A PGP Guide to NHL Mascots

A PGP Guide to NHL Mascots 

by: Lynda Feustel

Hello and welcome to this guide to the furry and fun side of the NHL, the mascots! Mascots have been a tradition in sports for a long long time, and the NHL has an incredible line up of them to choose from. Between real life animals, primordial ooze demons, swapped sports, things being thrown on the ice, deep seeded rivalries, big screen appearances and whatever a Badaboum is, there is a lot to be discovered about the NHL mascots that makes the fastest sport even more fun to watch. 

To learn more about these furry friends, I highly recommend watching the IceThetics series or visiting MascotPedia. Most of my information comes from these sources, as well as the official team websites and each mascots social media. While this series will at times reference the retired mascots, for the most part, I’ll be leaving those for a special bonus blog at the end of this series! 

Metropolitan Division

Slapshot - Washington Capitals 

Slapshot is a bald eagle who landed in Washington D.C. to cheer on the Capitals in 1995. His landing coincided with the team's rebrand from red, white and blue to black, blue and bronze, creating what fans lovingly refer to as the “screaming eagle” jerseys. Like many mascots, he wears 00, and his name was chosen in a naming contest by a fifth grader. Slapshot has been known to occasionally change his look over the years, with the biggest shift occurring when he was redesigned in the mid 2010s. He also has had some of his feathers turn spontaneously red several times when the Caps were celebrating their “Rock the Red” campaign. Slapshot has one Stanley Cup in his trophy case from his team's 2018 win. Slapshot also has a little brother, a mini bald eagle named Hat Trick, who joins Slapshot to cheer for the Caps at various home games. 

Stinger - Columbus Blue Jackets 

Stinger, the 81 pucks tall mascot of the Blue Jackets, was introduced a full year before the team began playing during a Fourth of July parade. You may be asking, how on earth can a team named the blue jackets have a neon green bug thing with a civil war cap for a mascot? Well, Stinger is a yellow jacket wasp, apparently made green because his love for the blue jackets combined with his natural yellow made him green. His antennae are hockey sticks, and his Civil War cap comes from Columbus’s rich history that inspired the name of the team itself, and he wears 00 in honor of the year the Jackets began play. Stinger was actually featured on most Blue Jackets jerseys up until 2003 in addition to cheering in the stands at games. He is especially known for his work in the community and charity work throughout the Columbus area.

Sparky and NyIsles - New York Islanders 

Sparky the Dragon is one of two mascots in the league who did not originally cheer for a hockey team. But wait a second, you may be wondering how the Islanders, a team known for its ties to the nautical culture of Long Island, ended up with a dragon as their mascot. Sparky began life as a red and gold dragon who cheered for the Long Island Dragons, a lacrosse team that shared both a building and an owner with the Islanders. Eventually Sparky started to cheer for the Islanders as well, changing his colors to navy and orange at Isles games. In 2009 when the Dragons folded, Sparky began cheering for the Islanders full time, changing his colors again for a final time to royal blue when the Islanders rebranded in 2010. He wears the number 0. Tragically, Sparky was almost fired during the 2015-2016 season, coinciding with the team's temporary move to Brooklyn while they built a new arena. The fans were outraged, and Sparky was reinstated by the new year. Sparky is known for having fun with fans, and being very active in community and charity events on Long Island. 

The Isles also have a secondary mascot, Nyisles. He began his life alongside the infamous fisherman rebrand of the 1990s. He was very short lived (and terrifying) in his original iteration, but in 2022 during the reverse retro campaign, he returned to Islanders games for the first time with a slightly less terrifying design. While he disappeared for a little bit following the retirement of the new fisherman jerseys, Nyisles ultimately ended up sticking around as a permanent fan of the Islanders. Sparky and Nyisles are an incredibly fun duo, and their antics make Islander games just a little more crazy. Sparky, Nyisles and the Islanders are set to host the 2027 All Star Game, which I’m sure will be full of mascot mayhem. 

