NHL Style Rankings: a Wild Ryan Reaves Appears, but No. 1 on the List Is in Boston

Ben Green/NHLI via Getty Images

The holiday season is quickly approaching, and the weather outside is starting to match the temperature at ice level. This can only mean one thing: it’s overcoat szn in the NHL, baby.

Plenty of players debuted fresh outerwear in the first half of December, so we’ve got a lot to cover in this latest edition of the style rankings.

But first, take a look at this video of the Biebers at a Leafs game last week:

Aesthetically, you’re either the Justin or the Hailey of your relationship. If you own more than two bucket hats, you’re the Justin. It’s me, I’m also the Justin.

Sadly no NHL players have stepped up to the plate and purchased the Willy Wonka-esque sunglasses Justin was rocking yet.

Until then, here are the 10 best-dressed players in the league from the last two weeks.

10. Matt Grzelcyk

Debuting at No. 10andDavid Pastrňák

Previously: No. 7

Highest ranking of the season: No. 4

Charleston, Massachusetts’ GQ Ambassador Matt Grzelcyk finally cracked the Top 10 with this matchy-matchy Thom Browne moment.

It’s cute that he and Pastrňák have the same classic suit in different colors. Do we think they called each other and coordinated who would wear it on which day?

9. William Nylander

Previously: No. 2

Highest ranking of the season: No. 2

It’s tempting, but I will not succumb to the pressure of picking Auston Matthews just because I haven’t yet. How could I, when Nylander is always right there serving looks of his own?

Love a fancy topcoat, especially in the Toronto cold.

8. Kasperi Kapanen

Previously: No. 6

Highest ranking of the season: No. 6

Courtesy of the Pittsburgh Penguins Instagram

(Editor’s note: Click here for the full photo)

If houndstooth has ten fans, I am one of them. If houndstooth has one fan, it is me. If houndstooth has zero fans, I have died.

Kapanen has a lovely take on the trendy-yet-timeless pattern, here. The beautiful luggage that happens to match is just the icing on the cake he will surely receive for his No. 8 spot on this week’s style rankings.

7. Adam Lowry

Previously: Unranked

Highest ranking of the season: No. 7

Few shine in the outerwear department quite like Lowry. It takes a special person to not only brave the Winnipeg winter, but to look good doing it. He’s killing the coat/pants combination in the first photo, and he’s showing us he’s still dedicated to the outfits underneath the coats with the cool silver-y pinstripe look in the second.

6. Nino Niederreiter

Debuting at No. 6

Courtesy of the Nashville Predators Instagram

(Click here for the full photo)

Give me fuel, give me fire, give me Nino Niederreiter’s style rankings debut.

Niederreiter almost always has a fun pair of socks on, and that vibe clearly extended to the rest of his outfit, here. The purple and pink color combination is a good example of how to look put together when going for two bold colors: match the undershirt with the secondary color (usually the tie)!

5. K’Andre Miller

Previously: No. 4

Highest ranking of the season: No. 1

Miller has once again obliterated the rest of the competition in the texture category. I’m loving thicker material that manages to keep its shape lately, not to mention the green gradient might be one of the best color schemes we’ve seen from Miller thus far.

Does he deserve better than No. 5 this week? Please let me know in the comments.

Also, the Rangers released an adorable video with Miller detailing some of his “fashion secrets” earlier this week. As you can see, it was basically him looking at some of his best outfits and going, “Yeah, I looked great that day,” but as humbly as possible.

Zero lies were told. 10/10 video. No notes.

4. Ryan Reaves

Debuting at No. 4

Reaves made two equally important debuts in the past month: His Minnesota Wild debut, and his 2022-23 NHL style rankings debut. The man knows how to make an entrance.

Gosh, I love that red tie.

3. Tage Thompson

Previously: Unranked

Highest ranking of the season: No. 3

Again, we must commend Thompson for his dedication to clothes that fit his 6’6″ frame.

And class, what do we always say? That’s right, “Look good, play good.” You’ll recall Thompson scored five goals in less than 15 minutes against Columbus Dec. 7. It was a highlight in what appears to be a breakout season for the Sabres forward on the ice. His outfits lately indicate it might be a breakout season off the ice, too.

I’m especially fond of the first one pictured, that screams “Scoring five goals in one hockey game at 7 pm, performing in a My Chemical Romance cover band at 10 pm.”

2. Nikita Zadorov

Previously: No. 8

Highest ranking of the season: No. 4

Folks, it appears that Mr. Double-breasted suit is slowly winning me over.

It might be his sense of humor about the whole thing, which showed up again in his interview with Spittin’ Chiclets yesterday.

“You guys talk about fashion, but I’m not that fashionable, I’m not like (Auston) Matthews who does GQ stuff and everything,” he said on the podcast. “I just like nice suits. All I care about is making sure I look good when I get to the game — outside of that I have basic style…I don’t sit at the websites and order new essentials. I know all the brands, but it’s just like, stupid. I have two kids and a wife, like, come on guys. I’m not going to spend f—– money on some sh—.”

That philosophy is smart and efficient, if you ask me. Anyway, I thought the blue leather was different and fun, and he looks fantastic in the plaid while staying true to his jacket preferences.

1. Linus Ullmark

Previously: Unranked

Highest ranking of the season: No. 1

Goaltender Linus Ullmark is currently leading the NHL in wins, save percentage, and goals against average. His contributions to Boston’s historic start cannot be understated.

Big woop.

Today, he’s officially No. 1 in the most important metric of all: suit game per 60.

There’s just no one out there doing it better day in and day out right now, and we can thank his (and maybe his stylist’s?) combination of creativity and class. He nailed three drastically different looks in one week with ease, and that’ll get you your first No. 1 spot on the NHL style power rankings.