Saturday evening before their home opener, Washington Capitals players donned their fanciest suits and strutted their stuff at the annual “Rock the Red Carpet” event.
There were a few fashion fails — we’re looking at you, John Carlson’s pants leg tuck — but all in all, everyone looked splendid.
Let’s review.
This first category of players stood out by taking a chance with a pattern or unconventional suit color to show off their personality.
TJ Oshie
Michal Kempny
I’m torn about this suit by Kempny. It looks sharp, but it also looks like it could be a pajama set.
Tom Wilson
Tom went the checker route too. But as Peter said in his recap, Tom’s pattern is way too big. He looks like he’s wearing cocktail napkins.
Braden Holtby
Holtby almost deserves to be in a category of his own. The man can dress. It’s as if he looked in the mirror and asked, What suit will best match the color of my neckbeard?
Brendan Leipsic
Lars Eller
I’m fairly confident Lars wore this suit last year too, but it’s okay. It looks great on him. This is exactly what the Steam Refresh feature on the dryer is for.
Nic Dowd
Garnet Hathaway
Dowd and Hathaway appear inspired by Willy Wonka for their looks.
John Carlson
The top half of this outfit looks impeccable, but Carlson committed the biggest fashion sin of the night by stuffing his suit pants into his boots. Oh buddy. That’s a no.
Alex Ovechkin
Ovechkin wore his favorite blue suit, but this year he had an unbeatable accessory on the runway: a PUPPY!
This second category of players went for a tried-and-true conventional look, with small details to personalize the outfit.
Carl Hagelin
Such as Carl Hagelin’s hair.
Dmitry Orlov
Orlov went sock-less. That’s bold, but I don’t hate it.
Ilya Samsonov
Apparently, Ilya Samsonov is taking the saying If it works, don’t fix it very literally by not combing his hair since his first NHL win Friday.
Jakub Vrana
Jonas Siegenthaler
Radko Gudas
Radko Gudas’s vest and beard really completes this look.
Richard Panik
Nicklas Backstrom
We’re too scared to say anything negative about Nicklas Backstrom’s suit, because Nicklas Backstrom has looked us directly in the soul and judged us accordingly.
Headline photo: Elizabeth Kong
