The Arizona Coyotes will be the first NHL team to utilize a fully relaxed dress code, according to an ESPN survey of all 32 franchises.
The NHL is the only major North American league that carries a strict dress code. Exhibit 14, Paragraph 5 of the collective bargaining agreement states: "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."
Coyotes chief brand officer Alex Meruelo Jr. floated the idea of ditching suits to the team last season, and they're going to run with it full time in 2021-22.
"(Meruelo) is very open to the idea of going to the game and growing our fan base and anything we can do to be a little unique and different, they're always open to trying different things," Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun said to ESPN's Emily Kaplan.
"To be the first team to go no dress code was awesome. The guys loved it. 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. I enjoyed it. I'm glad it's something we'll continue to do."
The NHL allowed players to dress as they wished for the 2020 bubble playoffs in Toronto and Edmonton but went back to traditional rules last season.
Sources told Kaplan that the NHLPA has been pushing for a league-wide change to dress code rules so players can express their personalities and help build individual brands.