Full disclosure, I am an Islander fan and I met Sparky many many times growing up, and was around for the return of Nyisles. I love these guys, and arguably they were the start of my obsession with all things mascot. They are also some of the only mascots in the league without a major social media presence and this is my call to please give them an Instagram account already!

NJ Devil - New Jersey Devils 

NJ Devil was recruited to cheer for the team in 1993 to give the team a fresh mascot identity.  Named after his team, the New Jersey Devils, NJ is an ode to the Jersey Devil cryptid legend that inspired the name of the team. While he retains the modern red and black color aesthetic, his green eyes are a nod to the green originally part of New Jersey’s design. Like many mascots, he wears number 00. NJ has also won 3 Stanley Cups with his team. NJ Devil is known for his pranks and daring stunts, including being one of the first mascots to descend from the ceiling. He has a very public rivalry with neighboring mascot Gritty, which went so far as to include him stealing Gritty’s clothes when the Devils played the Philadelphia Flyers in the stadium series in 2024. Even though his personality is a bit devilish, NJ does over 200 charity appearances a year in addition to leading the fans at all Devils home games. In 2024 he was voted as the fifth best mascot across sports. Despite his slightly terrifying appearance, NJ Devil is beloved in New Jersey and around the league for his fun personality and community engagement. 

Nothing - New York Rangers 

The New York Rangers are the only team in the NHL that has never had a mascot. Clearly they don’t believe in fun, joy and whimsy! Anyways, back to the teams that actually have mascots. 

Stormy - Carolina Hurricanes 

Stormy the Ice Hog was originally created when the Hurricanes moved to North Carolina from Hartford in 1997. You may be wondering where a team named for a natural disaster based in the American South gets a pig for a mascot, but it’s actually a pretty cool story. North Carolina is known for its pig industry, and the owner originally wanted to name the entire team the Ice Hogs. Ultimately Hurricanes was chosen for the team name, but in honor of this, the mascot was a pig. After a fan vote, Stormy was chosen as the official name for the mascot, and ever since he has been the “self-proclaimed mayor of tailgates, chaos and general hogwash” in Raleigh. He wears number 97 in honor of the year the Hurricanes moved to North Carolina. In 2025 Stormy received a patch on Carolina’s road jerseys. In fact, the team was wearing these jerseys when they won their most recent Stanley Cup. Stormy has two Stanley Cups with the team from 2006 and 2026. 

Iceburgh - Pittsburgh Penguins 

Iceburgh was born in 1992 following Pittsburgh’s first two cups during their rebrand to cheer on the team. He was the second mascot for the team, replacing Penguin Pete, and Re-Pete, the real life penguins who walked around the ice at the Igloo for a couple of seasons (full story to come in the retired mascots blog don’t worry!) Iceburgh famously is the first mascot to have an acting career, appearing in the 1995 film Sudden Death with Jean Claude Van Damme. In the movie he was called “Icey.” While Iceburgh missed the Penguins first two cups with Mario Lemieux, he won all three cups with Sidney Crosby’s Penguins. Iceburgh is known for his bright personality and leading cheers at home games and appearing at many community events throughout Pittsburgh. 

Gritty - Philadelphia Flyers 

This chaos demon that bleeds orange may just be the most important mascot in NHL history. Gritty truly put the NHL mascots on the map with his antics and chaos and is a fan favorite in Philadelphia and around the league. If your cousin with no interest in sports knows one mascot in the league, it’s Gritty. His name honors the grit of the team and Philadelphians as a whole. When Gritty has faced negativity for his slightly frightening appearance, he’s fought back like a true Philadelphian. He shares his team's hatred for the Pittsburgh Penguins, threatening Iceburgh on Twitter during his first day on the job. He even got his first taste of playoff action this year, terrorizing Pittsburgh fans and beating the Penguins in six games before being swept by the Hurricanes. Gritty brings chaos wherever he goes and there truly aren’t enough words to describe his impact on the NHL and mascot culture as a whole. He’s an icon in Philly and Eastern PA, even getting a drink named after him at Wawa during this year's playoffs. He has a key to the city, is ordained to perform marriages and has been named the best mascot in the NHL many times. 

