2007-2008 Reebok Edge 1.0 Vector
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Retail Jerseys |
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Jerseys |
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Manufacturer: Reebok
Material: Edge 1.0 Home (Red): Kris Versteeg Size 50 Away (White): Jonathan Toews Size 50 Alternate (2008-2009): Martin Havlát Size 54 Winter Classic (2009): Kris Versteeg Size 50 Alternate (2009-2011): Marián Hossa Size 50 |
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Jersey History |
Welcome to the EDGE! In development since Reebok purchased The Hockey Company and first debuted during the 2007 All Star Game, the Reebok Edge jersey would be fully unveiled during the 2007-08 season. These uniforms were more form fitting for faster movement, more flexible, and were designed to retain less water. These jerseys would include the tie down fight strap, but removed the reinforced elbows. Reebok would also create an Edge template for each team so no alternate jerseys were worn during this season. This new design also changed up the collars of the jerseys, sporting the NHL shield at the front neck. The Reebok Vector logo would be kept at the back neck hem area.
New Collar with NHL Shield
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Home
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Away
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The tagging on the jersey is located on the back neck section for retail tagging and numerical size. These jerseys also included a neck lining of the Reebok logo and vector. A hip tag would show material and proper cleaning. Game worn jerseys would not include the retail tags.
Neck Tag and Lining
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Hip Tag
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This would be the first year of the new Blackhawks Fan Convention. Authentics (Edge) and replicas (Premier) were sold at retail while game worn jerseys were auctioned at the Convention and sold at HawkQuarters.
Well after about a handful of games into the season, the players started to complain about these jerseys. The less water absorption worked, but all that sweat would drip down into their gloves and skates. Plus they were too tight. So, Reebok had to go back to the drawing board and basically just replaced the material with Airknit material, used on previous seasons' jerseys, and widened the sleeves. These were dubbed Edge 2.0's. The Hawks would start wearing these after the new year in the 2007-08 season. The same happened around the league but there were still a handful of players that did like the Edge 1.0's and would continue to wear them.
Not wanting to admit failure, Reebok would not sell the Edge 2.0's at retail this season. The only way to get them would be team-issued or game worn. They also continued to push the Edge 1.0's and only have these for sale at retail until the 2011-12 season. Only alternate or special event Edge 2.0's were made for retail the next season and on, but would not be sold through Hawks stores. You would need to purchase them from separate retailers. I'll go into detail about the 2.0's in the next section.
Well after about a handful of games into the season, the players started to complain about these jerseys. The less water absorption worked, but all that sweat would drip down into their gloves and skates. Plus they were too tight. So, Reebok had to go back to the drawing board and basically just replaced the material with Airknit material, used on previous seasons' jerseys, and widened the sleeves. These were dubbed Edge 2.0's. The Hawks would start wearing these after the new year in the 2007-08 season. The same happened around the league but there were still a handful of players that did like the Edge 1.0's and would continue to wear them.
Not wanting to admit failure, Reebok would not sell the Edge 2.0's at retail this season. The only way to get them would be team-issued or game worn. They also continued to push the Edge 1.0's and only have these for sale at retail until the 2011-12 season. Only alternate or special event Edge 2.0's were made for retail the next season and on, but would not be sold through Hawks stores. You would need to purchase them from separate retailers. I'll go into detail about the 2.0's in the next section.
Only one patch was worn through the 1.0 era, and for the whole season. Owner and President William (Bill) W Wirtz would pass away shortly before the season started. The Hawks would wear a WWW patch to honor his time with the organization.
