Choosing the Best NHL Jersey: A Guide to Fanatics’ Selection

The Utah Hockey Club is gearing up to release its first jerseys earlier than anticipated. Originally slated for early 2025, the team is now aiming to make the jerseys available as soon as November, according to recent reports.

Chris Armstrong, the president of hockey operations for Utah, expressed the team’s eagerness to prioritize getting the jerseys into the hands of fans promptly. The goal is for supporters to proudly wear the jerseys and enjoy them throughout the inaugural season.

Fanatics, in its debut year as the official manufacturer of NHL jerseys, has introduced a range of jersey options to cater to different preferences. The jerseys offered by Fanatics come in four tiers, each with varying features and price points.

The Fanatics Practice jersey, priced at $120, is a retail version of the practice jerseys worn by players, albeit of slightly lower quality and without the option for customization. Moving up the tiers, the Fanatics Breakaway jersey costs $135 blank and $175 with a name and number, offering a lighter fabric and a more shirt-like fit.

For those seeking a premium option, the Fanatics Premium jersey, priced at $180 blank and $230 with customization, closely resembles the retail jerseys previously offered by Adidas. The highest tier, the Fanatics Authentic Pro jersey, replicates the jerseys worn by players on the ice, made with durable fabric and priced at $425 without customization.

While there was initial skepticism surrounding Fanatics’ quality due to past experiences with retail jerseys, fans have reported positive feedback on the top two tiers of jerseys, likening them to the quality of previous Adidas jerseys. The Authentic Pro jerseys, in particular, are noted to have a similar base construction to the authentic Adidas jerseys, with some minor design and performance enhancements.

However, despite the improved quality, there have been some issues with the new jerseys. Several teams have reported tears in their practice jerseys, and there have been instances of misspelled names on jerseys, as seen with Utah Hockey Club forward Matias Maccelli.

The pricing of Fanatics NHL jerseys, especially the Authentic Pro jerseys at $425, reflects their status as collectors’ items crafted to the same standards as player-worn jerseys. While the cost may seem steep, these jerseys are designed to match the quality and authenticity of on-ice apparel.

As the Utah Hockey Club prepares to unveil its jerseys ahead of schedule, fans can anticipate the opportunity to support their team with these new apparel offerings. The release of the official team name next season will provide additional options for fans to expand their jersey collections.