Atlantic Division

Blades - Boston Bruins 

Meet Blades, mascot of the Boston Bruins! Before Blades, Boston was one of a few teams who attempted to have a live animal mascot, but controlling a live black bear in an arena full of fans is not a very safe idea. And so, Blades the Bruin was born. Blades began cheering for his beloved Boston Bruins during the 1999-2000 hockey season, and he is one of the only known bears that does not hibernate. He was named in a contest by 9 year old Jillian Dempsey, who would grow up to spend most of her career in Boston playing in the CWHL, PHF and PWHL. She even played and won a championship with a team called the Boston Blades. Blades the Bruin is known for his giant bear hugs, enthusiasm and charity work around Boston with the Bruins Foundation. Blades proudly cheered his team to a Stanley Cup victory in 2011.

Carlton - Toronto Maple Leafs 

Carlton began cheering for his beloved Maple Leafs in 1995. He is a cuddly polar bear who gained his name and number from the address of Maple Leafs Garden, 60 Carlton Street. He was present for the final game there, and in all subsequent arenas. He has four fingers and a big cuddly personality. Carlton, alongside his team, is part of the battle of Ontario against the Ottawa Senators and their mascot, Spartacat. Carlton has gotten around the league, appearing in over 20 NHL stadiums and 13 All-Star games. He was named Chair of the first Mascot Summit in 2000 where the mascots met to discuss community appearances, scoreboard usage and team morale. Carlton also serves as mascot for the Toronto Marlies of the AHL. 

Spartacat - Ottawa Senators 

Spartacat, the ambassador of fun, debuted as the biggest fan of the Ottawa Senators in 1992. Affectionately known as Sparty, he is Ottawa’s biggest party animal and lives to bring fun to Canadian Tire Center. He wears a big paw print above his name instead of a number, and is allergic to the color blue. He is very involved in the wider Ottawa community, including his most memorable moment, opening Sens Zone at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario. He has a long standing rivalry with Carlton of fellow Ontario team, the Toronto Maple Leafs, which he sadly has not triumphed in yet. Sparty loves making people laugh and spreading joy to Sens fans. 

Youppi! and METAL! - Montreal Canadiens 

Youppi! is one of a handful of mascots who completely switched sports. Youppi! was born to cheer for the Montreal Expos in 1979, built by Bonnie Erickson of Jim Henson productions. He was the first mascot to be ejected from a game in 1989, and he became beloved in the Montreal community. However when the Expos moved in 2004, Youppi! needed a new purpose in life, and was recruited to be the mascot of the Canadiens. He still wears a baseball hat in remembrance of his past job. Nowadays Youppi! appears at all Canadiens home games and at various events in the community, and he wears an exclamation point on his jersey instead of a number to show just how excited he is all the time. 

METAL! is Youppi!’s long lost twin brother with a bright orange mullet and mustache who is particularly fond of the baby blue alternate jerseys that were part of Reverse Retro in 2022. He supposedly had so much fun during the 1993 cup celebration that he fell asleep in the Forum basement and was frozen for 30 years, turning him blue. He claims to have been the mascot from 1979-1993, but there is no evidence of him appearing. METAL! spent a year rocking the Bell Centre before going into retirement in 2023. He occasionally comes to Centre Bell for games, most recently appearing during Montreal’s Eastern Conference Finals run in 2025-2026. He wears an inverted exclamation mark on his sweater to match his brother.

Al - Detroit Red Wings 

Al the Octopus has never walked around at a home game. He has the unique distinction of hanging from the rafters. Al was born out of the legend of the octopus in Detroit. During playoffs in 1952, two brothers who owned a fish market snuck a dead octopus into Olympia Stadium and threw it onto the ice, its eight tentacles representing the eight wins needed at the time to win the Stanley Cup. They won the cup in eight games, and sneaking dead Octopi into games became a time honored tradition. One of the zamboni drivers, Al Sobotka, used to collect the dead seafood and spin it over his head. In 1995 the Red Wings began raising a big prop Octopus to the ceiling during playoffs and they named it Al. Al is missing a tooth, wears a number 8 Red Wings jersey, and his eyes glow red. Al has also been featured in plenty of merchandising, especially around the playoffs. Eventually a second Al would be raised to the rafters recognizing the 16 wins needed for a Stanley Cup. 

