Attending an NHL game is pricey. Some games are more attractive than others. A team using a giveaway to goose the gate is a marketing trick as old as the league.

That’s because it works.

And this season, some teams are showing a lot more initiative than others when it comes to giveaways.

This is not to suggest all is well in the world of (not really) free stuff. Too few teams are giving promotional items, and not enough of them are handing these (sort of) gifts to all fans in attendance.

The NHL needs more teams to follow the lead of the Anaheim Ducks, who started their home schedule on a high note by handing out masks inspired by their “Wild Wing” mascot.

Sure, the Ducks won their home opener that night. But from a marketing perspective, they also won social media, which in the competitive Southern California market is almost as important as a couple of points in the standings.

Not every team has publicly revealed its full planned giveaways for the 2025-26 season. But we went through every team’s promotional schedule thus far and identified our favorite giveaways — designated here in “bobblehead division” and “all others.” Not every team was able to provide a picture of the item, either, but this represents the best of what we’ve come across so far.

Non-bobblehead divisionBlue Jackets’ Trick-or-Treat pillowcase (Oct. 29)

Coming soon to fans in Columbus is a giveaway that is practical, perfectly timed and evidence that simple is usually best.

True to their family-friendly reputation, the Blue Jackets are sending fans home with branded pillowcases designed for candy collection, not for sleeping. The message is clear: Happy Halloween, kids.

Giveaways don’t always need to be clever.

Kings’ Día de Muertos LED candle (Nov. 1)

Getting clever can work out, though.

What’s not to love about an LED candle? It’s efficient and safe. Handy when there’s a power outage or, say, a zombie apocalypse.

This particular candle honors Día de Muertos, the annual Day of the Dead celebration. Additionally, it will be given to fans when the Kings welcome the New Jersey Devils to the City of Angels.

Promotions rarely work on this many levels.

Sabres’ butter dish (Nov. 23)

Several teams are giving away gravy boats to coincide with the upcoming holidays. This is fine and all, but how often does one actually use a gravy boat?
A butter dish, on the other hand, has year-round appeal.

So, good on the Sabres, whose fans deserve an on-ice product that is as effective as its marketing arm.

Capitals’ goalies reversible oven mitt (Nov. 26)

Washington cracks this list twice, proving the Capitals’ marketing department is operating on a Presidents’ Trophy level.

The adage in hockey is that a team with two goalies doesn’t have a No. 1. It’s outdated (like most giveaways), and the Capitals are leaning into one of their on-ice strengths.

This oven mitt, representing Logan Thompson’s gear on one side and Charlie Lindgren’s on the other, will be a treasure for any Capitals fan.

Surely it’s an idea that cannot be topped. Or can it?

Red Wings’ Cup Of Joe coffee mug (Dec. 21)

Detroit’s Joe Louis Arena was famous for its bouncy boards and deafening acoustics. During the Red Wings’ modern-era glory days from the mid-1990s through the late 2000s, “The Joe” proved a menacing home-ice advantage fit for a franchise that regularly competed for and won the Stanley Cup.

Frankly, the Red Wings would do well to pay tribute to their former hockey home each season.

A great start is a Joe Louis Arena-inspired coffee mug.

Ducks’ Nutquacker (Dec. 22)

As noted in the intro, the Ducks might already have won the competition for best giveaways with their Wild Wing mask. A high bar was set.

Anaheim’s version of the traditional holiday nutcracker, aptly named Nutquacker, clears it.

Ducks fans are flying high this season.

Islanders’ ugly sweater jersey (Dec. 23)

It’s disappointing that only two teams are doing ugly sweater-themed giveaways. This is a missed opportunity for many teams hoping to get fans in the building during the winter holidays.

The Islanders have created a replica jersey designed like an ugly sweater. Maybe working in the infamous fisherman logo would have been too ugly?

Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin floss holder (Jan. 5, 2026)

At first glance, one might scoff at the NHL’s greatest goal-scorer having merely a dental floss holder in his honor. But when considering Ovechkin’s cheeky, gapped-tooth smile, this giveaway ends up coming off as brilliant.

Admit it, you don’t floss often enough.

Maybe you will if you’re one of the lucky fans to get a hold of this beauty.

Sharks’ Educators Appreciation puffy bookbag (Feb. 28, 2026)

This giveaway slaps because the nation’s educators deserve to be celebrated every day. And school gear isn’t cheap, so the Sharks get high marks for doing right by teachers and their students.

This giveaway arrives around the same time NHL teams return to action after the Olympic break, which will feel like the end of an in-season winter vacation for players.

Subtle.

Jets’ cowboy hat (March 7, 2026)

There are obvious NHL cities where a cowboy hat giveaway likely would only add to fans’ collections. Calgary, Dallas, Denver and Nashville come to mind.

Winnipeg? Not as much.

