The Flying Octopus

In this week’s episode of The Flying Octopus Podcast, the fellas recount Detroit’s last couple games and recent injuries, and then how they can take positives from those outings and apply them moving forward. The guys also give Marco Kasper and Justin Faulk their flowers as the two have stood out over the last couple games. Finally, the show ends with a surprise mid-game trade between the Red Wings and Lightning, and why such a move is allowed after the trade deadline.

In this week’s episode of The Flying Octopus Podcast, the fellas recap a roller coaster of a day, including Detroit’s trade deadline moves and Dylan Larkin suffering a knee injury in the game immediately after the deadline. The guys dive into Detroit’s three trades: bringing back David Perron, shipping out Elmer Soderblom, and landing Justin Faulk in a blockbuster deal with the St. Louis Blues. The episode wraps up with notes on other discussions the Red Wings had with teams leading up to the deadline and the other trades around the league that stood out.

 In this week’s episode of The Flying Octopus Podcast, the fellas welcome Tony back from paternity leave and the Red Wings back from the Olympic break. They recap the week that was, including Detroit’s top players shining bright at the Olympics and the Red Wings’ 2-1 win Thursday night in Ottawa. The discussion then turns to the March 6 trade deadline. The guys cover recent rumors surrounding Tyler Myers, Robert Thomas, and MacKenzie Weegar, and open the discussion to Detroit’s overall needs, which players fit the criteria, and the trade chips available.

Summary:    In this episode of the Flying Octopus Podcast, hosts Evan Sabourin and Devin Little discuss various topics ranging from the confusion surrounding pop culture figures in sports to the inconsistent performance of the Red Wings. They delve into the recent incident involving prospect Gavin McKenna, exploring the implications of social media reactions and public perception. The conversation shifts to the upcoming Olympic hockey games, highlighting team dynamics and expectations. Finally, they analyze the recent trade of Artemi Panarin to the LA Kings, discussing its impact on the NHL landscape and the Red Wings' future prospects.   Follows up on X: @Fly...

SUMMARY:

In this episode of The Flying Octopus podcast, hosts Evan Sabourin, Devin L., and George Malik discuss the recent performance of the Detroit Red Wings, including game recaps, player injuries, and the implications of Ben Chiarot's new contract. The conversation delves into the ongoing debate between analytics and the eye test in evaluating player performance, as well as the potential for a ring of honor to honor past players. The hosts also touch on future prospects for the team and upcoming games before the Olympic break.

TAKEAWAYS:

In this episode of the Flying Octopus podcast, hosts Evan Sabourin and Devin Little discuss the Detroit Red Wings' recent games, player performances, and the implications of injuries on the team's playoff aspirations. They delve into trade deadline strategies, the importance of goaltending, and the promising prospects in the Red Wings' pipeline. The episode also highlights notable news from Hockey Town, including updates on beloved analyst Mickey Redmond and the impressive season of the Grand Rapids Griffins.   TAKEAWAYS
The Red Wings are experiencing a resurgence this season, hoping to break a 10-year playoff drought. John Gibson's performance has been p...

Summary In this episode of the Flying Octopus podcast, hosts Evan Sabourin and Devin Little dive into the recent retirement ceremony of Detroit Red Wings legend Sergei Fedorov, reflecting on the emotional impact it had on fans and the community. They discuss the significance of Fedorov's contributions to the team and the nostalgia it evoked among attendees, highlighting the generational connections formed during the event. The hosts also recap the Red Wings' recent games, including a thrilling overtime victory against the Hurricanes and a disappointing loss to the Bruins, analyzing the team's performance and potential trade scenarios involving defenseman Dougie...

In this episode of the Flying Octopus podcast, the hosts discuss Patrick Kane's milestone 500th goal, the recent performance of the Detroit Red Wings, and the impact of line changes on team dynamics. They analyze John Gibson's crucial role in goaltending, Nate Danielson's addition to the Griffins, and strategies for the upcoming trade deadline. The episode also celebrates Sergey Fedorov's jersey retirement and recaps the World Juniors, highlighting the success of Red Wings prospects. The conversation concludes with thoughts on the future of the Red Wings and their path to success.