Stanley C. Panther and Viktor E. Ratt- Florida Panthers 

Stanley C. Panther is, you guessed it, a Florida Panther! He debuted alongside the Panthers in 1993, arriving in a limo to greet fans before descending from the rafters for the first home game in Miami. Stanley was named via fan vote after the illustrious Stanley Cup, the ultimate trophy of the NHL, a risky name for a team who greatly struggled until the 2020s. But after winning back to back cups, the name feels more justified. He wears 00 and is known for his dancing skills and energy in the stands, his involvement in the South Florida Community, and for riding an ATV around the ice after Panthers wins. 

Stanley’s best friend is a rat named Viktor E. A cat and rat being best friends? Sounds crazy, no? Well, during the 1995-96 season Scott Mellanby killed a rat in the locker room with his stick and proceeded to score two goals, a rat trick if you will, that night. They took that momentum all the way to the Stanley Cup finals, with thousands of plastic rats being thrown onto the ice after Panthers goals. The team hired 40 “exterminators” to clear the rats after each goal. The rat tradition continued into the new millennium and eventually inspired the creation of a secondary mascot, Viktor E. Ratt in 2014. He lives in the walls of the arena and wears a 96 in honor of the rat trick. He loves meeting friends and having fun with Stanley during games. Stanley and Viktor are one of the best duos in the league, and had a ton of fun together with their back to back Stanley Cup runs. 

Thunderbug - Tampa Bay Lightning 

Thunderbug the Firefly (AKA lightningbug) is the mascot of the Tampa Bay Lightning. He was born in 1992 alongside the team to be their biggest fan. He is incredibly energetic, adorable and beloved in Tampa Bay. He also has a fabulous wardrobe, although his home sweater is his favorite piece. He is 82 pucks tall and weighs 704 pucks. Thunderbug is also known as the mayor of Champa Bay. He is known for playing the drums to AD/DC’s Thunderstruck before home games. During the summer of 2026, Thunderbug went on a massive road trip, visiting mascots and seeing the United States. He has quite the trophy case including 3 Stanley Cups, Most Valuable Mascot at the 2018 All Star Game, the 2024 NHL Mascot Community Impact Award, and he is undefeated in staring contests. He also just won the Mascot of the Year award for 2026.

Sabretooth - Buffalo Sabres 

No one exactly knows Sabretooth’s real age, but we do know that he loves the bright lights of Buffalo and the fans at Keybank Centre. He’s one of the oldest mascots in the league, debuting in 1988. He loves giving powerful high fives, and specializes in thunderous roars. He also enjoys descending from the ceiling before games and firing his t-shirt cannon. Sabretooth spent several years serving as mascot to the National Lacrosse League team, the Buffalo Bandits before they got their own mascot. He has changed his stripes several times alongside the Sabres, although currently he is blue and gold. He wears a pawprint instead of a number. He waited many years during their playoff drought, but finally returned to the Playoffs alongside his team in the 2025-26 season. 

Central Division

Louie - St Louis Blues 

Meet Louie, the blue polar bear who is the biggest fan of the St. Louis Blues. He was born in the arctic circle with blue fur. Because of his unique coloring, love of hockey and blues music, he knew he had to journey to St. Louis to become mascot of their hockey team. He debuted as the official mascot of the Blues in 2007, playing “When The Blues Go Marching In” on the saxophone. The fans named him Louie, and he has become a staple at Blues games and in the St. Louis community. Louie cheered his team to their only Stanley Cup win in 2019. Above all, he loves meeting fans and supporting his team. 

