from Alex Prewitt of Sports Illustrated,

Beyond the overarching cultural shock of moving halfway around the world, Evgeny Kuznetsov was struck by a few smaller unfamiliarities upon finally joining the NHL in March 2014. Receiving per diem on road trips, for instance, was an entirely foreign concept in his native Russia. Ditto for dining alongside coaches at team meals and dumping the puck into the offensive zone. But nothing—absolutely nothing—bothered the Washington Capitals center more than his new job’s conservative dress code.

“Wearing the suit was the biggest problem,” he says. “I still hate that s---. One day I wish the NHL can allow you to wear whatever you want. I will have new look for every game.”

It is an amusing mental image, Kuznetsov as the sartorial soulmate of Russell Westbrook or James Harden, turning hockey rinks into fashion runways with ripped jeans and designer tees and whatever else he can afford on a $7.8 million annual salary. But for now Kuznetsov is resigned to cycle through the same 10 suits, each tailored to fit his 6' 2", 204-pound frame yet bland enough to fit in. “In our sport, it’s just different,” he says. “Basketball not like that. People won’t make fun of [NBA players] because they wear pink shoes. They go, ‘O.K., that’s his style.’”

Of course, even if Kuznetsov were bouncing passes instead of saucering them, his style would still stand out. Winger Tom Wilson describes his linemate this way: “Expect the unexpected.”

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