Ovechkin not renewing CCM endorsement

[dsjunior1388 81]

At the end of the day, OV had three choices:

1. Stay with CCM. Not likely given that experience had run the table for him.

2. Try Easton. Maybe the OPS would have been a success story but skates and protective were not likely to make a marriage between the two work.

3. Go to Bauer, the last major player in the skate, OPS, protective equipment field that could fit OV head-to-toe, supply product he was previously satisfied with, and provide a marketing program commitment with that both parties profit from.

This deal between Bauer and OV has easily been in the works for quite some time. Bauer has launches ready to roll with OV sooner than we think. They have already started. Win, win.

I doubt protective is in the equation other than helmet, I'm sure underneath it will continue to be all Jofa.

[DarkStar50 679]

Visible equipment will be Bauer. Gloves, pants, obviously, beside the helmet.

[Staal111218 8]

He will be wearing all Bauer product including shoulder, shin and elbow.

[XveritasX 13]

He will be wearing all Bauer product including shoulder, shin and elbow.

I thought some of the Bauer protective couldn't be worn in the NHL because of something to do with the padding, or am I thinking of something else?

[Staal111218 8]

I thought some of the Bauer protective couldn't be worn in the NHL because of something to do with the padding, or am I thinking of something else?

There is a foam thickness guideline on all caps, shoulder and elbow. Not an issue.

[bandits_5 18]

He will be wearing all Bauer product including shoulder, shin and elbow.

0% chance of him wearing bauer elbow and shins. shoulders , maybe , but his elbow / shins will continue to be reebok/jofa

[Race4LastPlace 31]

0% chance of him wearing bauer elbow and shins. shoulders , maybe , but his elbow / shins will continue to be reebok/jofa

Let me know if you are willing to bet on that

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

I thought some of the Bauer protective couldn't be worn in the NHL because of something to do with the padding, or am I thinking of something else?

The stuff last year (Vapor X:60, Supreme TotalONE) was not NHL-spec. The APX line will be.

[raganblink 82]

I don't think I'm generalizing. I'm just basing my comments on my actual dealing with the public over the entire time OV was with CCM. I just didn't see any obsession with OV with our customers, no one came in looking for the "OV" skates or equipment, no one called to see if we had the new "OV" whatever. Never heard a customer or kid or adult say, they saw OV wearing something and wanted it. No one came in drooling over the new OV stick. Not one ever asked for the latest OV crazy light skates. IMO, and in my retail store, I don't think the OV endorsement effected sales. However, we did see the opposite with Luongo, Crosby, Bergeron, etc and the other endorsees. Not saying in other parts of the country he had an impact, but for us he didn't. I really wish he did, but nope. Heck, Bergeron wearing his jersey tucked in in the back, exposing the 9k pant had more effect than OV.

Likewise here. The only thing we had OVI specific that sold - the mini goal nets, just because they only needed one net and not two. There was one kid who got two OVI min goals.. so that's an extra $30 we did because of OVI. But skates, helmet, whatever, never got requests for that, because he was wearing it.. For the current OVI CL/SE skates, we've been asked by 2 people if we had them - probably because they wanted to look at them.

OVI specific line hurt CCM more then helped them based on what I've seen.

[RussianDangler15 0]

Its not as if kids are going to come in and say to the shop employee "I want Ovi's gear". Having him definantly didnt hurt as I'm sure there were plenty of people who subconciousley wanted to try ccm because one of the best players in the world uses it.

[watchgreat 4]

0% chance of him wearing bauer elbow and shins. shoulders , maybe , but his elbow / shins will continue to be reebok/jofa

Staal111218 is a bauer rep.

[Staal111218 8]

Was just trying to help clarify but maybe I'm not close enough to the situation?

[Axxion89 32]

Was just trying to help clarify but maybe I'm not close enough to the situation?