Nordy - Minnesota Wild 

Nordy was born in the wild north woods of Minnesota, and in 2008 he moved into his own lair at Grand Casino Arena to become the mascot of the Minnesota Wild. He has north stars in his eyes, a flowing hockey mullet, and trees on his skin that just so happen to match the Wild’s logo. For many years, Nordy wore number 18001 in honor of being the 18001 fan in the arena during a sellout of 18,000 fans. Recently, Nordy began wearing an outline of the state of Minnesota instead of a number. He loves hockey and the fans of Minnesota and is known for his slightly wild side.

Bernie and Lil Bern - Avalanche 

Bernie began cheering for the Avalanche in 2009. While his siblings loved the snow, Bernie loved the ice rink, so when he went to an Avalanche game, Bernie found his calling. Saint Bernards are known for saving people from avalanches, so it was a perfect fit. He wears a bone on his jersey that looks suspiciously like the number one and sports a signature barrel collar. Bernie loves interacting with fans and keeping the energy up at Avs games. He won his first cup with the team in 2022. During next gen night that same year, the Avs introduced Lil’ Bern, a smaller version of Bernie who occasionally makes appearances alongside his big counterpart. Lil’ Bern was adopted from the Bernie’s Buddies Pet Adoption Program. 

Tommy Hawk - Chicago Blackhawks

Tommy Hawk started cheering for the Blackhawks in 2001, tasked with keeping the energy up in United Center, and he did so for 10 years before the Hawks won 3 Stanley Cups in the 2010s. He loves playing hockey, dancing and causing mascot mayhem all over the Chicago area. His name is inspired by the tomahawk in the team's secondary logo, and he wears a mullet with the four feathers on the primary logo. He is one of the league’s most decorated mascots. In addition to his three Stanley Cups, he was the first NHL mascot to be inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame in 2017. He also won Most Valuable Mascot in 2023. 

Victor E. Green - Dallas Stars 

Victor E. Green came to Earth from a galaxy far, far away in 2014 to cheer for the Dallas Stars. He is a neon green alien with four fingers and hockey sticks for antennae. His name comes from the signature color of the Dallas Stars, victory green, and is a subtle nod to their former owner, Norman Green. Coincidentally, victory green is also his favorite color. Victor loves the Stars and their fans and hates sharks, ducks and the color blue. He wears 00 and the back of his jersey reads V. Green. He does a ton of work in the Dallas community and loves his adopted home. 

Tusky - Utah Mammoth 

Tusky is the newest addition to the NHL mascot family. Emerging from a block of ice at the beginning of the 2025-2026 season, this adorable blue wooly mammoth made a big impression on Utah and the rest of the league. As the story goes, Tusky was found preserved deep in the Wasatch Mountains, and his love for the ice age led to him falling in love with hockey and the Utah Mammoth, named for his species. He cheered his team to their first playoff berth in franchise history and their best season thus far. Tusky loves big cellys and winter weather, so he is going to have a lot of fun when Utah hosts the Winter Classic on New Years Eve. 

Gnash - Nashville Predators 

Gnash was discovered frozen in a block of ice in 1994 when they were digging the foundations of Bridgestone Arena. They placed him at the center of the ice to thaw, but he disappeared before the engineers could figure out what to do with him. Four years later he heard the roar of Predators fans on opening night and came out of hiding and began cheering for the newly founded hockey club. He wears number 00. He enjoys daring stunts, pulling pranks and being an active member of the Nashville community. 

Mick E Moose and Benny - Winnipeg Jets 

Mick E. Moose is one of the only mascots who cheers for two hockey teams, the Winnipeg Jets and the Manitoba Moose. Mick E. was born in Manitoba and signed with the Minnesota Moose in the IHL in 1994. He followed the team home to Manitoba when they relocated there. Mick E. continued to follow the team through the IHL and AHL for fifteen years until they left the area in 2011. Luckily by that point, the Winnipeg Jets had returned and they were in the market for a new mascot. Mick E. got the call and with a new pair of aviator goggles, he finally made the jump to the big leagues. In 2015, his beloved Manitoba Moose also returned to the area, and Mick E. decided to do double duty for both of his favorite hockey clubs.

