The NHL marketing department is just plain stupid.

I am not an advertising genious by any stretch (if I was, more of you would be reading this article),

but I can tell you one thing if I was in any sort of marketing position at the NHL I would have enough brains to figure out that after a lockout a league that was already facing an identity crisis in terms of “stars” should use actual NHL players in television advertisements.

Ok, so the NHL decided to switch logos this year and go from the ugly orange lettering that previously filled the letters to a slick silver…wow, so impressive. I can’t imagine that is the reason behind what is a pretty intense advertising campaign, so let’s be honest for a second. Do you think that using actors instead of NHL players is at all a decent idea? With burgeoning stars such as Sidney Crosby, Alexander Ovetchkin, Dion Phaneuf not to mention one of the most saleable players in history in Jerome Iginla at the peak of his career, the NHL marketing department should be ashamed of itself for its advertisements.

The NBA has been built on the back of young superstars. You can say what you want about play in the league and the level of professionalism these stars exemplify, but one thing you cannot deny is that the NBA has a terrific television deal and a full deck of marketable players. The NHL could take a lesson from the NBA in this regard…Even better, the NHL could take a lesson from Reebok in this regard.

If you have not seen any of the NHL advertisements, check them out here. Then take the time to go over to Reebok Hockey and see what real marketing looks like. - Only note to Reebok, Curtis Joseph no longer plays for the Red Wings.

Direct link to Reebok Hockey Ad