If at first one doesn’t succeed at taking the top spot in our NHL style power rankings, try, try again. Or, just go super hard with your holiday apparel, and that will also do the trick for me.
There is no time of the year I enjoy more than this stretch when Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa and the new year all collide with one another. I dive deep into all things related to holiday cheer — the movies, the ideals of the season and places that exude those sentiments. I love holiday restaurants. I love the food. I love the ugly sweaters. You name it, and I promise you, I soak it up.
If a player or team shows the same level of vested interest in the holidays as I do, I’m a sucker for it. And speaking of the holidays, there is one team that made an unparalleled push to be crowned top of the NHL style power rankings this week. I applaud the team for going back to the drawing board and coming up with an approach to earning the top spot that I couldn’t overlook.
Beyond that, I believe I’ve discovered the best-dressed friend tandem in the NHL, and I’ve now seen someone normally viewed as more of a Grinch on the ice showing he can be holly and jolly, too.
To get more stories like this delivered to your feed, follow our Culture vertical.
I absolutely love the consistency and effort the Toronto Maple Leafs winger not only puts into picking socks for the occasion but also to show them off. Nice to see you again, Rudolph. At this point, I wonder whether the team photographer simply knows to give him an opportunity to reveal what socks he has or whether it’s a conversation. I think I’d enjoy being a fly on the wall either way.
Anything that makes looking fashionable easy, I’m all in. Case in point, this lovely coat sported by the Washington Capitals goaltender. It’s simple but classy. It pairs well with the baby-blue shirt he has tucked away and the navy blue trousers. I’m a big fan of the collar, because it’s a little different from your standard coat, and it captured my attention looking through the post. Also, do I spy with my little eye some cowboy boots with this fit? Bold choice, but with the handlebar mustache, he pretty much lands this one.
James Bond would never let his hair get as long as the Arizona Coyotes defenseman, but I do believe he’d appreciate — and like — this three-piece suit. Some people find all-black too boring or simple, and I disagree if there’s a way you can add flair to it. In this situation, Stecher brings in a velvet suit jacket and a patterned black tie to make this game day ensemble really pop. The shades and the way the photographer caught him walking give him this air of suave sophistication. I think 007 would want to add it to his wardrobe.
Teammates who commit to coming in together obviously get their fits off together, too. The fact that the NHL could make an entire slideshow dedicated to the friendship of the Montreal Canadiens center and winger is tremendous. If you go through the slideshow, take a look at the second picture. These two look like they have a great time together and make a point to show up at the same time. This time, they coordinated so they’re both wearing the main colors for Christmas, with Suzuki in the forest green suit and Caufield in the burgundy one.
For a second, the Pittsburgh Penguins winger had stumped me. Now, I’ve said I like hats with suits, even really nice ones, but only if they match the aesthetic of the overall outfit. So at first glance, the hat didn’t seem to fit the double-breasted suit. I moved past the copper color throughout the suit to the secondary color — a shadow gray. Upon further review, I realized the hat actually does match well. A tie or pocket square in line with that color would have made this easier to see, if they were all put together, but where’s the fun in easily seeing what someone is doing?
The design and texture on the shirt of the Winnipeg Jets defenseman made his inclusion a no-brainer. I saw the light purple shirt married with the paisley tie, and I knew he was going to be one of my top 10 for the last two weeks. It’s difficult to tier a trio of different colors to make it look seamless, but that’s exactly what Schmidt did here. The primary color is blue, the tie combines a lighter blue and purple, and the shirt is light purple. I can’t call it gradient exactly, but that’s the effect you get working from blue to a lighter blue/purple to a lighter purple. It all melds into a tasteful outfit.
As I said in my last edition, I’ve always thought of Reaves as an enforcer. Well, it’s not just my thought, it’s his reputation over the years as somebody who has laid some huge hits on his opponents. I did not have the Minnesota Wild winger as the bringer of holiday cheer or purveyor of gifts, but ahead of the holiday season, he dressed up as old St. Nick. And who better to be his helpful aide in the North Pole than his teammate who plays on the left wing.
This, my friends, is art. Not adding a tie was absolutely the correct decision here, unless it matched the festiveness of the rest of the outfit. I’m glad we have nothing obscuring our view of this masterpiece sported by the Boston Bruins winger. I would have no shortage of questions if I saw someone wearing an outfit like this. In fact, seeing this would put me in the best of moods. I love Christmas that much, and I appreciate other people who indulge in the holiday cheer as much as I do.
Lindholm and DeBrusk were a part of an entire team effort to show off the excitement for the most wonderful time of the year. I list the defenseman and winger as the ones receiving the accolade because they’re the first in the slideshow, but in reality, this is a win for the Bruins overall. The top team in hockey dug deep in their closets, and there was no denying the Bruins deserved the top spot this week. The creativity behind each player’s suit was a breath of fresh air. The commitment by Boston to have each of its players get into the holiday spirit, in whatever way they celebrate, made my day as I scrolled through each picture in the slideshow. I want to know who designed these remarkable suits and who coordinated this effort.
(Photo of Kirill Kaprizov: Bruce Kluckhohn / NHLI via Getty Images)
.