This was right up there with where the 2012 Winter Classic and entry draft are going to be held (Philadelphia and Pittsburgh) as the worst kept secrets in hockey.
But the Toronto Maple Leafs finally officially unveiled the third jersey they'll wear 14 times this season, beginning with opening night against the Montreal Canadiens on Oct. 6.
According to the team's website, the jersey "is an identical throwback to the 1967 to 1970 time period in team history." The design was leaked online back on Sept. 17 when they showed up at the Buffalo Sabres store a few weeks early.
Former Leafs Darryl Sittler and Wendel Clark joined current Leafs Luke Schenn and Colby Armstrong in showing off the new threads at the team's sports bar, Real Sports, next to the Air Canada Centre this afternoon.
Jerseys featuring the names Crabb, Zigomanis and many others are now available exclusively at the team store.
Here are the games (nine home and five on the road) they'll be wearing the jersey this season:
Oct. 6 vs. Montreal Oct. 29 vs. Pittsburgh Nov. 5 vs. Boston Nov. 12 vs. Ottawa Nov. 19 vs. Washington Dec. 3 at Boston Dec. 5 at N.Y. Rangers Dec. 17 vs. Vancouver Jan. 7 vs. Detroit Jan. 13 at Buffalo Feb. 4 at Ottawa Feb. 29 at Chicago March 24 vs. N.Y. Rangers March 31 vs. Buffalo
The good news is that the Leafs are likely set to make a bundle on these things, and what NHL team needs money more than Toronto?
Maybe it'll go to that $20-million revenue sharing cheque they seem to be on the hook for every year.
Here are the highlights of the new outfit as provided by the team today:
"A solid, snow white, wool-felt, 11-point Maple Leaf crest similar to the Maple Leaf on the Canadian Flag as the country celebrated its centennial year in 1967, felt fabric numbers and lettering, one set of thin-wide-thin stripes adorning the waist and both elbows, no shoulder patches, and a six-eyelet lace at the front of the neck. Pants adorned with a new white vertical stripe along the sides will also be worn by the hockey club for games in which the third sweater will be used."