Bauer and Malkin?

[sn1per 0]

Not sure if this has been addressed, but I've just noticed that Malkin is removed from Bauer's website? I'm assuming the Dasc skates and other brands' gear didn't help that relationship along?

[shotty 7]

it's possible that his equipment endorsement lapsed prior to bauer's use of his likeness ending. two different types of endorsement there. that might be the case.

[Brian Harte 1]

interesting. I wonder what they will change the PM9 to....

[shotty 7]

pat sharp would be a good choice, maybe kesler. a rising star on a big market team for sure.

[JR Boucicaut 3801]

Done like dinner.

[mik3 1]

Is it due to his use of other manufacturer's stuff? Or just 'cause, as much as I love the guy, he's not really a "sexy" name.

[camhockey16 5]

i was wondering that too - was it because he wasn't really holding up his end of the bargain by using their equipment? or was his contract just up?

[lukejameslarson 5]

Is it due to his use of other manufacturer's stuff? Or just 'cause, as much as I love the guy, he's not really a "sexy" name.

how is he not a sexy name? because he looks like frankenstein?

he won the art ross trophy last season, and finished 2nd the year before that. that's pretty high-profile if you ask me.

[IniNew 53]

how is he not a sexy name? because he looks like frankenstein?

he won the art ross trophy last season, and finished 2nd the year before that. that's pretty high-profile if you ask me.

For a hockey player yeah, for the average consumer Malkin is no where near a Crosby or Ovechkin in terms of marketability (and thats saying a lot cause Ovechkin is that easy on the eyes either.)

[Chadd 916]

how is he not a sexy name? because he looks like frankenstein?

he won the art ross trophy last season, and finished 2nd the year before that. that's pretty high-profile if you ask me.

Unfortunately for his marketability, he plays on the same team as Crosby.

[DarkStar50 679]

His personality quotient is zero. I know it is difficult since he is Russian but OV has proven it doesn't have to be that way.

[Sebastien 0]

Malkin out, Toews In? I heard some rumours from the Bauer Ontario rep.

[Fire0nIce228 1]

He cant speak English yet. He's like Datsyuk in regards that sure you can take an action shot of him and paste it up on your website but he can't really do commercials or nothing major. He's done a few little bits for NHL network but thats it. If you read articles and some other Pens stuff the word is he's really quite funny and a good guy in the lockerroom, and you may even remember during one of the pressers last year during the finals he spoke and was making fun of Talbots stone hands. He's also understandably shy with interviews and and things like that more than likely due to his lack of english. I think as his English improves you'll see more of him. Everyone is aware he's got the skills, and even though he may always be in Crosbys marketing shadow I think he'll be alright in a few more years.

[furlanitalia 1]

I remember that interview. That was pretty funny. I agree though, from Bauer's view to always be shadowed by Crosby makes it hard to market. Toews would be a good guy to have, or I agree about the Kesler idea.

[Jarick 5]

Taxicab confessions aside, Kane is a pretty good poster boy. Young, flashy, charismatic, scores goals.

[lukejameslarson 5]

the highly-skilled russian who barely spoke english worked for nike back in the day.

btw, he was also overshadowed on his team by a more established player who everybody in hockey loved and/or respected.

who also happens to be sidney crosby's idol.

[sarmalidu 1]

No offense but I can't help but notice that both you and the other person who mentioned Kesler are both from Vancouver according to your user information. Regardless of how good he actually is, Kesler really doesn't have star power or name recognition rivaling Ovechkin, Crosby, or even somebody like Patrick Kane. I also think you can argue that some of his success is due to Mason Raymond and the Sedins. It wouldn't be a terrible choice, but companies are usually looking for marketability and star power more than stats. I would argue that the Sedin twins would actually be a better choice (although they may want to both get paid a pile, making it less appealing).

Kesler is also 25, which isn't that young (not old by any means either). Usually when there is a player on the borderline of being a big enough star, companies will only sign them to a marketing deal if they think they may be "the next Gretzky". Tavares is a good example. He's still a bit of a question mark but people think he may develop into a superstar so RBK has signed with him while he's still very young. They did the same with Crosby.

