Nashville makes odd decision on injured mascot

The Nashville Predators have a player out of the lineup. He's not going on long-term injured reserve; then again, he doesn't count against their salary cap anyway.

“We’re not sending him down to Milwaukee for conditioning,” said vice president of marketing Danny Shaklan.

The ‘him’ they refer to is the Predators Day One mascot Gnash. The furry creature – or the guy in the suit – suffered a broken leg during offseason training and has been on the shelf from doing normal mascot duties for 6-8 weeks.

“Believe it or not I pack on a few pounds in the offseason and I try to get down to my playing weight by opening night,” Gnash said through his official spokeswoman, Alexis Witman. “I honestly love my job and watching someone else do it is extremely difficult.”

While the Predators could have easily put another guy in the suit and most casual fans probably wouldn’t have known the difference, the person who plays "Gnash," who refuses to identify himself publicly, nixed the idea, and said he wanted to stick around and help game presentation as much as he could.

So at Predators games, the same guy is still in a suit – albeit now in a wheelchair – rolling to sections, mugging for photo shots with fans and still trying to pump up the crowd at Bridgestone Arena.

The only difference is that he now has help. Other mascots, such as Aubie the tiger from Auburn and Big Red from Western Kentucky, have come in for games.

The person who plays Gnash, who has been in the suit for over 10 years, takes his job very seriously and hosts mascot camps during the summer. Many of the mascots who have flocked to ‘Smashville’ to help are his former pupils.

Added Shaklan, “I mean, Gnash is a part of Smashville. When you take him out, you take a little piece of Smashville out.”

As corny as this may sound, it’s actually true.

The person who plays Gnash, essentially has ‘mascoting’ down to a science. It’s his career. Whether it’s flying onto the ice on a four-wheeler or repelling from the ceiling, the guy in the suit shows no fear – and the fans in Nashville love it.

"Gnash is adored by the fan base because he's the identity, the constant of the franchise. Players become heroes and then villains, faces around the arena change, but Gnash is always there. Without Gnash's energy, the game experience off the ice changes dramatically,” former Cell Block 303 member Codey Holland said. "Kids may or may not point out players other than (Shea) Weber or (Pekka) Rinne, but they immediately know who Gnash is."

With the injury, Gnash has been confined to a wheelchair for Predators home games this year. While this could be construed as being done for effect, it’s actually necessary. The human in the suit cannot put weight on his leg while in the costume, so he has to be rolled around. Still, the team has had some fun with it.

“You just make modifications,” Shaklan said. “In musical chairs, it was the first time Gnash has ever won at Bridgestone Arena. He didn’t get up the entire time.”

Fans have also used it as a way to connect with the mascot. Injured ones come up to Gnash and ask him to sign their cast, or people in wheelchairs take photos with him.

“They understand mascots get hurt too,” Shaklan said.

The players on the team have bought in as well. The Predators filmed a hospital visit for Gnash with Shea Weber and Pekka Rinne, and there’s a ‘Rocky’ style training video with forward Mike Fisher, who is out until late November with a ruptured Achilles.

“Well, I am prehistoric and I know the day will come when I might have to retire,” Gnash said through his spokeswoman. “I have always said when the team hoists its 10th Stanley Cup I will start to think about retiring.”

As for a timetable, Gnash seems to hope to get clearance soon from doctors at Vanderbilt University hospital. The belief is he will be back in time for Nashville’s return from its six-game roadtrip on Nov. 11.

Said Gnash, “If he gives me the go ahead you will see everything you expect from me at the games.  My ropes are checked and my ATV is gassed up, all I need is (the doctor’s) permission.”