NHL Style Rankings: New Fits, New Year
Welcome to 2024, folks, and it appears we're starting the year off with a shocking development: According to the source of my eyeballs, NHL players have finally learned how to correctly pair sneakers with suits.
The sneaker and suit thing hasn't always been my favorite. Somehow it often feels like a weird combination of trying too hard and not trying hard enough. But these past few weeks, a slew of NHL players have done things right, and in turn, have made me realize my three main qualms with the trend: 1. Pant length, 2. Pure white sneakers are the lazy go-to, and 3. Thinking wearing sneakers with suits is a fashion statement in itself.
The more you scroll through this glorious, sneaker-heavy edition of the Style Rankings, the more you'll get what I mean.
Before we get started, the Professional Women's Hockey League's inaugural season kicked off this week. Unsurprisingly, some of these pregame looks put the NHLers to shame already. My personal favorite was the beige suit from Ottawa's Mikyla Grant-Mentis:
I'm sure the best is yet to come from PWHL fashion, and I can't wait to follow along.
Now for the first Style Rankings of 2024.
10. Jason Zucker, Arizona Coyotes
1 of 10
The Coyotes' relaxed dress code has had an unexpected positive effect beyond the streetwear. Yes, it's been great to see the range of casual pregame outfits Coyotes players have put together throughout the season. But I've noticed when the players do dress up, they're suiting up with a purpose.
Below on the left, you'll see Jason Zucker's latest, a classic checkered moment completed with a solid brown tie and sneaker combination. Something about the sneaks here is just doing it for me. Could it be the matching laces? Maybe the general cohesiveness of the suit and tie perfectly match. Take note, people: The perfect time to try this look is when you have a matching tie and a pair of sneakers that aren't white.
9. Brandon Duhaime Styled by Marc-Andre Fleury, Minnesota Wild
2 of 10
I'm not sure what, exactly, is going on with Brandon Duhaime's outfits lately, but longtime prankster Marc-Andre Fleury appears to be behind it.
It all started when Duhaime called 39-year-old Fleury 50 years old twice during an intermission interview in late December. According to The Athletic's Michael Russo, Fleury caught wind of the interview and stole some of Duhaime's clothes after the game. One week later, Duhaime was spotted walking around in the fuzzy boots above.
Fleury quipped that the young(er) forward is "building up quite the wardrobe." We at the B/R NHL Style Rankings applaud Fleury for the fashion-forward twist in his latest hijinks.
Never change, Flower.
8. William Nylander, Toronto Maple Leafs
3 of 10
They don't call him Willy Styles for nothing, and although William Nylander has had taste from his first day in the NHL, this season has featured his strongest looks yet. I've appreciated his range, including wide-legged trousers that are big on the runway right now, a bit of a flex of his shoe collection, double-breasted suits and tons of different textures.
This week, I'm loving what appears to be a patterned scarf, paired with an earring.
More jewelry on the proverbial NHL runway in 2024, please.
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7. Linus Ullmark, Boston Bruins
4 of 10
Linus Ullmark is rapidly approaching "must-check" status when it comes to pregame fit content. He's got a large closet of extremely well-tailored and classic-yet-fun looks. He's not afraid to try something new or stick to something old that just works.
Right here he's got on one of my favorite color schemes with the blue and brown, and he's got a tie with a thousand little Corgis on it. The best part is that the tie blends in enough with the outfit to still make the outfit genuinely good, novelty aside.
6. Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs
5 of 10
Breaking news: Auston Matthews has finally given his favorite turtleneck a rest. Is it a coincidence he is absolutely tearing it up in the goal department lately while he's letting his neck breathe? I vote no.
Jokes aside, this is a super unique and fun fit. I love the sort of indistinguishable '70s vibe to the pattern. I love even more the eccentric but not too out-there sneaker selection. These might be my favorite sneakers I've ever seen grace the hallways of an NHL arena.
And then—hold up—are Matthews and Nylander wearing matching hoop earrings? This is quite literally everything I've ever wanted from Matthews' style. He's always had elite streetwear, and I'm thrilled to see him translate it to the pregame look better than he ever has.
5. Martin Nečas, Carolina Hurricanes
6 of 10
Martin Nečas has been hovering around the B/R Style Rankings forever, but I was waiting for him to do something just a tad different. I knew he had it in him. And here he is, right when the Czechs are thrilling us all in the World Juniors, delivering at the NHL level off the ice.
"Marty freaking Nečas" indeed. Here's where I think we're finally getting somewhere with the sneaker and suit combo. If you're going to do it, please be bold with at least one of the items, please no more pure white sneakers, and let's see some creativity.
Nečas nailed all of that here. I didn't even know where to start at first. I gasped at the Dior platform sneakers in the best way. This holograph-y purple color is so hot right now, too, and I love that Nečas is seizing the moment but staying true to his suit style.
Remember, originality rarely goes unrewarded around here.
4. Vincent Trocheck, New York Rangers
7 of 10
Vincent Trocheck is having one heck of a season with the Rangers atop the Metro, and his suit game is keeping right up off the ice. The latest, here, is a perfectly balanced blue gradient situation.
Suit-wearers of the world, you won't find a better blueprint (pun intended) than this to elevate a boring look with relative ease. Pick your favorite color. Find a light version of it in suit form. Find a darker version of it in tie and shoe form. Maybe toss a little something in the pocket.
Voila.
(Clutch Trocheck goals not included.)
3. Evander Kane, Edmonton Oilers
8 of 10
Styled by Gentleman's Playbook, Evander Kane really nailed a classic look with some elevation to close out 2023. I adore the choice of a silk undershirt here. I equally adore the matching Nikes—emphasis on the matching—with the green swoosh.
This fit is just so perfectly balanced, with the undershirt matching the blue and the swoosh matching the green to round out the patterns on the suit itself. Come to think of it, Gentleman's Playbook was also on Trocheck's fit, and that outfit is perfectly balanced as well. Nicely done, GP.
Even the phone case fits the vibe. Do we think that was planned?
2. Vegas Golden Knights, Elvis Fits
9 of 10
Is a group of Elvises an Elvi? Whatever we're calling it, I just loved the Elvis Presley theme the Golden Knights chose for their Winter Classic entrance.
"I mean, it's literally Vegas," defenseman Zach Whitecloud told the AP.
The red flaring of the pants was a solid detail. The shades were iconic. The exposed chest hair showed true dedication to the bit. The wigs with the sideburns, though, are what really sold me.
It doesn't get more Vegas than Elvis, and considering the trademark luck wasn't on the Golden Knights' side, they needed at least one suitable representation of Sin City at their first Winter Classic.
1. Seattle Kraken, Pike Place Fishmongers
10 of 10
Look, as iconic as the Vegas Elvis impersonators were at the Winter Classic, their hosts in Seattle ultimately deserve the No. 1 spot this week.
Goaltender Joey Daccord recorded the first-ever Winter Classic shutout as the Kraken beat the Golden Knights 3-0 on the ice, but the Kraken won the battle off the ice long before with their jerseys.
This is one of the best Winter Classic jerseys of all time:
The Golden Knights' jersey? Well, it exists:
On top of the actual jerseys, the tribute to fishmongers led by part Kraken owner Marshawn Lynch was one heck of an entrance—even if they didn't go tarps off.
While some complained that the franchise is too young to host a Winter Classic, I think we can all agree the Kraken absolutely nailed the atmosphere, Seattle fans showed out and hockey belongs in Seattle in all its fishmonger glory.
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