So, despite many teams making a habit of handing out cowboy hats this season, the lucky fans who get one with Jets branding will truly seem unique. And by March, the weather in Winnipeg might be warm enough to wear one, too.

Stars’ Noche Mexicana futbol jersey (March 10, 2026)

Dallas isn’t the only organization going the route of giving fans team-branded jerseys worn in other sports leagues.

The Stars stand out in this case for tying their giveaway of a futbol (soccer) jersey to its Noche Mexicana (Mexican Night) celebration.

This cross-sports effort doesn’t feel as forced as others. Also, hockey is for everyone.

Bobblehead divisionSharks’ sleepover bobblehead (Oct. 9)

Last season, Sharks then-rookies Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith made a bet with teammate Tyler Toffoli that if all three of them scored in their game against the Buffalo Sabres, Toffoli would have to sleep in their hotel room.

That’s exactly what happened in San Jose’s 6-2 win on March 4. Toffoli made good on his bet and posted proof.

Nothing like a post-win family sleepover 💤

📷: IG/@tytoff16 pic.twitter.com/fYutkCBvQU

— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) March 5, 2025

It was a clever move that perfectly encapsulates the vibes around this young, exciting – but still rebuilding – team, and the execution of this bobblehead was top-notch. The only catch here was that the Toffoli piece of the bobblehead technically was not part of the giveaway but was available at the arena after a donation to the Sharks Foundation.

Predators’ celebrity bobbleheads

Nashville nails this giveaway series— Nate Bargatze on Dec. 11, Dierks Bentley on Jan. 13, Luke Bryan on Feb. 4 and Carrie Underwood and Mike Fisher on March 28 — by finding a way to be unique and yet still incredibly on-brand. Last season, the Predators leaned into their country music ties by giving away bobbleheads of Tim McGraw, Keith Urban, Jelly Roll, Vince Gill, Amy Grant and Trisha Yearwood. They were such a hit that they’ve continued the theme by giving away more music stars and Bargatze, Nashville’s funny man.

The fact that former Predators captain Mike Fisher finds his way into this set alongside his wife, Carrie Underwood, is the cherry on top. The team doesn’t have photos of this season’s bobbleheads yet, so the above picture is a representation of what they will look like.

Senators’ Ridly Greig slap shot bobblehead (Jan. 10, 2026)

It was the slap shot heard around the hockey world. Senators forward Ridly Greig put an exclamation point on Ottawa’s win over Toronto on Feb. 10, 2024, with a slap shot into the Maple Leafs’ empty net. Toronto defenseman Morgan Rielly cross-checked Greig in the face immediately after, earning a five-game suspension and giving further spark to the “Battle for Ontario” rivalry.

Nearly two years later, the Senators will give fans a bobblehead of Greig firing the slap shot.

Penguins’ ‘Big Three Legacy’ bobblehead series

As the incredible era of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang in Pittsburgh draws toward a close, the Penguins will celebrate by giving bobbleheads of the iconic players to the first 7,500 fans in attendance at select games. Crosby’s bobblehead night will be Dec. 13 against San Jose, followed by Malkin’s on Jan. 10 against Calgary and Letang’s on March 21 against Winnipeg.

Blackhawks’ legends bobbleheads

The Chicago Blackhawks are celebrating their 100th season by giving away a series of bobbleheads at select games, with each individual chosen for their unique role in the franchise’s history.

Hall of Famers Stan Mikita and Tony Esposito represent “the original” legends of the franchise. Denis Savard and Chris Chelios were chosen to represent “the Madhouse” era, which refers to the old Chicago Stadium. Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith represent “the banner years,” with Stanley Cup wins in 2010, 2013 and 2015, and the mascot, Tommy Hawk, represents “the next originals,” according to the team.

Kings’ Snoopy bobblehead (Dec. 13)

What better way to celebrate the holidays than with a bobblehead of Snoopy wearing a hockey sweater? This is a simple and well-timed giveaway by the Kings.

Blues’ Wayne Gretzky bobblehead (March 10, 2026)

When any hockey fan thinks of Wayne Gretzky, they immediately think of his glory years with the St. Louis Blues. OK, maybe not, but those 37 points in 31 games at the end of the 1995-96 season were great. Props to the Blues for leaning into their fun side with this giveaway.

Stars’ Mikko Rantanen bobblehead (Nov. 4, 2025)

This one is pretty straightforward. The Stars are celebrating their newest star on Nov. 4, by giving “early arriving fans” a one-of-a-kind Rantanen bobblehead. He’s already producing at more than a point per game early this season.

Sabres’ Tage Thompson bobblehead (April 15, 2026)

The Sabres will close out the 2025-26 regular-season home schedule by giving away Tage Thompson bobbleheads before their April 15 game against Dallas as part of fan appreciation night. Will the team finally give fans the treat they desire by ending their league-leading 14-year postseason drought? We shall see. The Sabres appear to have turned things around after a slow start to the season.