2017 Leaf In The Game: Unexplainable Team Selection

[Drewk86a]

I know I'm probably gonna get beat up over this, but...

I always cringe a bit when the jersey / patch does not match the photo of the player (i.e. different team). I understand that you have to work with the jerseys you have and if a player moves to a new team, you have to make the best of it.

However, 2017 In The Game has baffled me with, at least, one choice. All of Craig Berube's "Putting on the Foil" cards clearly contain swatches from a Flyers jersey. However, absent a photo of Berbue, ITG has chosen to use a Washington Capitals jersey graphic. I don't understand that!
chief.jpg

If the only photo they had showed Berube in a Caps uni it would be excusable. However, this isn't a photo. It's a graphic. A graphic they have total control over. Using a jersey graphic gave them the ability to pick any of Berube's teams they wanted. They could have used a Leafs jersey, or Flames, or Islanders. Heck, they could have even used a Flyers jersey graphic (to match the swatches). This was a perfect opportunity to ensure the jersey matched the photo / graphic. Why they didn't, I just don't understand...

[creasecollector]

Yeah, I agree it makes the card look totally 'off'. While the different colours may look cool to some (it's not the worst thing in the world), I feel like going with the same jersey would make this whole thing click more. An action shot is different, since they may only have a handful of those available, but the jersey should have been matched when possible when creating a hockey card.

Still a nice card though! I really like the sets this year and the foil used by Leaf.

[mq13]

This is the 2nd thread with Leaf matching a Jersey from one team with a different team. Where is the Quality Control? The Flyers Colors would make these cards really pop.

[RGM81]

Yeah it's pretty weak. They're also using Carey Price junior jerseys which further turns me off from wanting to collect any of the cards of him Leaf makes.

[brian045]

We were spoiled with the old ITG, their hockey knowledge was way better than the new. Being unlicensed you need your game to be on point, it's the minor details stated above that drive people crazy!

[Billy Kingsley]

Is it possible they also have Capitals relics that have just not shown up yet?

[doniceage]

Well it sold like hot cakes at the Nationals so I truly think Leaf Might not worry as much when the product is so well received by their distributors.

Can always drop them a e-mail to share your concern. As you see your not alone!

Don'

[Inferno]

What's worse than mis-matched NHL swatches is when Leaf uses junior/prospect game/SUBWAY series jerseys for players who have been in the league 5+ years. Guys like Tavares, Hall, Kane, etc still have these old pre-NHL jerseys in Leaf cards. They're still even using a Rick Nash junior jersey from way back in 2000 or something.

If the card is junior themed and has a photo or jersey image from that time period then that would be fine, but NHL players with NHL images should have NHL memorabilia. If UD can cut three or four jerseys of a guy like MacKinnon who's only been in the league for a few years there's no reason Leaf can't get some current memorabilia for a lot of these players.

[LeafGregg]

All good points and noted. I will say, however, that it has nothing to do with hockey knowledge. I will take the blame for some of the mismatched jerseys as you call them. I changed many up at last minute to get more patches in the mix. Unfortunately that meant mismatches as we only had patches of certain teams and it was to late to change the image. My bad. Also, as far as Price and others with junior jerseys, those are what we have and I chose to show pro jersey images even though the actual swatch is of the junior team. These aren't "knowledge" issues, just something we choose to do as showing a junior jersey after being in there NHL for 5 years seems odd. Maybe not, just a feeling. I will put our checklist themes and use of hockey history up against the old ITG regime as you call it. We still are learning and getting better. Point out the negatives, which i will use to improve, but if you have nothing positive to say, than you haven't opened the product. be fair and I will as well.

[LeafGregg]

We were spoiled with the old ITG, their hockey knowledge was way better than the new. Being unlicensed you need your game to be on point, it's the minor details stated above that drive people crazy!

I dont disagree with the minor details part. I take blame for this as I have said on this thread, however, it has nothing to do with "Hockey Knowledge" It is more trying to get to much into the product and minor details suffered for it. Duly noted