All the way down on page 342 of the NHL's collective bargaining agreement, under the section for standard club rules, is a line that dictates what players are allowed to wear when coming to the rink or traveling for games.
"Players are required to wear jackets, ties and dress pants to all club games and while traveling to and from such games unless otherwise specified by the head coach or general manager."
By default, suits are required. Some teams have taken the option to relax their dress code -- the Maple Leafs, for example, have more of a "business casual" dress code. The Coyotes got rid of their dress code entirely, a decision made to allow the players to show more of their personality.
For this Survey Says -- the last edition of the feature this season -- I asked Penguins players if they'd be in favor of a relaxed dress code. The answers were surprisingly divided. This was a question I asked early in the season, so there are a couple of answers from players who are no longer with the team as well.
Here's what they all said.
Sidney Crosby: I like wearing a suit. I like a uniform look. Whatever we came up with, like if everyone has something the same, It could be anything. Like I've seen a lot of other sports, and I've seen F1 teams travel. They don't wear suits, but they all have like, a polo. I like the unity.
Bryan Rust: I think it'd be fun, either for home or or away games. I think maybe away games you can kind of have some fun with it. And then for home games, maybe keep dressing up in our suits like that, but it could be based on team-to-team I think. A little bit more character and fun for the league.
Brock McGinn: I think I kind of like when everybody wears a suit, I think it makes it professional. I think it's something that just makes it more businesslike. I like the suits.
Kasperi Kapanen: Yeah, I think I'm in that generation where I feel like it's trending in that direction. Obviously hockey hasn't been that way for forever. So I think it'd be cool. I mean, I don't expect guys to show up in basketball jerseys and whatnot. Jeans and a nice shirt and some nice shoes and dress up somewhat respectably, I think that'd be cool to see kind of everybody's style and what they come up with.
Casey DeSmith: No. I like the suits, I think it's classy. I think it's professional.
Rickard Rakell: I'm not a big suit and tie guy, but I'll do whatever dress code they have. I think it would be nice to choose your own clothing, that would be a way more fun way to go.
Mark Friedman: I don't really care. I like the whole look good, feel good, play good kind of thing. If I'm in a suit, it's kind of more mental at this point.
Brian Dumoulin: I'm totally fine with that. I mean, as long as guys are comfortable, it doesn't bother me.
Danton Heinen: I think I'd be in favor of it. It should be a choice team-to-team, whatever they wanted to do. I probably wouldn't be a guy that goes crazy with it. I just have a pretty plain style. But if guys want to do that and grow the game. I don't see why not.
Jake Guentzel: I'm a little different on that one. I like to just dress up in the suits, you don't really have to think about it and just kind of stick to your suits. So I'd stick with the suit.
Jason Zucker: Absolutely. Yeah, I always thought that it'd be fun. I think it goes both ways. It's one of those things where you can still kind of express yourself in a suit and make it fun, but sometimes it'd be nice just to go a little bit more casual. But I feel there's a respect level with the game that you've got to make sure you keep it up to a certain standard.
Tristan Jarry: It's not my decision.
P.O Joseph: Yes and no. I feel like it's it's always been part of the hockey world, wearing a suit and a tie. But don't get me wrong. I love my little bit of my fashion. So I feel like I would have a little bit of fun with it. But yeah, I think I just follow the rules. I'm sure it's going to open up a little bit in the next couple of years. But for now, I'm really happy to be wearing my suit and tie so I can be creative still with that.
Marcus Pettersson: I think a little bit the league, some teams go to a no-tie look. I know that some teams didn't go suits all year last year too. But I like the way we have it, just because you're used to it with a tie and everything. I think it's a good look for our team. I like the way that we keep it with a tie and jacket.
Kris Letang: Well, I would wear a suit no matter what.
