Mascots are more than just plush toys come to life. They serve a purpose. They entertain, help lift spirits, and get a crowd into the game. The better ones have personality. The elite one(s) become part of the team, and maybe even the city.
5 S.J. Wild Wing - Anaheim Ducks
Wild Wing barely edges out some competition, like S.J. Sharkie, due to nostalgia. Wild Wing is a furry, anthropomorphic reminder of the Mighty Ducks movies, which many fans know and love.
Viral moments can certainly result in nostalgic memories, and Wild Wing has a big one. Before the Ducks' 1995-96 home opener, he stumbled and fell into a fire pit. As a result of the pre-game stunt, the mascot caught fire.
4. Gnash - Nashville Predators
Gnash debuted alongside the Nashville Predators in their inaugural season of 1997. The saber-toothed tiger is (somewhat) cleverly named after the first part of the city's name, "Nash."
Gnash has a strong community presence. The tiger is not afraid to take on riskier and physical stunts, like zip-lining to the arena or rappelling down from the rafters.
Gnash interacts with the crowd by pulling pranks and photobombing couples.
3. Bailey the Lion - Los Angeles Kings
Garnet Bailey was a veteran NHLer turned scout for the Los Angeles Kings. He and fellow scout Mark Bavis were on the plane that flew into the South Tower of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.
When the mascot was unveiled in 2007, the team decided to name it Bailey, in honor of the team's scout, Garnet Bailey.
It was twice ranked as the top NHL mascot by ESPN. Like Philly's beloved mascot, Gritty, the Lion is not afraid to stir the pot and get into Twitter wars.
2. Youppi! - Montreal Canadiens
Youppi! is the Bo Jackson of mascots. It debuted in 1979 as the mascot for the MLB's Montreal Expos. When the team left Canada, Youppi! joined the NHL as the Montreal Canadiens mascot.
Youppi! was already 26 when the transition to hockey happened. It already had a loyal fanbase and, with one less Montreal team to watch, it became a family-friendly cultural icon.
Fun fact: Youppi! was once ejected from a baseball game.
1. Gritty - Philadelphia Flyers
This big, orange, goofy whatever made his debut during the 2018-19 preseason. The mascot's introduction came via a tweet the morning of September 24, 2018. Within the first hour of existence, Gritty threatened the Penguins mascot. What better way could there be to ingratiate yourself to Philadelphia Flyers fans?
That night, the Flyers took on the Boston Bruins and, during the intermission, he fell. Like Rocky, he could not be kept down for long, though.
The mascot's inaugural season was enough to win fans over as an amazing mascot. This was reinforced by winning multiple awards for the NHL's Mascot of the Year.
His antics, actions, parody takedowns of opponents, and community interactions have given the mascot legendary status in Philly. No other city packs as powerful a one-two punch like Gritty and the Phanatic.
Before 2018, we never knew we needed Gritty. Now, we cannot imagine a world without the mascot.