Florida Panthers Lay Off Their Mascot Due to NHL Lockout

Just as soon as it seemed the Florida Panthers had figured out how to not totally suck, the NHL is now in a lockout. Yes, the Panthers won their first divisional championship ever last year, and made it to the playoffs for the first time in 12 years, all with good ol' Stanley C. Panther cheering them on. But now Stanley is out of a job. Seriously, the team laid him off shortly after the lockout was announced.

According to the Miami Herald, the team laid off about a dozen operational staffers, including the man behind the Stanley's furry mask. The team is one of only two NHL teams that have announced layoffs since the lockout began over the weekend.

Though, the team says those workers will be welcomed back once the work stoppage ceases.

But what will Stanley do now that he's out of work? He is a pretty popular mascot after all. He made it to the semi-finals of our own Miami Madness Mascot tournament.

Plus he's got a kid to feed. Didn't anyone think of Mini-Stanley?

Didn't anyone think of the mascot children?

Perhaps he can find work filing in for Roary the Panther at FIU, or maybe he can replace Jeff Ireland, who truly deserves to get fired.

Previously:

• Panthers in the Playoffs: A Florida Native's Made-Up Guide to Hockey Terms
• The Winner of the Miami Mascot Madness Tournament: Sebastian the Ibis
• Florida Panthers Are Just Whoring Themselves Out Any Way They Can

Follow Miami New Times on Facebook and Twitter @MiamiNewTimes.