The Washington Capitals’ longtime mascot, Slapshot, has a new look for the 2024-25 season.
The always-smiling bald eagle showed off his makeover during an elaborate and over-the-top entrance at the Capitals’ red carpet event on Saturday, which included pyro and a team of assistants as, I guess, any good makeover should.
Arriving in a mascot-themed van, Slapshot was elevated up through the roof like he was Cody Rhodes at Wrestlemania before waving an oversized Capitals flag (which one child was very concerned would be caught on fire by the pyro).
Once Slapshot was finished revving the crowd up, his attendants took out a ramp, and then he came flying out on a Slapshot-themed scooter.
Slapshot’s new look saw him lose his white body fuzz and “grow” black and white feathers from head to tail layered all over his raptor body like a real grown-up eagle would. Slapshot trashed his old grey shoes for kicks that are reminiscent of the Capitals-designed footwear made by Major DC in 2017.
During his arrival on the red carpet, Slapshot opted not to rock the red, instead wearing the team’s original white jersey design. Completing the look was a sparkly Capitals 50th-anniversary blazer that would make Rod Roddy proud (RIP).
While Slapshot sometimes changes into different jerseys or costumes for holidays and other celebrations, his general look has remained the same since he was hatched from a figurative egg nearly three decades ago.
If we suspend our belief that Slapshot is not actually a maturing eagle growing up in front of our eyes enslaved by a hockey team to bring joy to tiny children, the new look could be a strategic branding move leaning into one of Washington’s more popular logo designs. Slapshot’s black-and-white feathers align more with the team’s Screaming Eagle logo that was brought back on their third jersey this season.
Whatever the reason, we love you, Slapshot. Growing up is both fun and challenging. And if you ever need to talk about any other changes you’re going through, I’m sure Evgeny Kuznetsov would love hear about it.
