Since it is the middle of July and the snow finally melted in Minnesota hockey has come to a stand still for me.  So there is no better time to whip out something that is meaningless but fun nonetheless, Ranking NHL Jerseys.   These rankings are completely subjective and possbily influenced by a couple beers, but I was wondering if other people felt the same as me. Wether you scratch your head at some designs,  puke or say, I want that!

The best:

1: Montreal Canadiens:  CH "club de hockey" is awesome, even inspired St. clouds jersey

2.  Detriot:  Just two colors but the tire logo is great

3. Hartford whalers:  Best vintage jersey.

4: Blackhawks: i'd get mine with Griswold on the back.

5. St. Loius Blues:  Nice, jazzy

6. NY Rangers:   just classy, just brush off the Sather slime

7. NJ Devils: simple but fashionable

8. Canes-  the best of the new series of jersys.

9. OIlers: the blue and orange are such opposites but look great together.

10. North Stars:  how many jerseys can you buy with cardinal directions on them.

11. Nordiques:  look what Colorado did was like defacing the Mona Lisa.   

12. Flyers:  even Forsberg looked good in this costume.

Worst or stupidest:

1: The original Vancouver "V" shirt.   just crap. 

2: Old Mighty ducks.  God, can a grown man where this in public.  did the players ever say, do we really have to step out of the ice with these on?  Proof disney sucks

3. Old coyotes:  gotta say the new ones are okay, but the old ones came from a Jim Morrison dream.  maybe the coyote witht he hockey stick represents the long held hockey traditions in the, um, desert.  

4.  Minnesota wild:   Its christmas time! Can somebody tell me what the logo is?  Is it an ink blot test? what the hell is a "Wild"?  

5. Thrashers:   those arenot hockey colors.    Figure skaters wouldn't wear colors like that.

6. Boston.  Does the B mean boring.  all the original six jerseys are awesome, but this ?  I just can't say I trust anybody wearing this.   

The olympics are coming soon and its not too early to talk about what the US team will look like in two years.  Over the past decade our former super stars like Modano, Hull,  Leetch and Hatcher did their duty and won the 96 world cup and now their time has come.  One of the more promising groups of young Americans are coming through and I think they will be able to challange the likes of Canada and Sweden.   

Projected Line up.

Offense:                      in red is a probable Canuck team! 

 Jason  Blake (MN)    /   Paul Statsny  (MO) /  Patrick Kane (NY)

Heatley             /       Lecavalier  /                             St. Louis

Brian Rolston (MI)  /  Matt Cullen  (MN)   /   Peter Mueller (MN)

Nash                /    Crosby          /                              Iginla 

 Zach Parise (MN)   /  Chris Drury  (CT)   /  Brian Gionta (NY)

Smyth               /  Spezza        /                            Gange

 Chris Higgins (NY)   / Scott Gomez (AK)   /  Eric Cole (NY)

Stillman          /     Thornton   /                            Perry

 Defence:

          Erik Johnson (MN)   /    Brian Rafalski (MI)

          Ryan Whitney (MA)   /   Keith Ballard (MN) 

         Joe Corvo (IL)    /   Paul Martin   (MN)    

in Goal:     

             Ryan Miller (MI)            

          Back up:    Dipietro

To me I think the defence is looking a little weak, but the offence looks young and very skillfull.  I haven't a clue who i would have coach the team.  I'd say no to Tortorella.  I would go outside the box and have Brian Leetch take the helm, have a college hockey coach like Lucia or Berenson do it.  

This should  be a great match up, i love it when this two countries play whether its a friendly or a world cup final. 

                Germany    what Loew Should play

                               Lehmann

Lahm   Mertesacker    Metzelder   Pander

Schneider   Hitzlsper    trochowski   Schweini

                Kuranyi               Klose

  England  what Mclaren should Play

                                Robinson

Richards      Ferdinand     Terry      ????        

                               Hargreaves

Beckham              Gerrard               Lampard 

                                Bent  

I think there will be lots of subs used in this game.    The score will be 2-1 Germany.  However, england or should i say Mclaren will play very hard because they need this win much more than Germany does.