‘Dress for the Occasion’: A bold vision brought to life for the NHL Western Conference Finals
What started as a spontaneous idea in the control room quickly became a fully tailored production — literally.
For the Western Conference Finals, ESPN’s Creative Content Unit partnered with NHL analyst P.K. Subban to craft “Dress for the Occasion,” a dynamic opening tease that fuses fashion, storytelling and playoff intensity. Fueled by a shared vision and executed in just days, the piece showcases not only P.K.’s signature style but the power of ESPN teamwork across production, creative and ESPN Images.
The idea started during a late-night watch of The Point with Linda Schulz (Vice President, Production), David Gibson (Coordinating Producer) and Brian Arnold (Creative Content Unit Producer). “P.K. came on wearing an incredible suit and it immediately caught my eye,” Arnold said. “I thought, ‘What if we filmed P.K. getting tailored for a suit?’ The metaphor being: how you show up is how you play.” With encouragement from Schulz and Gibson, the concept quickly took shape.
What followed was a fast-moving, detail-heavy shoot with six outfit changes, seven scenes, and a full studio build, including a Ducati, red leather couch, spiral staircase, and a 1965 Rolls-Royce lifted into a second-floor space with just millimeters to spare. “The logistics were no joke,” said Jean-Luc LaDouceur (Creative Content Unit Producer). “But Brian and I trust each other — we’ve worked on enough CCU projects to know how to divide and conquer.”
The collaboration extended beyond production. To capture a premium look and feel, the team pulled in ESPN Senior Photographer Allen Kee to shoot stills and appear on camera as a working fashion photographer. “It’s a perfect example of using ESPN’s internal talent to elevate the piece,” said Arnold.
“Working with P.K. is always a creative high point,” said Kee. “Where sport meets fashion, P.K. brings a vision — and his team brings the craft — to turn concept into something unforgettable. With ESPN’s brilliant creatives and a director of photography, who I’m fortunate to call a dear friend, each shoot becomes a canvas. For a photographer, it’s pure alchemy.”
Brian Arnold and P.K. Subban on the set (Allen Kee/ESPN Images)
P.K. Subban on the set (Allen Kee/ESPN Images)
(Allen Kee/ESPN Images)
(Allen Kee/ESPN Images)
Front row (L-R): Brian Reilly, Derriyon Winns.
Back row (L-R): Robert O'Reilly, Bryan Brousseau, Denise Starr, Lizzy Hembekides, Jean-Luc LaDouceur, Brian Arnold, Josh Feezer, P.K. Subban, Marc-Patrick, Kam Debeche (Allen Kee/ESPN Images)
To keep the shoot authentic, P.K. brought in the people who know his style best. “My tailor I’ve used since I was 20 years old — Marc Patrick and Sarto Rialto,” he said. “And my stylist, Kam Debeche — he’s worked with me on and off for the past 10 years. To have them both there meant a lot.”
The standout moment for Subban? A black pinstripe double-breasted suit with a wide-brimmed hat. “That particular suit was the one I wore for Game 1 in Boston during the Stanley Cup Playoffs when I played for Montreal,” said Subban. “Double overtime, winning goal. Every time I put it on, it reminds me that I can do whatever I want, whenever I want — and that I’m just a bad, bad man.”
For both producers, the final result was about more than just a polished tease. “What I’m most proud of is the team,” said Arnold. “There’s no way this comes together without complete buy-in, from production to edit to talent.”
LaDouceur echoed the sentiment: “We were trusted to do our thing, and that level of support makes all the difference.”
Game 2 of the NHL Western Conference Finals featuring the Edmonton Oilers and Dallas Stars begins Friday, May 23 at 8 p.m. ET (ESPN, ESPN+, ESPN Deportes).
