Back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearances and some of the biggest games of his career behind the bench: Kris Knoblauch knows a thing or two about moments when every detail matters.
From 2023 to 2026, the Canadian coach led the Edmonton Oilers and coached Connor McDavid, a relationship that began long before their time together in the NHL, when Knoblauch coached him with the Erie Otters in junior hockey.
Throughout his career, another constant has followed him: the suit. Long associated with the culture of professional hockey, it’s a piece Knoblauch sometimes reserves for the biggest moments of the season. During a visit to the Surmesur booth at the NHLCA Global Coaches’ Clinic, he sat down with stylist Danielle Zallo to design a new suit and step slightly outside his usual style.
Stepping Outside His Comfort Zone
When you know what works, it can be tempting to return to it again and again. Knoblauch admits that many of the suits in his closet tend to look quite similar. His consultation with Danielle was therefore an opportunity to explore something new without straying too far from his personal style. Among the options presented, a burgundy shade caught his attention.
“I do like it. I do not have anything like that.”
The fabric, however, was only the starting point. Double vents at the back, four sleeve buttons and a contrasting final button: each detail was selected throughout the consultation to create a suit that felt like his own while bringing something new to his wardrobe.
Suits for the Biggest Games
For Knoblauch, not every suit holds the same place in his wardrobe. Some are saved specifically for the moments that matter most during a season.
“Certainly, there are suits that I like and I know look better, and I save them for the first playoff game and the home opener. And I do have those suits that I’ll bring out for those special occasions.”
It’s his own way of marking the big moments. In a sport where routines and traditions play an important role, choosing what to wear can become part of the ritual. The home opener, the start of the playoffs: moments when looking your best matters even before the puck drops.
A Fit Made for the Person Wearing It
After wearing off-the-rack suits for years, Knoblauch noticed one difference in particular when making the move to made-to-measure: the fit.
“The fit was a lot better. Obviously, nice having somebody tailor it exactly to your needs, because obviously my shape is not like everybody else’s.”
That’s one of the principles at the heart of made-to-measure. Instead of starting with a standard fit and asking the person wearing it to adapt, individual measurements, proportions and preferences help shape the garment—an especially meaningful difference when suits are a regular part of your professional wardrobe.
The Suit: A Hockey Tradition
While dress codes in professional hockey have begun to evolve in recent years, Knoblauch remains attached to a longstanding tradition: arriving at the rink in a suit and tie.
“I think it’s part of our culture. Arriving to the rink in a suit and tie. Yes, it’s changed a little bit with player dress code, but I think it’s important to look sharp, and I think it’s just important to be part of that culture.”
For Knoblauch, the suit goes beyond what you wear. It accompanies the routines, the big games and a way of presenting yourself that has been part of hockey for generations. And when a suit is special enough to stay in the closet until the first playoff game, it’s easy to understand how it can come to represent much more than just what you wear.
Like the style behind the NHL bench?
Book an appointment with a Surmesur stylist to create a made-to-measure look of your own.