Welcome to The Win Column’s Flames Fit Check, your monthly destination for Calgary Flames pregame fashion. Now, not by any means am I really qualified to give any opinions on fashion, but that’s the best part about the internet—I don’t have to be qualified. That being said, throughout the season you’ll be seeing my top five pregame fits and an unfashionable mention that turned some heads for the wrong reasons.
The team had a slightly above-average month finishing January 7–6≠–0. The month started 2–2, followed by a four-game winning streak, putting the team in a position to battle for a playoff spot.
The tides turned quickly as the Flames dropped four straight and capped off their final game before All-Star break with a win on the back of Jacob Markstrom’s 20th career shutout.
Throughout the tumultuous month, the Flames still showed up pregame, most notably a familiar face making his return to the lineup.
Without further ado, let’s kick off 2024’s first edition of the Flames Fit Check.
5. Rasmus Andersson
Rasmus Andersson starts this month’s countdown off with a nice two-tone blue checkered suit and white shirt. Black buttons on the shirt pull in the belt while the buckle matches Andersson’s wedding ring.
Earphones are in, matching the suit coincidently, and a shiny NHLPA lapel pin rounds out the fit.
After Andersson’s fellow countryman Elias Lindholm was traded Wednesday night, Andersson moved up to fifth in team scoring with 28 points on the year. As it seems the Flames have finally committed to a retool it seems imminent that Andersson and MacKenzie Weegar are the faces of the Flames defensive corps next season.
4. Connor Zary
It’s been quite the season thus far for Connor Zary. At the start of the 2022–23 season Zary was being criticized after a couple of injury-riddled seasons to start his pro career. It seemed as though most people had written off the 2020 first-round selection as a bottom-six role player.
Flash forward 18 short months and Zary is lighting up in his rookie season. With 23 points in 39 games, Zary sits behind only Connor Bedard in points per game. More impressively, Zary is shooting an incredible 20.4%.
The young gun brought his best at home with a grey-on-grey ensemble here. The toque and jacket are a strong complement to the checkered grey pants. The white shirt and black leather dress shoes round out the simple fit. Number 47 comes in at #4 this month.
3. Jacob Markstrom
Jacob Markstrom has been the Calgary Flames’ MVP this season and didn’t hold back with this all white fit on the road to start 2024. Markstrom is known for dipping deeper into the closet than most, showing off some interesting looks this season.
Corduroy, although a controversial fabric in this series, has finally been done right I think. The all-white corduroy suit is slightly different than the shirt, showing off some contrast. No tie to keep the focus on the suit and a simple slicked-back hairstyle rounds it out.
With the trade deadline on the horizon and two NHL calibre goalies behind him, it’s natural that trade talk has began swirling around Markstrom. Will the Flames continue getting Swede-less, or will Markstrom stay a Flame by the deadline? I’m not sure where things go but I do know that Markstrom is back, and maybe he’s finally convinced me that corduroy is too.
2. Blake Coleman
Blake Coleman is quickly becoming the sharpest dressed man on the Calgary Flames. The “Texas Tiger,” as he’s been coined recently, has been lighting up the stats sheet on the ice and the cameras on his way to the room.
The Flames’ leading scorer is on pace for a career season and I’m starting to wonder if it’s the birthday hat? Blake has donned the flat-brim cowboy hat many a time since featuring it for the first time in the November edition.
The Texan kept warm under the hat with a turtleneck sweater and checkered scarf. Alberta may be known as the Texas of Canada but I don’t remember ever hearing of -48°C with the windchill in the Lone Star state.
Blake rounded out the fit with a dark wine-coloured double-breasted suit. All class from the 32-year-old on pace for his first 30-goal season.
1. Oliver Kylington
It’s been a while, old friend. January 25, 2024 marked the first time Oliver Kylington played in an NHL game since May 26, 2022. It’s been a long road for Kylington, taking time off for his mental health. Oliver didn’t hold back with his first pregame fit of the season.
The all-black fit matched the dark mode theme of the Blasty jerseys last Thursday night. The toque and turtleneck to stay warm in the cold snap and a long black jacket to keep it stealthy. Kylington sported a nice bracelet and a leather cross-body bag, the first we’ve seen from the Flames this season.
Kylington made a splash in his first fit-check—a triumphant return indeed.
Fashionable Mention – Dads and Mentors
It’s been a negative couple of years in Calgary Flames land and I feel there’s no better time to break the mould than right here, right now.
I’m going off the game plan this month and giving the usual Unfashionable Mention an HR-mandated vacation. That being said, January 2024 will mark the first Fashionable Mention. An award not given out for suits and game faces, but rather a fashionable vibe if you will.
That being said, who has a more fashionable vibe than a Dad?
The Flames held their Dads and Mentors trip in January for the first time in four seasons. Not surprisingly, it was some of the best play we’ve seen from the team all season. The dads and mentors were lively in the stands and put huge smiles on their faces in the dressing room.
Just look at this scene from the suite after Yegor Sharengovich’s hat trick goal.
The Dads and Mentors trip couldn’t have come at a better time for the Flames. Although the team has slid since, it’s always a boost to have loved ones around during the gruelling middle part of the season.
Stayed tuned in February to see if any of the Flames’ new additions make the Top 5.
All photos courtesy of @NHLFlames.
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