THE ATHLETIC's Sean Gordon wrote the Canadiens seem to be "working unusually hard to sell tickets that have gotten pricier even as the team has underachieved." The 15-year waiting list for season tickets and a "sold-out building are evidently no longer foregone conclusions" for the franchise. Canadiens Owner Geoff Molson said, "The reality is you can now get a ticket to any game or any event minutes before it starts, if you want. The mindset is different. That said, our season ticket base is still very healthy, and in a bad season like we just had we might have a 3, 4, 5 percent drop but you renew that with others" (THEATHLETIC.com, 10/9).
GOING RETRO: In Pittsburgh, Chris Bradford noted the Penguins have "unveiled the alternate jerseys that they will wear for a dozen games this season." The new sweaters, which are "based in Pittsburgh gold with black sleeves and white and gold striping, harken back" to the team's '80s uniforms and to the ones they wore in the '17 Stadium Series game at Heinz Field. The "consensus in the Penguins' dressing room" has been "overwhelmingly positive." The team will wear the jerseys "for the first time" Nov. 15 against the Lightning (DKPITTSBURGHSPORTS.com, 10/9).
SILVER EDITION: In Miami, Jordan McPherson noted the Panthers "unveiled a 120-plus page commemorative magazine that connects the start of the franchise with the modern-day team" ahead of their 25th season. The Panthers partnered with Miami Beach-based Whitehaus Media Group to "create the magazine and took the players out of their comfort zone at times to bring out the human-side of the athletes." Panthers D Aaron Ekblad "served as the cover man" for the magazine, which features him "at a horse ranch" in Davie. For the magazine, the group also "went deep-sea fishing" with Panthers RW Nick Bjugstad and "rode bikes in Boca Raton" with C Aleksander Barkov Jr. (MIAMIHERALD.com, 10/9).
