Just thought for ha-ha's and giggles it would be fun to ask.
Mods, feel free to move/delete if it's been done before.
If you got drafted today to play for an NHL team, what gear manufacturer would you sign on with, and why?
Or would you do a Frankenstein and pick and choose your gear?
My choice would be a toss-up between Warrior and Bauer.
I've been a Bauer guy for years now, but recently started getting more Warrior stuff and really like it.
Depends on whether or not you have a choice. If you are a player who doesn't make the team, looks like your choices are CCM and Reebok, as you will be in the "A". Also, many teams are now not letting callups use a different brand while they are "up" until the player makes the "big club."
Helmet : CCM v8
Gloves :Warrior AK27
Skates : White 20k
Stick : Bauer
Pants : Hustler
White skates didn't go over well in David Perron's case, did they? Sometimes you get a coach like that and basically it is tough shit and "standard" skates if you want to stay.
Also, I'd bet Warrior would tell you no dice on the AK27 gloves.
Pretty much all the top of the line gear these days is pretty comfortable so I'd go with the company that want to pay me the most cash.
If that's not an option then I'll stick with my comfort zone which would be,
Warrior gloves and pants,
RBK/JOFA protective,
Graf skates,
Probably sport an HT2 CCM bucket as well.
Just because you make the NHL doesn't mean companies will throw cash at you. I once had an agent call me asking me for $5k for his player to use our stuff. I told him that the future HHOF member on the team doesn't get paid from us, so, why would I pay this player? He responded with "$5k". I countered back with "f**k off."
I called the player and said "don't know what games your agent is playing with this $5k that he says you want." Player says "I never told him that; if I wanted money I would have asked you myself", which he would have. So, I did a deal with him which was for him to give me $5k and we'd match his $5k and donate a total of $10k in wholesale cost of equipment to the association in which he grew up playing in. We did it, HE LOVED IT, and still to this day, 9 years later, still thanks me!
Whoever has a rep that takes care of me best is what I would use.
Best answer...PERIOD!