary for the Seahawks remains the strength of the team, and signing aging wonder Antoine Winfield can only help. The linebackers are an underrated group, lead by Bobby Wagner. He and KJ Wright make a fantastic combo for the Seahawks. Like the 49ers, they could be the team representing the NFC in the Super Bowl. I fully expect the Seahawks and Niners to be battling for that Super Bowl spot.

St. Louis Rams

The Rams have finally given Quarterback Sam Bradford some legit weapons on the outside in the form of West Virginia wide receivers Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey. These 2 quick-as-lightning versatile wide outs should help stretch defenses out and force the safeties to play deep to stop big plays. This will lead to big plays from free agent tight end acquisition Jared Cook, who himself is a big athletic threat to take it deep as well. Expect Bradford to get back to the numbers he put up in his rookie season. To keep the former number 1 overall pick upright, the Rams signed Jake Long to protect Bradford's blind side. This signing should solidify the o-line making them a solid overall. The drafting of Barrett Jones from Alabama should help as well. His versatility along the inside of the line will give them depth. The big question in the Lou will be at running back. Gone is Steven Jackson, who will be a Hall of Famer when he decides to hang the cleats up. Two 2nd year backs will carry the load for the Rams; Isaiah Pead and Daryl Richardson will be relied on to pick up the slack. Expect them both to split the carries pretty evenly. Don't expect their combined numbers to be anywhere near the numbers Steven Jackson did in his hey day.

St. Louis will have a solid defense this year. Their front 4 is as solid as any in the league. Chris Long and Robert Quinn will both have double digit sacks, in my opinion. The linebacking core got a big upgrade in the selection of Alex Ogletree with their second pick of the first round. He will pair up nicely with James Laurinaitis, especially in the nickel packages. Both are rangy and can play the run and the pass. The Rams are solid at corner with Finnegan and Jenkins starting, and have much more depth behind them. The worry is going to be at safety. Both 3rd round selection TJ Mcdonald and whoever wins the job out of camp are going to be exposed back there. Watch out for that Rams fans. In the tough NFC West the Rams are going to put up a heck of a fight up to get into the playoffs, but I see them coming up short this year. Look for 8-9 wins and just coming up short for a playoff spot.

That's it for my look at the NFC West stay tuned for my look at the NFC South next!

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WWE Payback 2013 Preview

This Sunday, the WWE launches the Payback pay-per-view in Chicago. It is the first time this event will be held, taking over from No Way Out. There is a big card for the event, including several matches reigniting previously stalled rivalries - hence the name. So, who will get their Payback on Sunday? Let's take a look, match by match.

Pre-show: Damien Sandow vs. Sheamus
The segments between Sandow and Sheamus have been pretty entertaining so far. Both combatants have shown strength in the feud, with Sandow recently getting the upper hand with some post-match attacks. Personally, I'm a fan of Sandow. He is great on the mic, especially with his gimmick. Plus, he can hold his own in the ring. I think it's just a matter of time before he starts getting some important feuds, possibly for a mid-card title first. Sheamus is a good start, but the match was relegated to the pre-show. For that reason, I think Sheamus gets the win. Giving the face the win before the show will get the crowd into it for the pay-per-view.

Divas Champion Kaitlyn vs. AJ Lee
This match-up seemed like it was just going to happen with no build up. AJ won the right to challenge a couple of months back, but nothing came of it. The secret admirer angle was a great way to get some renewed interest in the match, without having to force too much. It actually made sense when AJ revealed it was all a hoax. While Kaitlyn has been down the last couple of weeks thanks to the reveal and attacking a referee, I think her time as champion will end. It'll be a nice storyline to have a new power couple in Ziggler (more on that in a minute) and AJ Lee both holding titles. How long until Big E gets some gold around his waist?

United States Champion Dean Ambrose vs. Kane
Ever since The Shield debuted, I've been a huge fan of Ambrose. He's done extremely well on the mic, portraying himself as the vocal leader of the stable. Ambrose has also looked strong in single matches against top competition like the Undertaker and Randy Orton. That's why I don't see him losing his title so quickly. Kane will help the continued push of Ambrose and the rest of The Shield (more on that later as well). Ambrose picks up the win here, possibly with some outside interference leading to some mayhem in the tag team match later in the night.

Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett vs. The Miz vs. Curtis Axel
Before the injury to Fandango, I thought he would win the title hands down. There seems to be a huge push behind him, and giving him gold would only add to that. Now, this is a bit more confusing. If you look at IGN writer Matt Fowler's reverse momentum logic, Wade Barrett should walk away with the title. He lost to Curtis Axel on Smackdown. After the match, The Miz laid out Axel with a SCF. But what purpose does Barrett holding the IC Title have? The company is in need of some top heels and Barrett could start his rise to the top. He would create some new title match opportunities as opposed to the same matches the WWE Universe has seen rehashed over the last year. So, after all of that, I think The Miz holds the title. He can feud with Axel and Fandango for the time being, maybe even bringing Antonio Cesaro back into the mix. This frees up Barrett to start challenging for world championships.

