[Editor's note: Added to the front page for interest. If you've got a similar story, please share it in the comments]

I wanted to pass along some information regarding "authentic" jerseys on NHL shop.

(Gets on soapbox)

I recently received an authentic Pavel Datsyuk road jersey as a Christmas gift from my wife. I was very happy with the quality when I got it, but had to send it back because they shipped it to me with a snag in it. Upon getting my replacement, I could immediately tell it was of inferior quality – it was thinner, lighter, rougher feeling, not identical to the picture on the NHL shop’s website, missing the RBK logo on the back, missing tags on the inside of the jersey, and, most importantly, made in Indonesia. Now I don’t really care where it’s made, but I know for damn sure the original one I received was made in Canada.

A simple mistake at the NHL shop’s shipping facility? No. Instead Reebok and the NHL have recently decided that an authentic jersey is no longer an exact replica of what the players wear on the ice. Instead, they have decided a jersey cheaper to produce should be sold at a slightly lower retail price ($249 vs $299 before customization, which is an additional $80) but still called authentic. Furthermore, instead of informing customers of the switch, they have used ambiguous language to disguise the move. This is an excerpt from the description on NHL shop "This Reebok® EDGE hockey jersey replicates the player worn Pro-cut jersey in fabric, trim and team design". Notice, that it no longer says it is the exact same jersey as worn on the ice.

I am not the first to notice this. There is a facebook (http://www.facebook.com/AntiIndoEdge) page regarding this issue, indicating this is not just for Red Wing jerseys.

Why am I trying to get the word out? My concern is two-fold: Quite simply, this jersey is a piece of garbage compared to the old one and is not worth ANYTHING near $250. I want to make sure that everyone who goes to pay for one of these realizes the poor quality of the item they are getting. Second, I want to ensure that enough people know about this so the NHL decides that a real authentic jersey is what the fans expect when purchasing one of these.