In 2016, during the Heritage classic, while wearing their original jerseys, Winnipeg’s original mascot, Benny, was brought out of retirement. He is an anthropomorphic blue creature with huge white hair and a red nose, ears and tail, and he’s named Benny because of the first owner of the Jets, Ben Hatskill, and the Elton John song, “Benny and the Jets.” He wears a B on his sweater instead of a C or an A and the number 00. He appears alongside his friend Mick E. at most Jets home games bringing fun and joy to his beloved Jets fans. 

Pacific Division

Harvey the Hound - Calgary Flames 

You may have been wondering where all of this mascot madness started in the NHL, and that honor goes to Calgary’s favorite hound, Harvey. He was created by Grant Kelba in 1983 after the success of Ralph the Dog with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League. He has a foot long tongue and doesn’t wear a jersey, but his collar and belt say “Harvey the Hound” on the back. He was picked as the “first pound pick” in 1983. In Harvey’s debut both Lanny McDonald and Doug Risebrough scored hat tricks in a 10-3 victory, and he became a mainstay of the Flames. Harvey was there for the Flames only Stanley Cup victory in 1989. Famously in 2003, while the Flames led 4-0, Harvey was taunting the bench of Alberta rival, Edmonton Oilers, and coach Craig MacTavish got so fed up he ripped Harvey’s tongue out. The event became a famous chapter in the Battle of Alberta and to the league as a whole. During the All Star game that year, many mascots arrived with their tongues sticking out in honor of Harvey. Harvey and MacTavish finally reconciled at the Battle of Alberta Golf Tournament at the bequest of Edmonton mascot Hunter. 

Hunter - Edmonton Oilers 

Hunter was born in the Edmonton River Valley and fell in love with hockey at a young age. In 2013, when he heard a new arena was being built for his beloved Oilers, he built a den under the construction site and moved in. When he revealed himself to the team, they asked him to be their mascot and called him Hunter after their first owner “Wild Bill” Hunter. Alberta actually has one of the highest populations of Canadian Lynx in the world. Hunter wears 72 in honor of the Oilers first season in the WHA (a rival league that eventually joined the NHL). He debuted in 2016 and loves cheering, dancing, going to charity events and hospital visits in Alberta, and doing whatever it takes to get his Oilers to victory. He especially had fun during Edmonton’s back to back Stanley Cup final runs. In 2023, during Next Gen Night, Hunter introduced the world to his mini sidekick, Kit, a mini lynx who wears a paw print on the back of his jersey. 

SJ Sharkie - San Jose Sharks 

The hardest working fish in sports, SJ Sharkie is one of the most known mascots in the league. Like NJ Devil, SJ Sharkie is named for his team, the San Jose Sharks, who he started cheering for from their inception in 1991. Sharkie has no number on the back of his jersey so his fin can poke through. He’s known for his death defying stunts and gameday antics, most notably when he got stuck while descending from the rafters in 1999 and the game had to be delayed 20 minutes so he could be rescued, and the time when he descended from the rafters with fireworks attached to his skates. In 2025, he was the third ever NHL mascot inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame and was named NHL Mascot of the Year. He was even honored by the Sharks for his accomplishments in a special themed game. 

Wild Wing - Anaheim Ducks 

Wild Wing has been the mascot of the Anaheim Ducks since their inaugural season in 1993. He was the first mascot in history to be introduced by descending from the ceiling, and was named via fan vote in 1993. He has a friendly rivalry with the LA Kings and Detroit Red Wings, and loves dancing and visiting local hospitals and schools. He was also featured in the animated series “Mighty Ducks.” He is known for his ceiling descents and stunts, and is in fact one of the only mascots to be set on fire, having been so when he rode through a ring of fire on an ATV. He has his own statue in front of the arena, and is featured in the Ducks primary logo and many of their primary and alternate jerseys through the years. Wild Wing won the cup with the team in 2007.