William W Wirtz Memorial
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Team History |
2007-2008: The NHL heads overseas this season with the Ducks and Kings playing in London, England for back-to-back season opener games. The salary cap is also increased for the third consecutive season. The league also introduces the NHL Winter Classic this season as the Penguins would take on the Sabres at Ralph Wilson Stadium on January 1, 2008. The success of this game would make this event yearly and open the door to other outdoor regular season games. Well this season was a spark of hope for the franchise in a dark time. On September 26, 2007, Blackhawks owner and president Bill Wirtz would pass away at the age of 77. As mentioned above, the Hawks would wear a memorial patch the entire season and held a tribute night at their home opener. The crowd would boo the entirety of the proceedings. His son Rocky would take over and make some immediate impacts. For one, he believed you need to spend money to make money; something Bill never did. Rocky would also start televising home games again! Lastly, Rocky would hire former Chicago Cubs president John McDonough as the new president of the Hawks. This season would also be the first for Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. Savard would stick around as head coach this season but Aucoin, and a 7th round, would be traded to Calgary for Andrei Zyuzin and Steve Marr. With all the turnover, the Hawks would remain captainless this season. The Hawks would finish the season 3rd in the Central Division, 10th in the Western Conference, and finish the season with a record of 40-34-8 (W-L-OTL). Season scoring was lead by rookie Patrick Kane with 72pts, followed by Patrick Sharp (62pts), Jonathan Toews (54pts), and Robert Lang (54pts). Kane would win the Calder this year with Toews being the runner up. Unfortunately the Hawks would again miss the post season. The Red Wings would battle the Penguins in the Stanley Cup Final with Detroit taking another title in 6 games.
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Player History |
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Kris Versteeg: Versteeg is my black sheep favorite player. This was the first authentic hockey jersey I received which started this obsession. It's probably my favorite in my collection. But man what a journey this guy has been on. Born in Lethbridge, AB, Versteeg spent some time in the WHL before being drafted 134th overall by the Boston Bruins in 2004. He would join the organization during the 2005-06 season playing in the AHL. He never got to play for the Bruins though as he was traded to the Blackhawks and played for both their AHL teams. He was finally called up to join the Hawks full time during the 2008-09 season. He would spend another season with the Hawks, winning the Stanley Cup in 2010, before being traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs due to salary cap issues. He would stay with the Leafs for 53 games before again being traded to the Philadelphia Flyers. After the season he would be traded to the Florida Panthers as the Flyers would acquire Jaromir Jagr. He would play a couple seasons with the Panthers before getting traded back to the Blackhawks in 2013. He would win his second Stanley Cup with the Hawks before again being traded due to salary cap issues to the Carolina Hurricanes. He wouldn't play a full season with the Canes as he was again traded to the Los Angeles Kings.
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After jumping around so much he decided to try playing in the Swiss National League but failed to pass the medical exam. He would come back to the NHL signing a contract with the Calgary Flames where he played for a season and started the next before he got injured. Once healthy, he decided to go back overseas playing in the KHL and then the SHL. After feeling better from his injuries, Versteeg again came back to the Hawks organization to captain the AHL Rockford Icehogs. Not feeling like he could contribute to the team, he would agree to terminate his contract and play with his brother in the Slovak Tipsport Liga and Spengler Cup (representing Canada and winning gold) before finally retiring in 2020. Phew what a journey! I cannot even imagine jumping around the NHL and still being able to contribute as he did.
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3 AHL teams, 7 NHL teams, 12 NHL seasons, and 643 NHL games. During his time in the NHL he would score 149 goals and 358 points. He would score 20+ goals in 3 of these seasons and had a career high 54 points during the 2011-12 season with the Panthers. Versteeg would be known for his big personality often rapping or singing during his interviews and even at the Stanley Cup rallies. He was nicknamed "Verbeauty" after an interview where he was asked to say the first thing that popped into his head while looking at certain NHL players. Most of his answers were "beauty." He had mixed reactions from fans in Chicago but I'll always be a fan.
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Jonathan Toews: Alright, here we go. What hasn't this guy won? Honestly, could anyone have more success during their career than him? I mean probably but man whatever this guy touches turns to gold. Except maybe the Hawks latest seasons but I digress. Born in Winnipeg, MB, Toews would attend the University of North Dakota before being selected 3rd overall by the Blackhawks in 2006. Toews would join the Hawks during the 2007-08 seasons where he would finish just behind teammate Patrick Kane for the Calder Trophy. Following a great rookie season and showing great leadership, he would be named captain of the Hawks at the start of the 2008-09 season. At the time, he would be the third youngest named captain in the NHL behind Sidney Crosby and Vincent Lecavalier. He's fifth youngest now thanks to Connor McDavid and Gabriel Landeskog. Toews has been nicknamed "Captain Serious" by the way he handles himself on and off the ice. Toews has also been a consistent goal scorer, scoring 20+ goals in every season besides the 2019-20 season (thanks COVID). He's gotten 30+ in three of these seasons. Toews missed the 2020-21 season battling chronic immune response syndrome from COVID, but would return the next season only to miss three more months due to this illness. After the 2022-23, the Hawks announced they would not re-sign him and he's taking some time to make some serious decisions.
