There comes a time in every man’s life when he must ask himself the fundamental question: Socks or no socks?
Even the most fashionable among us can’t agree on this one.
“I like no socks,” Victor Hedman told me and Joe Smith after our recent chat about the style ranking powerhouse Lightning.
“Socks for sure, but sometimes you can wear those no-show socks,” Mikhail Sergachev offered. “But socks for sure, because feet smell. You should always wear socks.”
“It depends on the game, it depends on the situation, it depends on the event,” Pierre-Edouard Bellemare said. “Let’s say it’s a Christmas game, then you have some crazy socks. In Tampa with the weather, I have nice ankles, I have to show them off.”
Now that it’s getting warmer everywhere, ankle szn is rapidly approaching. In The Athletic’s previous style power rankings, we saw those spring looks starting to bloom around the league, and now everyone is catching up, with some players on hot streaks dressing up for the occasion.
Who ranks this week? Let’s get into it.
The boys are in #themasters spirit#ALLCAPS | @Amtrak pic.twitter.com/ZRtrSbGEPG
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 8, 2022
Green Jacket Sunday ⛳️ pic.twitter.com/wqDIOnQSaL
— x-Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) April 10, 2022
I appreciate the effort! Go golf! Woo!
Pop of color, anyone?#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/55v5YQmUF1
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) April 11, 2022
I don’t dislike Edmundson’s outfit (on the left above) enough to totally write him out of the rankings (though I prefer his crop tops), but Anderson (right) is the clear subject of this tweet. I like it ahead of Easter.
Previously: No. 3 Highest all-time ranking: No. 3
Simple, refined, consistent. Three pillars we love here at the style rankings.
Previously: Unranked Highest all-time ranking: No. 2
It looks like tan is in this April, and I appreciate the two-tone brown going on, here. What really puts this outfit on the map for me is the size of the tie, it’s almost like a prop, it reminds me of the Talking Heads or Patrick Bateman or something, but the slicked-back hair might also have something to do with that.
Previously: Unranked Highest all-time ranking: No. 3
📱🎧#GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/yJnPsCpfEc
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) April 12, 2022
I’m thrilled to report that the Senators are keeping up with the Joseph outfit content after his trade from Tampa Bay. Joseph showed up to his new team with some expectedly strong looks, and we can all exhale because it looks like we’ll continue to see them.
I also want to talk about headphones as accessories. The kids are telling me that AirPods are officially OUT. Maybe Joseph is confirming this, or maybe he’s just a sound-quality buff.
Hintz is on the right in the bottom-right photo here:
It’s called fashion.@7eleven | #TexasHockey pic.twitter.com/xFt54EEzkM
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) April 7, 2022
And again on the right here:
Finn ‘tent. pic.twitter.com/7JMjXY71Pz
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) April 10, 2022
The maroon three-piece Suit with a white tie? Say no more! The maroon and black combo is a classic, but it’s all anyone ever seems to do with maroon. I like the white-on-white shirt-tie combo, too.
As for the rest of the Finns, what do you think they’re talking about in this picture? This is giving me sort of the “cheerleader effect,” where on their own they aren’t individually making the list, but the combination of Hintz’s standalone outfit and the collective aura of the group of Dallas Finns can’t be denied.
Previously: Disqualified for outfit repeating Highest all-time ranking: No. 1
🍝 in tan for a tilt with Toronto 📸 pic.twitter.com/J9gGrMdLB5
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) March 29, 2022
Pasta has arrived👌 pic.twitter.com/95ccbdagVy
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) March 29, 2022
I know this won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but I adore everything about it. The tan suit, the sneakers, the man bun, the confidence. I don’t know if you all truly understand how impressive it is that Pastrnak keeps finding a way to show up in something different when his only option for pregame attire is suits.
Previously: Unranked Highest all-time ranking: No. 2
A post shared by New Jersey Devils (@njdevils)
Subban is known for his flash and willingness to take fashion risks, so it’s funny this simple look is one of my all-time favorites.
You don’t see a gray-green combo every day. Personally, I’d never think to put these two colors together. Yet the pop of green does so much to pull this outfit together and take it to the next level.
Can we hang this outfit in the rafters too? #ThankYouRJ pic.twitter.com/91S6xkgYC6
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) April 1, 2022
But wait, there's more! pic.twitter.com/u6gnQiqFtO
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) April 1, 2022
Your coach could never. pic.twitter.com/H1CuZWB2Hb
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) April 2, 2022
The Sabres went all-in on a lovely tribute to longtime play-by-play announcer Rick Jeanneret, who is in his final season. The event featured all players and even coach Don Granato rocking Jeanneret’s trademark suspenders and/or turtlenecks. I love that they didn’t just mail it in, and some players added their own personal flair to the look. Well done and classy!
Terminus, tout le monde descend. 🚏
Last stop, everybody off.#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/2uuOXmJJAd
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) April 9, 2022
Les gars sont arrivés au Prudential Center.
Made it to Prudential Center.#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/SDV7unKKYj
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) April 7, 2022
I want to be very clear: I don’t think Caufield has actually had the best outfits around the league in the first half of April. But context matters, and it’s awesome to see a guy growing into his game and into his style at the same time. There’s a clear correlation between him trying some different looks and the way he’s been scoring recently. I love that it seems like he’s feeling confident enough now to wear what he actually wants to wear.
Isn’t that what fashion is all about?
(Top photo of Cole Caufield: Francois Lacasse / NHLI via Getty Images))