Greg Wyszynski, ESPNMay 17, 2024, 5:50 p.m. ET
CloseGreg Wyszynski is a senior NHL writer for ESPN.
One of the most fashionable traditions of the Stanley Cup Playoffs continues off the ice: creating custom jackets for players’ partners.
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It’s a tradition that’s been going on for at least a decade and incorporates team logos and player names and numbers into creative designs in an effort to win an NHL championship.
This season’s styles range from old-school outerwear to the classic Canadian tuxedo. Joining us to analyze this season’s WAG jackets is Lexi LaFleur Brown, Hockey Romance author, social media hockey influencer, and wife of former NHL forward JT Brown.
“It takes a whole family effort to win the Cup and you have to believe these women are a big part of that,” Brown said.
The Boston Bruins WAGs jacket is a Centennial Playoff jacket celebrating the franchise’s 100th anniversary. Jeanius Jacket
These bomber jackets were designed by Boston-area fashion designer Ben Weiner, who also creates custom jerseys and jackets known as “Genius Jackets.” The details on this jacket are noteworthy: it was designed as a “Centennial” playoff jacket as the franchise celebrates its 100th anniversary.
The color scheme is inspired by that celebration, as are the bear logos on the arms. The names of each player’s partners are also sewn onto the labels. “These jackets have been popular with fans this year, and there’s a reason for that,” Brown said. “They’re timeless and well-crafted. These jackets aren’t just fun accessories, they’re keepsakes.”
The Florida Panthers WAGs jacket features a detailed logo on the back. NHL
These Panthers jackets feature rhinestones, denim and very sharp logos on the back and arms. “The Panthers women are sporting a head-to-toe Canadian tuxedo look, and for that we appreciate it,” Brown said.
Simple but effective: it’s May in South Florida, and I’m not planning on wearing a Canadian down jacket.
Their New York Rangers partners took a different approach, wearing their classic jerseys instead of jackets. NHL
The Rangers are notable for being one of the few teams in the NHL without a mascot who wears a suit. That’s not to say New York is all business, but the fact that the players’ partners didn’t wear jackets in the playoffs gave it the same energy. Instead, they dressed up in the players’ jerseys.
“It’s rare to see a hockey player’s wife or girlfriend wearing a jersey to an NHL game, so it was a surprising move to wear a vintage Rangers jersey to Game 1. It paid off because all of the jerseys look incredibly cool and vintage jerseys have always been a street style staple,” Brown said.
The Dallas Stars WAGs jacket features streetwear-inspired lettering on the back. TKO Painting
Taylor Campa-Olson of TKO Painting also designed the Dallas Stars’ jackets last season. Painted leather jackets dominated the last playoffs, and although the material is different this time, the jackets are once again painted in striking detail, especially with the streetwear-inspired name and lettering on the back.
The satin jacket features the Colorado Avalanche team colors. NHL
These satin jackets feature team colors but with some interesting touches that set them apart from similar designs. “There’s been a lot of playoff bowling jackets this year, but I think the ones our guys made with the Avalanche are the best. I love the logo on the arm and Colorado on the front,” Brown said.
Vancouver Canucks WAGs jacket features player name on collar and child or pet name on sleeve. IN|HOUSE Design Studio
Created by Vancouver’s IN|HOUSE design studio, this throwback jacket has a lot going for it, almost like an alternate NHL sweater. “This jacket is our most unique design to date, with all the little details, from the player’s name under the collar to the pet’s or child’s name on the sleeve,” Brown says.
The Edmonton Oilers WAG jacket features the name sewn onto the back of the black leather fabric. NHL
In a postseason packed with bold designs, Edmonton went in a different direction: a black leather jacket with the team’s name stitched on the back and a text logo on the front. Lauren Kyle, fiancée of Oilers star Connor McDavid, said the design process began more than a month before the playoffs began.
“Sometimes, when you have too many cooks in the kitchen, it becomes an issue, so I make three mock-ups and send them out to the group and we all vote for one,” Kyle said on the Oilers+ pre-game show. “This year, I was inspired by current fashion trends: stylish, simple and something that looks good on everyone.”
