This is a list of current and former National Hockey League (NHL) mascots, sorted alphabetically by team. As of 2023, the New York Rangers are the only team to not have a mascot.
Current mascots
Al the Octopus
Al the Octopus is the octopus mascot of the Detroit Red Wings. It is also the only mascot that is not costumed. In 1952, when east side fish merchants Pete and Jerry Cusimano threw a real octopus onto the Olympia arena ice, the eight legs represented the eight victories needed to secure a Stanley Cup in those six-team days. Since then, fans throw an octopus onto the ice for good luck. In the 1995 Playoffs, fans threw fifty-four onto the ice. Arena Manager and Zamboni driver Al Sobotka ceremoniously scoops them up and whirls them over his head, and play continues. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman forbade Sobotka from doing so during the 2008 playoffs, claiming that debris flew off the octopuses and onto the ice. Sobotka and the Red Wings have denied that this occurs, but even so Sobotka acquiesced and now twirls the octopuses once he departs the ice. In 2011, the NHL forbade fans from throwing any octopuses on the ice, penalizing all violators with a $500 fine. This has led to local outcry at the seemingly intentional destruction of a classic tradition. Red Wings' forward Johan Franzen has pledged to pay any and all fines as an attempt to continue the tradition.
Two identical large purple prop octopuses (Al), named after ice manager Al Sobotka, used to be positioned in or on top of Joe Louis Arena for the duration of the playoffs. After closing down the arena after the 2016-2017 season, one was sold for $7,700.
Bailey
Bailey, the mascot of the Los Angeles Kings, is a 6-foot lion (6 foot 4 inches with mane included) who wears No. 72 because it is the average temperature in Los Angeles. He debuted during the 2007-2008 season and was named in honor of Garnet Bailey, who served as the Kings' Director of Pro Scouting from 1994 until his death in the September 11 attacks. He wears the patch worn by the Kings during the season following the attacks in honor of both Ace and Mark Bavis. Bailey is the Kings' second mascot; the first was a snow leopard named Kingston, who debuted in 1990 before being retired the same year. In 2015, Kingston was made the mascot for the Kings' AHL affiliate Ontario Reign.
For the 2009-10 season, the Kings partnered with Carl's Jr. to create a series of videos in which Kings organization members competed against Carl's Jr. organization members. The first installment in which Bailey appears is a spoof on Carl's Jr.'s commercials, with Bailey replacing scantily clad actresses.
Since 2013 Bailey has been involved in a Twitter feud with CM Punk, a Chicago native and die-hard Chicago Blackhawks fan. During the 2014 playoffs when the Blackhawks faced the Kings in the Western Conference Finals, the two made a bet on the series stating that the loser must upload a picture of themselves wearing the winning team's jersey. Ultimately Punk posted a picture of himself in front of United Center in Chicago wearing a Kings jersey after the Kings eliminated the Blackhawks in seven games.
In the fall of 2014 during a Blackhawks-Kings game at Staples Center Bailey jumped off his ATV and delivered an elbow drop to Punk in the backstage area, in what was a rather comedic bit of their feud.
Bernie the St. Bernard and Lil' Bern
Bernie, the newest mascot of the Colorado Avalanche, debuted to the public against the Vancouver Canucks at Pepsi Center on October 3, 2009, in Denver, Colorado. Bernie, short for Bernard, is a St. Bernard dog. Bernie is the second mascot since Howler the Yeti who was retired early in the Avalanche franchise. Bernie's jersey is marked with a bone that resembles the #1. A fan page for Bernie was also unveiled October 3, 2009. On January 30th, 2022, the team introduced a new miniature version of Bernie named Lil' Bern.
Benny
Benny was the mascot of the original Winnipeg Jets from 1986 to 1996. He was named in honor of both Ben Hatskin, the first owner of the Jets, and Elton John's hit song "Bennie and the Jets." He wore a B on the front of his jersey, in the spot where a C for captain or A for alternate captain would otherwise go. He has since reemerged as a secondary mascot for the current Winnipeg Jets, beginning with the 2016 Heritage Classic.