The Players Have Spoken: Gritty Is NHL's Top Mascot by a Landslide

VOORHEES, N.J. - Gritty for 2020!

Put the big orange fella on a ballot and the victory is likely a landslide.

Just recently the NHL polled over 500 current players around the league on a number of topics, including the best NHL team mascot, and the vote wasn't remotely close. Gritty snagged nearly 70 percent of the votes. The next-closest mascot was the Maple Leafs' Carlton the Bear receiving just 2.7 percent of the vote.  

Consider it poetic justice for Gritty.

Roses are red,
The rumors are true,#29NHLMascots,
I'm better than yous. https://t.co/5hYE8KJXW2— Gritty (@GrittyNHL) March 20, 2019

Flyers captain Claude Giroux was also mentioned as one of the league's best trash talkers, finishing fourth among the players with 4.8 percent of the votes. Boston's Brad Marchand was the top trash talker receiving 21.3 percent of the votes.

Interestingly, Marchand was also recognized as the game's worst trash talker, to which he gave thanks on Twitter.

Feeling so honored right now all those years of hard work has paid off!! Want to thank everyone who has supported me in this journey to best and worst trash talker and all my work colleagues around the NHL couldnt have done it without you! @NHLBruins @NHL @NHLPA pic.twitter.com/ofAj1DNFod— Brad Marchand (@Bmarch63) March 20, 2019

Edmonton's Connor McDavid was named the best forward, Tampa Bay's Victor Hedman took the nod as top defenseman and Montreal's Carey Price was the league's top goaltender.

Here's a look at some of the other poll results: 

• Who is the most underrated player? Aleksander Barkov, Florida

• Who would make the best TV analyst once they retire? P.K. Subban, Nashville

• Who would make the best NHL GM once they retire? Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh

• Who is the funniest player? Keith Yandle, Florida

• Which arena has the best atmosphere? T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas

• Which arena has the best ice? Bell Centre in Montreal

• Who is the best dressed player? Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers

• Who has the best hair in the league? Erik Karlsson, San Jose

• Who is your favorite athlete outside of hockey? Tiger Woods

Click here to download the MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Flyers, Sixers and Phillies games easily on your device.

More on the Flyers

• Should Flyers play Morin and Talbot down the stretch?

• A grim outlook - Flyers' playoff chances reach new low

• 'Going through the motions' has Flyers feeling emotions of desperation time

• A stick tap to Simmonds for his first goal with Predators

• Holy Hart, sick Giroux shows a lot, prospect nets 50th goal, more on Flyers