WWE Tag Team Champions Seth Rollins & Roman Reigns vs. Randy Orton & Daniel Bryan
As I mentioned earlier, if there is interference in the Ambrose/Kane match, I expect some to be in this match too. It will be the official break up of Team Hell No at Payback, leading to a feud between Bryan and Kane. Why is Randy Orton here? What else has he been able to do lately? He's not in any title picture, but he has to do something as one of the company's top draws. So, I don't see how The Shield drops the tag titles under any circumstances, especially after being submitted for the first time on Friday's Smackdown. The most notable thing to come out of this will be a Bryan/Kane feud that will continue the huge push of Daniel Bryan back into the world title picture.

Chris Jericho vs. CM Punk
This will be the match of the night. Punk, after taking some time off, will come out firing in his hometown to the roaring approval of the Chicago faithful. Jericho is the perfect opponent for the returning Punk, especially with Y2J picking up some wins over the last few weeks. It will be important for Punk to look strong and pick up the win here to get back as the company's top heel. He had a fantastic match against the Undertaker, but his absence since 'Mania has left a void. Look for him to regain that against Jericho, especially since Jericho is probably leaving again for the summer.

World Heavyweight Champion Dolph Ziggler vs. Alberto Del Rio
Like I mentioned before, with a win from Ziggler and AJ, they will form another of WWE's classic power couples. Ziggler, who has been out with a concussion, has yet to defend his title. After missing so much time, it will be important for his character to come out and look like a champion. It works out extremely well that he has facing Alberto Del Rio, with whom Ziggler has had some classic TV matches. I don't see why that trend will end at this pay-per-view, but think Ziggler will have the advantage. He'll keep the title around his waste, opening up for some new challengers. Daniel Bryan anyone?

WWE Champion John Cena vs. Ryback (Three Stages of Hell Match)
To be completely honest, I have no interest in this match. I fell asleep during their Last Man Standing match at Extreme Rules. It's hard to see Cena losing this, especially with how Ryback has been shown as a dominant monster with the use of tables. It will probably break down like this: Ryback will win the Lumberjack Match, then Cena will win the Tables Match and the Ambulance Match. It wil reinforce Cena as the man who can fight off the disadvantage. Plus, Ryback has used tables so much in the build up to this match that he can't possibly win that portion of the three stages.

So, there you have some predictions for the match. Agree or disagree? Sound off below or let us know on Twitter.

Be sure to follow the new Sports by Schmucks Twitter for updates on when new articles will be posted. We've also started to live tweet some games and events. You never know which game we'll do. Plus, we added a YouTube channel. Make sure to subscribe to get our latest videos and podcasts.

New Hockey Sweaters? Hurrah!

One of my favourite things about the offseason in sports is the debut of new uniforms. I remember watching the draft or other events as a kid and being amazed when teams debut new duds. To this day I still love looking at new uniforms, whether they be real or concepts.

So, when the Dallas Stars and Carolina Hurricanes announced they were revealing new sweaters on the same day, I was pretty excited. Using hashtags #NewStarRising and #NewStorm, both teams used social media to build excitement and give some teasers. Here's my opinion of what was debuted:

Dallas Stars

Image from Dallas Stars (Facebook)

First of all, I'm really happy the Stars went back to green. It's a colour that isn't used as a primary by many teams in the league and that's a shame. It's a nice new crest as well, although I miss the yellow/gold that has been around the team for decades, dating back to when they were in Minnesota. If they chose gold instead of the silver, I think it would make the crest really stand out from the sweater.

Image from NHL.com

The team chose to be generic with black pants and a green stripe. It's basic, but it brings the whole look together. With that green, I'm not sure that having green shorts would be fantastic. It might look nice on special occasions - maybe St. Patrick's Day? - but I think it would be overwhelming. One interesting thing to note is the different colour of stripes on the white sweater. It's odd, but I like it.

So, overall, this was a fantastic upgrade for the Dallas Stars.

Carolina Hurricanes

Image from Carolina Hurricanes (Facebook)

Before we get into this, I was a fan of the old Hurricanes sweaters. Having the "Hurricane Watch" flag as striping along the bottom was a very nice touch, unique to the team. (They did keep it inside the collar.) Now, the whole uniform is very bland as the team removed a lot of the black piping. The home sweaters are especially similar to Team Canada's sweaters. (Well, the Hurricanes do provide a lot of players to Hockey Canada for the World Hockey Championship...)

Image from hurricanes.nhl.com

One interesting is the shoulder yoke. It extends down past the name, giving a nice contrast to all of the other teams that use that design. The shorts are also very plain, which does not add to the overall look of the uniform.

Anyway, as I said before, the whole uniform is very bland. It reminds me of how the Tampa Bay Lightning removed a lot of their individuality from their sweaters and essentially became a copy of the Toronto Maple Leafs. To me, this is an example of how simple and clean is not always the best option.

What are your thoughts on the new sweaters? Sound off in the comments below, or hit us up on Twitter.

Be sure to follow the new Sports by Schmucks Twitter for updates on when new articles will be posted. We've also started to live tweet some games and events. You never know which game we'll do. Plus, we added a YouTube channel. Make sure to subscribe to get our latest videos and podcasts.