3 players who are going to look really weird in their new jerseys
Change is inevitable.
In today's NHL, it's incredibly rare for a player to remain with one team for the entirety of his career.
There's been no shortage of roster shuffling this summer, providing us with three players in particular who are going to look really weird in their new jerseys.
Marc-Andre Fleury
Let's be honest - it will be odd to see any player take to the ice wearing a Vegas Golden Knights jersey.
There will be many firsts for the NHL's 31st franchise, and it's likely the first win will be earned by Marc-Andre Fleury, who's only ever played for the Pittsburgh Penguins after being selected first overall in 2003.
Here's another look at Pittsburgh's all-time leader in wins (375) and save percentage (.912).
"Flower" has already given a preview of his new mask. Now bring on the skates and full gear.
Patrick Marleau
Drafted second overall in 1997 (after future teammate Joe Thornton), Patrick Marleau basically wrote the San Jose Sharks' record books over the past 19 seasons.
| Total | Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1493 | 1 |
| Goals | 508 | 1 |
| Assists | 574 | 2 |
| Points | 1082 | 1 |
| Shots | 3798 | 1 |
While Thornton decided to re-sign with the club with a view to finally getting over that Cup hurdle, Marleau surprisingly went his own way, choosing instead to sign with the upstart Toronto Maple Leafs, who could contend as early as this season.
Marleau recently gave San Jose a peek at his new threads before moving North.
Patrick Marleau sporting some new threads at #SJSharks captains ice session pic.twitter.com/eK9zNZP73A
— Kevin Kurz (@KKurzNBCS) August 23, 2017
Yeah, that's weird.
Artemi Panarin
We only had two seasons to get used to Artemi Panarin in a Chicago Blackhawks jersey, but he sure put on a show.
The 2015-16 NHL rookie of the year regularly made magic with frequent linemate Patrick Kane. In 162 games with the club, Panarin scored 61 goals and added 90 assists, and only six players around the NHL recorded more points over that time: Kane, Sidney Crosby, Jamie Benn, Nicklas Backstrom, Erik Karlsson, and Blake Wheeler.
Traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets in order to bring Brandon Saad back to Chicago, Panarin seems pumped to switch his jersey number from 72 to 9, with the former worn by Sergei Bobrovsky.
I was told this was the 1st @9Artemi shirt sold at the Tuttle Blueline #CBJ @BlueJacketsNHL pic.twitter.com/xtcu5Vhck2
— Nomad (@crustyjuggler01) August 25, 2017
I want one too https://t.co/3ujkjUqybK
— Artemi Panarin (@9Artemi) August 26, 2017
First impressions are hard to shake, and seeing Panarin in Columbus blue will take some getting used to.