I remember that interview. That was pretty funny. I agree though, from Bauer's view to always be shadowed by Crosby makes it hard to market. Toews would be a good guy to have, or I agree about the Kesler idea.

[dsjunior1388 81]

the highly-skilled russian who barely spoke english worked for nike back in the day.

btw, he was also overshadowed on his team by a more established player who everybody in hockey loved and/or respected.

who also happens to be sidney crosby's idol.

He spoke English OK, not to mention he was dating Anna Kournikova and tooling around Detroit in various ferrari's. Fedorov was a very flashy guy, malkin isn't, at least from what I can tell.

[westcoastsniper 0]

I love kesler, but really only vancouver and livonia michigan know anything about the guy.... plus the stick would need to come with gangsta rap album and bad insults?

[furlanitalia 1]

No offense but I can't help but notice that both you and the other person who mentioned Kesler are both from Vancouver according to your user information. Regardless of how good he actually is, Kesler really doesn't have star power or name recognition rivaling Ovechkin, Crosby, or even somebody like Patrick Kane. I also think you can argue that some of his success is due to Mason Raymond and the Sedins. It wouldn't be a terrible choice, but companies are usually looking for marketability and star power more than stats. I would argue that the Sedin twins would actually be a better choice (although they may want to both get paid a pile, making it less appealing).

Kesler is also 25, which isn't that young (not old by any means either). Usually when there is a player on the borderline of being a big enough star, companies will only sign them to a marketing deal if they think they may be "the next Gretzky". Tavares is a good example. He's still a bit of a question mark but people think he may develop into a superstar so RBK has signed with him while he's still very young. They did the same with Crosby.

None taken, I never said he was the best choice but from being here he is a popular guy (the kesler one95 sticks have sold well from what I've seen).

I'm sure there are better options out there but it was just a suggestion for someone who isn't listed on their website.

[lukejameslarson 5]

the flashiness and the ferraris, yes. but those nike ads were from 1995, and the kournikova stuff wasn't until around 2000.

my point, though... is that once you get past ovechkin and crosby, who's left, really? those two (media personality-wise) are head and shoulders above the rest of the league. if you can't get one of the two of them to be your poster boy... you could definitely do a lot worse than malkin. don't try to tell me he's not marketable. that's bs. look at the nhl jersey sales reports. BAM.

[dsjunior1388 81]

the flashiness and the ferraris, yes. but those nike ads were from 1995, and the kournikova stuff wasn't until around 2000.

my point, though... is that once you get past ovechkin and crosby, who's left, really? those two (media personality-wise) are head and shoulders above the rest of the league. if you can't get one of the two of them to be your poster boy... you could definitely do a lot worse than malkin. don't try to tell me he's not marketable. that's bs. look at the nhl jersey sales reports. BAM.

No, there was controversy when Fedorov and Kournikova were first linked because she was 17. So that would have been 1998, right around when Fedorov started wearing nike. I think he first wore Nike stuff in the 95-96 season and was a nike poster boy until about 2001.

[ThePhamtonator 0]

How come the Sedin's aren't on Reebok's site? :o

[lukejameslarson 5]

i know i'm the one who brought fedorov in as a comparison, but this is about malkin, not fedorov.

he is the 3rd highest-profile guy in the league, and this thread has largely been a suggestion that he was not a good face for the company.

that's completely asinine. short of the coup that it would be to steal away crosby or ovechkin, who would bauer rather have as their face than malkin? this is ridiculous. if you were staring a company, and were looking for a spokesman-type, who would you go out and get? these people are suggesting that ryan freaking kesler would be a suitable replacement. bullocks.

[ThePhamtonator 0]

I know there is no way to answer this as Bauer and Malkin have not comfirmed this. IMO Bauer should get Malkin signed immediately, they'd be putting their company in too much of a risk say if Malkin decides to go to Easton; their rival company.