[browna]

Problem is, with all the hoops to do with the NHL, any jersey/major branding changes aren't approved until early in the calender year, if changes are to do be done in September.

Basically, its about a year long process from when the NHL gets the final design from the team, to going through the approval process at the league offices, along with the jersey manufactuer to make sure it can be done etc etc, to it hitting the ice.

The league has to make sure they can clear out inventory of old jerseys before any new design comes out, among other logistics, even when an design has been approved internally.

Edit: I guess you could get the winning designer to put them on the back at the beginning of the season, but that takes a lot out of your idea. There wouldn't be able to be a vote, even a year or year and a half out, because if some aspect of the fan voted top design can't be manufactured, it doesn't fly. I believe the design process goes through a couple prototypes, with sometimes very subtle changes from a design aspect or manufacturing aspect, to get to a final product.

Plus, with fans knowing for sure that there is a new jersey in a year, the likelihood of fans buying the current jersey until that new design comes out, is greatly diminished.