The Player Wears Prada: NHL PreSeason Fit Check
The Good, The Bad, The Boring
Filip Forsberg walking into a preseason game with some citrus. Photo courtesy: Nashville Predators
This year, preseason is not just about testing out new lines and getting to know new faces on a team. This will be the first season under the new CBA rules, which get rid of the previous dress codes for games. Over the course of the past few weeks, we have gotten a preview into what NHL players are doing with this newfound freedom. Here’s what I took away from the preseason, from the good, to the bad, to the boring.
THE GOOD
There were a few standouts in preseason walk-ins. Seattle Kraken goalie and fan favorite Joey Daccord arrived for his preseason debut in an F1 jacket. Daccord is an avid F1 fan, and seeing him bring his love for racing into the rink gave us a bit of personality that fans have been begging for from players. Filip Forsberg and Roope Hintz also gave us a bit of personality with their choices. Forsberg wore a fun, lemon printed button up, while Hintz wore a light blue sweater that is perfect for the incoming autumn chill.
I expect to see a lot more sweaters in walk in pictures as the season starts and we transition fully from warmer weather into fall and winter. Many players will opt for branded hoodies and crewneck sweatshirts, but I think we will see some cardigans and pullover sweaters, like Patrik Laine’s red number, soon enough. I am already seeing a lot of bomber and leather jackets, such as in the recent Utah Mammoth walk-ins, where defenseman Mikhail Sergachev arrived in a sleek blue and white detailed bomber jacket.
Joey Daccord arriving for the preseason Seattle Kraken game against the Canucks on 21 September 2025. Credit: Seattle Kraken on X
THE BAD
I fear our worst fear has become a reality: players are using the lax dress code to roll up to a game in a t- shirt and pants. Now, I’m all for casualwear at work; I’m known to roll up to the office in converse and a t- shirt at least once a month. But I’m also not making professional athlete money. Maybe I would be more accepting if only a few players walked in with a luxury t-shirt and a belt to match. But when almost the entire Devils roster is arriving in t-shirts, I can’t help but think, “Is that it?”
It’s only the preseason, so I’m going to try not to be harsh. Maybe players are saving their more sophisticated looks for the start of the actual season. But also, I wouldn’t be surprised if this sets a precedent for players wearing their going-to-the-supermarket outfits. Hopefully we see players elevating their outfits with accessories or jackets to at least give us some flavour.
THE BORING
Unfortunately, the reality is that even with the dress code no longer existing on paper, it still seems like a majority of the NHL isn’t changing their wardrobe for the new season. Yes, hockey players aren’t known for breaking with routine, but looking at the Avalanche’s outfits in September or the Wild’s travel outfits for their last preseason game, you wouldn’t even know the CBA had changed.
Nathan MacKinnon arrives for the Colorado Avalanche’s preseason game against the Dallas Stars on 27 September 2025. Credit: Colorado Avalanche on X
Maybe I was too optimistic that a league that prides itself on tradition would immediately jump into the uncharted waters of “contemporary fashion norms.” But it’s only preseason. Perhaps players are still warming up to the idea of having more freedom and creativity. Or maybe they are waiting for someone to really break the mold to see how far they can go. Either way, preseason has set us up on the fashion front for this upcoming season.
