Unlike the NFL or the NBA, the NHL has rarely had a lot to offer when it came to fashion. While football stars like Jeremiah Owusu-Kromah are often considered fashion icons, the hockey fraternity is more used to seeing their favorite players in the same three business suits over and over again. However, that could soon change, but the fans aren’t exactly sure what to make of it.

The NHL is the only major sports league in the USA and Canada that has had a strict dress code for the players arriving at games. Naturally, back in 2021, when the Arizona Coyotes became the first team to relax dress codes for the athletes, that caused quite the stir within the community. “I think it’s great to be able to show a bit of your personality and your closet, other than just your suits. I had fun with it,” defenseman Jakob Chychrun said about the Coyotes’ leniency. And now, it looks like the League itself is walking down a similar path, but the fans aren’t entirely on board.

In a post on X by ESPN writer Gregor Wyshynski from July 11, the NHL’s new verdict on the players’ dress code has been shared. “Clubs are not permitted to propose any rules concerning Player dress code” and “Players are required to dress in a manner that is consistent with contemporary fashion norms,” the social media update quotes the NHL and NHLPA’s official statement on the matter.

“Sorry, Peaky Blinders cosplayers,” wrote Wyshynski in his post, as if sneering at how those who were stuck in a bygone era in terms of fashion now have to step up their wardrobe game. However, the update seems to be coming off as inane for the fans. Gregor’s sneer wouldn’t go unnoticed. After all, many hockey fans over the years have expressed dissatisfaction about how the League’s stars pale in comparison to basketball and football celebrities when it comes to dressing themselves in designer clothes.

But the dress code wasn’t the only thing that the NHL and the NHLPA brought a change to. The two hockey governing bodies also recently approved the extension of the collective bargaining agreement, which will ensure labor peace in hockey all the way through 2030. “The partnership between the Players’ Association and the league is stronger than it ever has been, and working together under this agreement presents a fantastic opportunity to continue to grow the game,” said NHL commissioner Gary Bettman on the newly forged partnership.

The agreement will make 84 games the new norm in the regular season, while also shortening the maximum contract lengths (seven years for players who will re-sign with their current clubs, six for new players). The creation of a full-time traveling goalie will bring an end to the practice of teams depending on emergency backup goalies (EBUGs) in case of emergency situations. However, it seemed that it was the change in the dress code regulations that caused the most debate among fans.

“Next will be coaches not wearing suits. Terrible,” one fan couldn’t help but grumble at how the NHL’s new dictum could take away the oomph factor that made the League stand out from its peers. Others also had varied opinions on the matter.

Fans reluctant to rally behind the NHL’s latest decision

While fans might argue that the business suits brought an extra touch of class to the NHL, the players had their own reasons to keep repeating their favorite threads. In the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Toronto Maple Leafs even made it clear that they have deep faith in their attire as a catalyst to help them win big matches. In light of that, many fans seem to think that the new dress code could be detrimental to the sport’s PR. “Unenforceable nonsense,” grunted one fan. “Awful,” attested another.

“So no tracksuits?” one fan just wanted to make sure that everyone was on the same page about the new dress code directive. For players like the Oilers’ Stuart Skinner and the Panthers’ Sam Bennett, it seemed they had hardly any other clothes other than business shirts and three-piece suits. However, given how the NHLPA mentioned “Contemporary fashion norms,” some fans debated whether this left room for interpretation and allowed the players to show up in whatever they liked. “But there is nothing precluding players from dressing as a Batman!” wheezed one fan, while another noted that Buzz Light Year from Toy Story could easily be a common sight at the NHL locker rooms in the coming days.

“Lots of clothing contracts on the way!” another fan was thinking from a whole different standpoint. How about you? How do you expect the new dress codes to change the League? Tell us your take on the issue with a comment below!