Sparky the Dragon has been the mascot of the New York Islanders for a while now. While the current playing style of the team under Barry Trotz, its defensive tendencies, and the way the Isles protect the vital slot, might lead NHL fans to call for the replacement of old Sparky with a great big turtle, the winged mascot fits the new direction of the organization well. A dragon is a scaly, armored creature. It’s equipped for defence, but it puts opponents under heat, too.
When I read Arpon Basu’s article on the Montreal Canadiens’ identity, in which Claude Julien presented the Islanders as a model for his own team, that weaponized heat is exactly what I thought the Habs should replicate.