apparently these allow for "emphasizes safety, performance and comfort through lighter, more breathable material that allows for a greater range of movement".
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"Not modeled at the rally were the new pants and socks, which have also been redesigned with lighter fabrics to keep players drier and cooler while adding durability to the uniforms. The pants also have about 60 percent more hip protection than last season’s pants...
The new style of NHL jerseys, originally revealed at the 2007 All-Star Game festivities in Dallas, marks the first time in the history of any major North American professional sports league that a league-wide uniform innovation has been established."