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.
February has been a tale of two teams. The Flames came out of the All-Star break screaming hot after acquiring Andrei Kuzmenko from the Vancouver Canucks in the Elias Lindholm trade. General Manager Craig Conroy followed up with his second move of the month trading Chris Tanev to the Dallas Stars for a collection of picks and defensive prospect Artem Grushnikov.
After beating the Boston Bruins, New Jersey Devils, and New York Islanders, the Flames dropped a close game against the New York Rangers which marked the start of a three-game skid that finally broke in comeback fashion against the Winnipeg Jets on Family Day. The Bruins, Edmonton Oilers, and Los Angeles Kings were all handed loses at the hands of the Flames’ strong play to finish the month. Although it seems the team is still planning to unload all of their pending unrestricted free agents, the team is playing very competitive hockey.
The seesaw action of the season continues as we approach the trade deadline, and it appears the retool is in full effect. With Andrei Kuzmenko making his fit-check debut this month, there are sure to be more fresh faces next month.
Without further ado, let’s kick off 2024’s second edition of the Flames Fit Check.
5. Noah Hanifin
Has anyone ever heard that song by The Clash, Should I Stay or Should I Go? It’s been the soundtrack to Noah Hanifin‘s season. With every trade rumour, a contract extension rumour follows closely behind it. It seems Craig Conroy and the Calgary Flames know if Hanifin stays, there could be trouble, and if he goes, there could be double.
Aside from all the chatter, Hanifin has been playing good hockey this season and has also kept the bar high headed into the arena. This simple, light brown, double-breasted suit doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it certainly looks professional.
Dark brown shoes are a nice touch, and the light blue shirt is an unexpected but welcomed substitute for your usual white button-up. I have to highlight the oversized pockets on the suit jacket as well. Simple, but really elevates the suit to an $8,000,000 times eight-year price tag.
4. Oliver Kylington
You’d never know Oliver Kylington hasn’t played NHL hockey for almost two years with how great he’s looked since rejoining the club. In his first month of action, Kylington has been anchoring the bottom pairing for the Flames and scored a phenomenal end-to-end goal against the Jets earlier this week.
With Hanifin destined for greener pastures and Chris Tanev on his way to Dallas, Kylington has the potential to break out in the top-four next season.
Kylington brings another dark look to this month’s Fit Check. The two-tone black is a rare combination but is pulled off to perfection here. The turtleneck lets the jacket do the talking, while the beanie (team covered ears) just pulls the whole thing together.
3. Rasmus Andersson
Rasmus Andersson: always consistent and never disappoints—on or off the ice for that matter. While rumours swirl around his teammates, Andersson has been a staple of the Flames’ lineup and a presence in the locker room.
Andersson debuted a fresh look this week on the home stand with this sand-coloured jacket and black pants. The jacket has a fine-threaded checker in it and a doubled-up right pocket for absolutely no reason other than that it looks cool.
Black pants and shoes don’t try too hard, but also break up the colour and give some contrast to the light shirt and jacket.
2. Dustin Wolf
Dustin Wolf finally breaks the no-tie, simple suit pattern of this February edition. The young puck-stopper had a tough game in his last start against the San Jose Sharks. The California kid had a tough time, giving up six goals in a colossal defensive meltdown by the team.
Although it wasn’t the best start we’ve seen from Wolf, he has shown flashes of great play this season and will be a full-time NHLer next season. If that’s the case, Flames fans need to be prepared for flashy cross-ice saves and flashy pre-game suits.
I’m not sure what to call that colour. Plum? Blueberry juice? Prune? No matter, the purplish hue is offset nicely by the blue checkered pattern with a tie and pocket square to match. Wolf may have found himself in an appointment with Don Cherry‘s tailor prior to this game at MSG.
1. Andrei Kuzmenko
Calgary welcomed a new face earlier this month, and it’s one you’d have a tough time forgetting. Kuzmenko has brought some skill on the ice and an ear-to-ear grin off the ice. In his first press conference, he showed his easygoing personality and has since become a staple of Flames social media clips.
Goofy is another word that comes to mind when I think about Andrei Kuzmenko. You could even consider this outfit a tad goofy. It’s casual, comfy, and nonchalant. Who doesn’t want that when thinking dresswear? Just a simple turtleneck, coat, and a beanie covering his Robin Williams’ Flubber hairdo.
It’s a simple fit and certainly falls short of previous number one fits. If I’m being honest, I just needed an excuse to showcase the new guy. He certainly has Flames fans’ hearts; let’s see if he can continue his improved play.
Fashionable Mention – Flames Charity Poker Tournament
We’re back with our second edition of 2024 and our second Fashionable mention. An award not given out for suits and game faces, but rather a fashionable vibe, if you will.
It was a fashionable look and cause this past weekend for the Flames. The boys headed down to Deerfoot Casino, hosting another Flames Ambassador’s Celebrity Poker Tournament.
It was all smiles, Stetsons, and donations to the Flames Foundation, as the event raised an incredible $501,000. The tournament marks the largest fundraiser for the Flames Foundation and features the current team and Alumni in a poker tournament against fans with a silent auction.
Check out Rasmus at the tournament, “Mic’d Up,” as Andrew Mangiapane says.
Although Rasmus couldn’t find a hat that fit this year and ran out of chips quickly, the team looked great, and the tournament had an incredible turnout.
Stay 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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