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Toews has currently played in 1067 games of 15 NHL seasons all with the Blackhawks. Over this period he's scored 372 goals and 883 points. He's performed just as well in the post season playing in 137 games, scoring 45 goals, getting 119 points, and of course winning 3 Stanley Cups in 2010, 2013, and 2015. Besides the cup, he's won the Conn Smythe in 2010, the Selke in 2013, the Mark Messier Leadership Award in 2015, 2015 ESPY for Best NHL Player, named to the 2nd NHL All Star Team in 2013, and was selected to the 2009, 2011-12, and 2015-17 NHL All Star Games. And that's just the NHL so far! Toews has also had a stellar international career representing Canada. In 2005 he won gold playing with Canada West in the World U17 Hockey Challenge. In 2006 he won gold during the IIHF World Junior Championship. In 2007 he won gold for both the IIHF World Junior Championship AND the IIHF World Championship.
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He's won gold in both the 2010 and 2014 Olympics. This has put him in the Triple Gold Club (IIHF World Championship gold, Olympic gold, and Stanley Cup) becoming the youngest player to make it. Oh and he was also voted best forward during the 2010 Olympics. He's won gold during the 2016 World Cup of Hockey Tournament. The only time he hasn't won gold internationally is during the 2008 IIHF World Championship where he took home silver. He's currently still the captain of the Blackhawks and it better stay that way till he retires.
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Marián Hossa: Marián Hossa is the best two-way forward to ever play the game and I'll fight anyone who says otherwise. The fact he never won the Selke goes to show that the trophy is awarded to mainly centermen. Born in Stará Ľubovňa, Czechoslovakia, Hossa would spend some time in the Slovak Tipsport Liga before being drafted 12th overall in 1997 by the Ottawa Senators. He would play with the team briefly during 1997-98 season and full time during the 1998-99 season. Hossa would play with the Sens for 6 seasons before his contract expired. During the 2004-05 lockout he would play in the Swedish Elite League and finish back in the Slovak Tipsport Liga. After the lockout he would sign a three year deal with the Atlanta Thrashers. He would dominate during his time with the Thrashers but ultimately he wanted the cup. Hossa and the Thrashers could not agree on a contract extension so he was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins who he helped reach the Stanley Cup Finals only to be beat by the Detroit Red Wings. He would sign with the Wings during the off season to further chase the cup. Which he would by helping the team to the Stanley Cup Finals only to lose to the Penguins. How ironic. He would end up signing with the Blackhawks for 12 years after Martin Havlat left where he would finally win the cup in 2010, 2013, and 2015.
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Hossa was a dominant player on the ice and on the score sheet scoring 20+ goals in 16 seasons with 5 being 30+ and 3 being 40+. He would score 70+ points in 7 seasons with a career high of 100 points in 2006-07 with the Thrashers. Over his 19 seasons in the NHL, Hossa has played 1309 games scored 525 goals and recorded 1134 points. He would be a post season warrior as well playing in 205 games scoring 52 goals and 149 points. Hossa would be named to the 2001, 2003, 2007-08, and 2012 NHL All Star Games and be named to the 2009 NHL 2nd All Star Team. Hossa played for Slovakia internationally and would play in many tournaments but not have as much success here. He would play in the 1996 and 1997 IIHF European Junior Championship. He would play in the 1997 and 1998 IIHF World Junior Championship. He would play in the 1997, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2011 IIHF World Championship.
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He would play in the 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014 Olympics. He would play in the 2005 World Cup of Hockey and in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey where he would finally win a medal getting silver with Team Europe. Unfortunately Hossa would not be able end his career on his account as he would develop a progressive skin disorder that would end his career before the start of the 2017-18 season. His contract would be traded to the Arizona Coyotes for cap purposes and he plans to officially retire once the contract is expired in 2021. Being "retired" at this point though, Hossa was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on June 24, 2020. He would later officially retire a Blackhawk signing a ceremonial one day contract on April 7, 2022 and would get his number retired by the Hawks on November 20, 2022.
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