Best Postgame Headwear Ever

I'll be the first to admit that I made fun of the New Jersey Devils when they introduced their "Jersey" black alternate jerseys. Heck, I still make fun of them today for those jerseys. The Devils, though, have shown a lot of self-awareness due to those jerseys as Dougie Hamilton is wearing the "Hat" hat that the Devils decided to make for charity with proceeds going to support the Devils Youth Foundation. The initial run of hats they made sold out in 30 minutes as people jumped at the opportunity to be in on the joke. I'm all for raising money for charity so good on the Devils for that fun, but Jesper Bratt may have taken the "Hat" hat to a whole new level tonight.

In the postgame scrum after scoring the overtime game-winning goal to give the New Jersey Devils a 5-4 victory over the Vancouver Canucks, Jesper Bratt met with reporters wearing what might be the greatest postgame headwear ever seen in an NHL locker room.
Honestly, the size of that "Hat" hat makes it funnier than it should be, but it plays right into the youthful exuberance and fun that the Devils have shown all season. That oversized "Hat" hat makes me laugh every time I see it, and you get the feeling that it might be fun if one were to hang out with the Devils.

Full marks for the Devils for pushing the envelope a little further with the "Hat" hats, and just talking about a big hat reminds me of Norm McDonald's appearance as "Turd Ferguson" on Saturday Night Live's version of Jeopardy! where he too wore a big hat. May Norm McDonald rest in peace, but he was right - the Devils' postgame hat is funny because bigger than a normal hat. If more teams had as much fun as the Devils, maybe the NHL would be watched by more people. Of course, that would require the suits to be able to laugh at themselves which is simply out of the question for the NHL.

For a team that, for the longest time, had the collective personality of wet paint, these new Devils are playing good hockey, winning games, having fun, and making people notice them thanks to showing a little personality. For everyone that thought the Carolina Hurricanes' postgame celebration were over-the-top and obnoxious, you were wrong as the Hurricanes played in front of a packed arena for every home game that season. They showed a little personality, and people noticed. And wanted to be part of it.

The same goes for the massive oversized "Hat" hat that the New Jersey Devils are sporting. It's fun, and people like fun. People want to involved with fun things and events. Having a laugh at one's self shows that the team has a personality, and letting those players have fun by poking a little fun at their team and themselves only endears them to fans.

The oversized "Hat" hat is fun. Keep wearing it, Devils!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!