So this is a crazy one...truly a first in sports...
Apparently, in order for the Panthers to get a first round pick in the Claude Giroux trade, AND in order for Claude to agree to waive his NMC, the Flyers also quietly (and secretly until now) traded their infamous team mascot GRITTY (along with its intellectual properties) to the Florida Panthers.
This is a done deal (e5)
I'm having some fun with this, but this story is truly incredible..
This news... as a rumor....was first leaked to me a few days prior to the actual trade.. I must admit at the time I dismissed it as someone just having some fun with me...no way could it be real, right?
Until today...
Today it was CONFIRMED to me by a source at the LEAGUE.. The NHL source further elaborated on the terms of the agreement stating how part of the hold up in getting the Giroux deal done was the Panthers trying to persuade Gritty Creator "Flyland Designs" to alter Gritty's head to appear more "Panther Like."
When I heard that I had to phone a friend.. I happen to know someone who "knows" Gritty and works with Flyland Designs. Davey Raymond, a former University Delaware Punter, who is even better known as the original Phillies Phantic, told me the following:
"Yeh, after the Flyers are eliminated this season Gritty will be heading on south!. It kills me to have to say it, but Florida obviously wanted him and if you're gonna get traded somewhere, I am sure Gritty is excited to hit South Beach."
Flyland's Brian Allen , known as "The father of Gritty" added via text:
"Since Comcast is Gritty's keeper, we couldn't keep the deal from going through, but we did fight not to alter Gritty's appearance. It took G (Claude Giroux) stepping in with his No trade clause power to get involved, but we are happy that ONLY the uniform Gritty wears will be changing...his head will NEVER look like a Panther."
Neither Comcast or the Flyers would comment today, but one player did reveal to me, "Claude is a homebody and loves Philly. Bringing Gritty along makes sense and makes this easier for him... We all hope it isn't permanent and that Gritty returns to Philly after the playoffs. and we want G back too!"
According to a source with the Panthers:
"Gritty and Giroux have a very long and meaningful friendship, and we were told very early on, around the time of the All-Star game, that it was likely to be a package deal. Claude has already ben great here, and we look forward to bringing in some youth to our mascot team.. It is our hope that Gritty and the fantastic Stanley C. Panther will get on like peas in a pod."
It is also important to note that Gritty, like Giroux, was adamant about not being traded to the Rangers of Bruins..."It was a non-starter," former Ranger Tom Laidlaw confirmed to me this morning.
I know many of you are going to scoff at this story because its not about hockey...It's fascinating to me how big the Gritty phenomena has grown. The story here is I don't think any of us could any of us could have ever imagined that artistic intellectual property of a mascot would be included in an actual hockey trade...
Flyers fans will get to enjoy the lovable orange monster for a few more days here though.
I am told the deal doesn't take affect until the end of the regular season. This is due in part to previous commitments Gritty has made, but probably has more to do with Gritty's well publicized visa issues along with a mysterious document Panther's team lawyers are working through today. This document, dated 2019, Brower County, states that at all times Gritty must refrain from getting to within 100ft of an alligator..
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