Bailey - LA Kings 

Bailey made his debut in LA in 2007. He is an energetic lion and the Kings biggest fan. He is named after Ace Bailey, the team’s director of pro-scouting, who tragically lost his life on 9/11. He wears an AM patch in honor of Ace Bailey, and Mark Bavis who also lost his life. Bailey’s number 72 is unique, instead of being in honor of the team’s founding year, or 00, he wears 72, which is the average temperature of Los Angeles. Bailey has cheered the Kings to two Stanley Cups in 2012 and 2014. In 2022 he was sidelined with an “upper body injury” and entered the arena with bandages and sunglasses on his face before revealing a brand new look on the ice. Bailey is also a winner of the Most Awesome Mascot award from Cartoon Network. 

Fin - Vancouver Canucks 

Fin the Whale was introduced at Canuck Place, a local hospice the team supports, in June 2001 and began attending home games and cheering for the Vancouver Canucks during the 2001-2022 season. Fin joined the team after the Canucks rebranded from the black, red and gold skate jerseys to their current blue and green orca threads. The orca was chosen as a nod to British Columbia’s heritage. Fin is famous for his energy, enthusiasm and dedication to the team. Two of his signature moves are “chomping” at the heads of fans and blowing steam from his blowhole during games. He also is obsessed with the popcorn at Rogers Arena. Fin is also part of an animated series of videos shown during games. He is also very active in the Canuck for Kids Fund and at Canuck Place, and his least favorite team is the Hartford Whalers. Fin was nominated for the Mascot Hall of Fame in 2026, but sadly his campaign was unsuccessful. Fin also has a mini friend, Lil’ Fin, who was introduced in 2024. 

Buoy - Seattle Kraken 

It took two years for expansion team the Seattle Kraken to find a mascot, but eventually they found Buoy, the nephew of the Fremont Troll. No one exactly knows what a Kraken looks like beyond its glowing red eye, and the octopus already belonged to the Detroit Red Wings, so the Kraken settled for this adorable troll. In his first season he took the Kraken to their first and so far only playoff run. Buoy lives in the caverns below Climate Pledge Arena. Buoy’s appearance shocked the world when he was revealed, but he has grown on fans and become beloved in Seattle and around the league. He has crazy blue hockey hair, a removable tooth, an anchor earring, and a squeaky blue nose. Buoy also has a tentacle hanging around his right ear, seemingly evidence of a run-in with the legendary Kraken. He has a very playful personality, loves engaging with the community and promoting youth hockey, and loves music. He even played with local band Mudhoney. He is well known for his antics including having to run from a bear in Alaska during the 2025 offseason. He also hangs out with his other mascot friends from around the league frequently. His favorite meal is “Shark mixed with Duck and sprinkled with light Maple Leaf seasoning.” He also has two friends, Mini Buoy, who is, you guessed it, a miniature Buoy, and Lil’ Boo, who is another version of the troll created by Buoy in a Frankenstein style lab. Buoy is one of the most beloved mascots in the league, perfectly embodying the Seattle Kraken and bringing mascot joy and chaos wherever he goes. 

Chance - Vegas Golden Knights 

Last but not least is Chance! Chance is a Gila monster, a type of lizard native to the deserts of Nevada, and his species honors the desert that makes up the vast majority of the state. Chance is a friendly Gila named because the NHL took a chance on Vegas and because… well Las Vegas. Taking a chance at the slot machines and… I’ll see myself out. He debuted at the Golden Knights second ever home game in 2017. Chance wears the number 1 and was chosen as a more approachable mascot than a knight. The team does have a golden knight who performs as part of the preshow at the fortress, but Chance is their only official mascot. He is called the “hype lizard” and won the NHL Mascot Community Award in 2025 for his work in the greater Las Vegas Community. He helped cheer the team to their first Stanley Cup in 2023. 

And that’s all of the active mascots of the NHL! I had so much fun researching and writing about these silly guys and their lovable mayhem. They’ve been a passion of mine for years because of the joy they bring to fans and the impact they bring throughout the community. Whether it’s visiting schools, hospitals, practices, events or roaming the concourse on gameday, mascots are an essential part of the NHL fan experience.