Sports would not be what they are without mascots, and hockey especially.
Fans sitting from home might not feel the impact of mascots as much as those in the stands, but mascots do a lot of heavy lifting. From pumping the fans up to throwing out t-shirts to taunting players in the penalty box, NHL mascots truly are one of a kind.
Of course, not every NHL team has one! The New York Rangers are the only holdouts left in the NHL as the Seattle Kraken, after just one season in the NHL, now have a mascot of their own, Buoy! Shame on you, Rangers, for not joining in on the fun.
From worst to best, these are our rankings of all the current mascots in the NHL.
31
Spartacat, Ottawa Senators
Between the wonky teeth and the weirdly looking human-like hair on an anthropomorphic lion, Spartacat is absolutely the worst NHL mascot in my book.
30
Harvey the Hound, Calgary Flames
Harvey the Hound is, in fact, supposed to be an anthropomorphic dog, but instead looks like an opossum that found its way into a hockey rink. Bonus points for getting his tongue ripped out by then-Oilers head coach Craig MacTavish, at least!
29
Hunter, Edmonton Oilers
The perpetual grin on Hunter’s face tells me he’s killed before and will absolutely, 100 percent do it again.
28
Buoy, Seattle Kraken
Look, I’m willing to give Buoy a chance to change our minds like Gritty did once upon a time, but the Kraken had the perfect opportunity for a sea creature mascot and went with a troll. For shame, Seattle!
27
Stinger, Columbus Blue Jackets
I get big Invader Zim vibes from Stinger, but not in a good way.
26
Nordy, Minnesota Wild
Nordy feels like he should be scaring kids a la Five Nights at Freddy’s but instead he’s taking pictures with them. It’s that creepy smile that does it for me.
25
Chance, Vegas Golden Knights
I feel like I should give Chance a, well, chance here. He’s not bad, exactly, more just uninspired. It’s a bit freaky to see a gila monster look so… buff, I will say.
24
Stanley C. Panther and Viktor E. Ratt, Florida Panthers
The Panthers mascots are just kind of… there. Stanley C. Panther is just a basic panther and Viktor E. Ratt is, well, a rat that’s based on the team’s “rat trick” tradition. Neat history, but nothing to write home about here.
Filed under “Things I’ve Totally Missed”: Apparently the Florida Panthers have a ratt mascot named “Viktor E. Ratt” #TheMoreYouknow pic.twitter.com/s6mkCnlLP0
— Tyler S. Brain (@Tyler_Brain) April 6, 2018
23
Fin the Whale, Vancouver Canucks
Looking at Fin’s side profile is fine, but facing this whale head on is a dangerous proposition. A unique mascot, for sure, but it’s like looking at Mickey Mouse from above with its unsettling presence.
22
Stormy, Carolina Hurricanes
Great name, but Stormy is immediately docked points for being… a pig. You pick a name that awe-inspiring and you go with a pig mascot instead. I get that he’s representing the hog farms in North Carolina, but the tonal dissonance here is astounding.
21
Sabretooth, Buffalo Sabres
Sabretooth is just Gnash of the Predators but worse, don’t change my mind.
20
Thunderbug, Tampa Bay Lightning
I wanted to rank Thunderbug lower, but I have to admit his “no thoughts, head empty” vibe kind of resonates with me. He’s still pretty bland compared to the other mascots, though.
19
Victor E. Green, Dallas Stars
The hockey stick antennae on top of Victor E. Green’s head are a bit weird, but overall he’s alright. Basically a predecessor to Gritty, really!
18
Louie, St. Louis Blues
The first of many bear mascots in the NHL. Louie is fine, but he doesn’t distinguish himself enough from the rest of the pack.
17
Howler the Coyote, Arizona Coyotes
Howler is definitely much cuter than the previous canine attempts on this list. It’s a low bar to clear, but Howler works well for the unassuming franchise he represents.
16
Bernie the St. Bernard, Colorado Avalanche
Sure, Bernie the St. Bernard may not have the cutest face of all the NHL’s dog mascots, but he’s still pretty endearing. The fact that he carries a little cask around his neck too is a perfect touch.
15
N.J. Devil, New Jersey Devils
N.J. Devil feels like a college mascot who found his way into the NHL. A bit freakish, but it’s the Devils so it’s expected. Quite clean overall, but not the best the NHL has to offer.
14
Tommy Hawk, Chicago Blackhawks
Big fan of Tommy Hawk’s mohawk and the feathers down his arms. His eyes may be a bit soulless — like the organization as of late — but Tommy Hawk’s design and silhouette are pretty great.
13
Iceburgh, Pittsburgh Penguins
Iceburgh’s pretty goofy looking overall, a far cry from the ferocious Penguins’ logo he wears. Even still, Iceburgh is charming in his own kind of way.
12
Mick E. Moose, Winnipeg Jets
Devilish grin aside, Mick E. Moose has style. Between the antlers and the old-school pilot hat, the Jets did a great job in designing Mick E. Moose to stick out from the crowd.
11
Blades the Bruin, Boston Bruins
Blades the Bruin is cool without trying too hard. Sure, he’s just a brown bear, but his design isn’t overly complicated while also not looking like a total mess in an attempt to be dangerous looking.
10
Al the Octopus, Detroit Red Wings
Though not a mascot by the standard definition anymore, Al the Octopus rocks. Al is yet another NHL mascot tied into its team’s traditions but the Red Wings pull it off wonderfully with a giant octopus that descends from the rafters. Here’s hoping we get to see Al the Octopus at a Red Wings game again in the near future.
9
Gnash, Nashville Predators
Gnash is one slick cat! The design of Gnash’s face isn’t a monstrosity like Spartacat’s or Hunter’s but neither is it completely cute like Howler’s. Gnash sticks the landing between fierce mascot and cool design.
8
Youppi!, Montreal Canadiens
An icon in the hockey world, Youppi! — exclamation point and all! — may be a controversial mascot, but he is a timeless historical touchstone nonetheless. Especially because he was originally the mascot of the Montreal Expos and became the first mascot to be thrown out of a baseball game, no less. Youppi! walked so Gritty could run.
7
Bailey, Los Angeles Kings
Unlike Spartacat, Bailey does his mane right and actually looks like a lion to boot. A pretty majestic one at that!
6
S.J. Sharkie, San Jose Sharks
S.J. Sharkie is shaped like a friend and I won’t hear a word otherwise. San Jose really gave their shark mascot eyebrows and it works so well.
5
Sparky the Dragon, New York Islanders
No, it doesn’t make sense that the Islanders have a dragon mascot. But, it’s a dragon and you’re not going to hear me complain! How cool is that?
4
Carlton the Bear, Toronto Maple Leafs
Absolutely the cutest mascot of the bunch, Carlton the Bear may be basic in his overall aesthetic but it works. Talk about an easy design to make kids toys and plushies for too.
3
Wild Wing, Anaheim Ducks
Wild Wing is the Mighty Ducks logo come to life. You can’t ask for much more from this Ducks team that refuses to bring back their iconic jerseys, honestly. Just a mascot that’s straight out of the best parts of the 90s.
2
Slapshot, Washington Capitals
Look at those eyebrows! Slapshot’s got some real personality as the best bird mascot in the NHL. Overall just a great design that fits well with the Capitals brand.
1
Gritty, Philadephia Flyers
Who else? Gritty is chaos incarnate, from his Twitter presence to his in-arena antics. Plus, he’s broken through the hockey barrier to become a beloved well-known pop culture figure. It’s Gritty’s world, and we’re just living in it.