Nope, gotta have an answer straight from Ovechkin

Also, I have seen Warrior equipment in the NHL protection wise, they even featured it on NHL.com when reviewing the new rules. I just think that Reebok has a very good hold of NHL protection market for whatever reason. Either way, you can't see through a players jersey so who cares what they wear.

[DarkStar50 679]

It seems the 11,000 registered members here care what any NHLer is wearing........

[RussianDangler15 0]

Nope, gotta have an answer straight from Ovechkin

Also, I have seen Warrior equipment in the NHL protection wise, they even featured it on NHL.com when reviewing the new rules. I just think that Reebok has a very good hold of NHL protection market for whatever reason. Either way, you can't see through a players jersey so who cares what they wear.

You do remember what site you're on right?

[Rockingsquat 4]

I do believe a guy like Vechkin, can have his gears customized exactly the way he wants... his bauer endorsement will just take care of dressing whatever he wears/uses with Bauer logos.

It's the big issue, you'll never find what he is wearing on the shelves of your LHS.

Even his jofa elbow pads are customized ...

Looking at his "crazy temper" (not a coincidence, ccm used the adjective everywhere on its products), I don't think Bauer will tell him what to wear.

To me, Bauer needs him more than he needs Bauer.

[Mario123 2]

Bauer doesn' 'need' Ovi, they just wanted him to help grow their business. They are the dominant brand in skates, have definitely made big strides in the OPS market, and do well in helmets & gloves.

Speaking of which: Who is #1 and #2 in the OPS market today?

I've always been an Easton guy, but was very impressed with the Bauer TO stick I tried.

[Monty22 833]

I do believe a guy like Vechkin, can have his gears customized exactly the way he wants... his bauer endorsement will just take care of dressing whatever he wears/uses with Bauer logos.

It's the big issue, you'll never find what he is wearing on the shelves of your LHS.

Even his jofa elbow pads are customized ...

Looking at his "crazy temper" (not a coincidence, ccm used the adjective everywhere on its products), I don't think Bauer will tell him what to wear.

To me, Bauer needs him more than he needs Bauer.

I wouldn't say Bauer "needs" Ovechkin as you indicate, they are already the "big dog" in the industry....

[Rockingsquat 4]

Just my opinion but Bauer didn't have any hot players on their roster, only pussies and/or boring guys (like staal, kane, stamkos, toews ... who cares about these players ???).

Others brands had "Wow" players : Crosby (rbk), Ovi(ccm), Kovalchuk + Kovalev (warrior)

Not to mention Easton got all the "fancy" players (heatley, iginla, getzlaf , Cammalleri, zetterburg, ...), although these are not superstars like Ovi or Crosby, they are at least players you can have an interest in.

[sharks25 9]

Kane and Stamkos are pretty exciting to watch...

[Blueandgold26 1]

Just my opinion but Bauer didn't have any hot players on their roster, only pussies and/or boring guys (like staal, kane, stamkos, toews ... who cares about these players ???).

Others brands had "Wow" players : Crosby (rbk), Ovi(ccm), Kovalchuk + Kovalev (warrior)

Not to mention Easton got all the "fancy" players (heatley, iginla, getzlaf , Cammalleri, zetterburg, ...), although these are not superstars like Ovi or Crosby, they are at least players you can have an interest in.

I disagree, I think with or without Ovechkin Bauer has the best lineup.

[Rockingsquat 4]

Kane looks like robocop when he plays

These 2 are only known because of their stats, definitely not because of their playing style.

[Krev 86]

Kane looks like robocop when he plays

These 2 are only known because of their stats, definitely not because of their playing style.

Kane I'll agree with. Toews and Stamkos though are super exciting to watch.

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

Was just trying to help clarify but maybe I'm not close enough to the situation?

Not at all...

[VakarLajos 5]

To me, Bauer needs him more than he needs Bauer.

I'm not sure how much the #1 brand in the industry needs him as their sales were doing pretty well without him.