On episode 66 of The Flying Octopus Podcast, @hockeywithdevin and @sabourin91 recap another successful week for the Red Wings that saw the team reach the top of the Atlantic division. Simon Edvinsson's "coming - out -party" was epic and a key moment in his development as well one of the top games of the season. Then the boys break down the Olympic rosters that came out on Friday, January 2nd. Who's in and who's out? Who got snubbed? We'll hit on that and more on episode 66 of The Flying Octopus Podcast

On episode 65 of The Flying Octopus podcast - Travis Focht and Nick Harrington from @HockeytownWpod join Devin and Evan to recap the Red Wings' 6 - game road trip. The guys break down Todd McLellan's first "full" season behind the bench. Axel Sandin-Pellikka's game has continued to improve. Is he the superstar defender that Detroit so desperately needs? Devin tells you why he could be something special. Plus the Red Wings say goodbye to Jonatan Berggren and hello to John Leonard. All that and more on episode 65 of The Flying Octopus podcast.

Takeaways:

In this episode of the Flying Octopus Podcast, hosts Evan Sabourin and Devin Little discuss the recent trade of Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild. They analyze the implications of the trade for both teams, the assets exchanged, and the potential impact on the Red Wings. The conversation also explores other trade targets for the Red Wings and reflects on the team's current standing and future moves.

Takeaways:

On Episode 63 of The Flying Octopus Podcast, Shane Malloy from Sirius XM NHL Radio joins the show to break down the latest on the Quinn Hughes situation in Vancouver. He gives his thoughts on what it will take to land the star defenseman in Detroit and the kind of immediate impact he would have on a team desperately looking to end a 10 year playoff drought. Plus Evan says there's already two superstars on this current Red Wings team, but pump the brakes for now. Plus Devin makes a plea for Alex Debrincat's bid to make the Team USA Olympic...

On Episode 62 of The Flying Octopus podcast, George Malik from the Malik Report and Travis Focht from Hockeytown West join us to talk all things Red Wings hockey. The boys recap Detroits 4 game losing streak and address how they can climb out of this hole. We also talk Quinn Hughes and break down what the Wings would have to give up for him.  What is wrong with John Gibson and how long is his leash? Is it time for Sebastian Cossa to get the call?  Plus the guys dig in and break down the Grand Rapid's Griffins' historic start. Al...

On Episode 61, the guys from Hockeytown West Podcast join the show to help recap the week that was in Red Wing land. Is Nate Danielson here to stay? The guys break down Marco Kasper's slow start to the season. What changes would benefit him? The Griffins are on a  historic run - Travis Focht, Nick Harrington and Brandon Cooke discuss  the impact of the Red Wings minor league affiliate on the city of Grand Rapids and tell us what to look forward to. All that and more plus a little "ginger power" on Episode 61 of The Flying Octopus podcast. 

On Episode 60 of The Flying Octopus Podcast - Travis Focht from Hockeytown West Podcast joins the show as the guys discuss the Red Wings big win vs Anaheim on Thursday. Line combinations continue to evolve but what is the best fit in terms of rounding out the bottom 6? We break down the John Gibson injury and discuss options in case the injury is long term. Nate Danielson finds his way into the lineup - is he here to stay and who are his optimal linemates? Plus the guys break down the 5 v 5 offense - how does it improve? All...

On this week's episode Tony finds an Evan doppelganger that turns into a work nickname. The guys recap the Red Wings' five game west coast road trip. Things got ugly on Friday against the Rangers. Tony breaks down why Detroit  performed so poorly in a 4-1 loss at the LCA in their first game back. Then Evan chats with Nick Harrington from Hockeytown West Podcast about the Grand Rapids Griffins 8 and 0 start. Nick also gets into some of the top prospects like Nate Danielson, Shai Buium, Michael Brandsegg-Nygard and even goaltender Michal Postava who has helped create an excellent t...

In this week’s episode of The Flying Octopus Podcast, the fellas review the Red Wings’ performance so far now that we’re 10 games into the 2025-26 season, including thoughts on the rookies, contract-year players, young players continuing to ascend, and Detroit’s goaltending tandem. The guys also analyze Detroit’s penalty kill and power play, plus what’s needed moving forward. 

In this week’s episode of The Flying Octopus Podcast, the fellas keep it light and positive after two ugly losses by the Red Wings. They start off with a blast from the past, then pivot to the current youth movement and the resurgent penalty kill. The conversation then transitions to Michael Rasmussen, and what’s needed to get the 2017 first-round pick back to the impactful player he was a couple years ago. Then the guys discuss lineup changes to get back on track, plus a couple Grand Rapids Griffins who could be forcing their way onto the Red Wings rost...

In this week’s episode of The Flying Octopus Podcast, the fellas recap Detroit’s last three games: 6-3 win against Toronto, a 3-2 win against Toronto, and a hard-fought 4-1 victory over the Panthers. The guys discuss Axel Sandin-Pellikka’s rough outing vs. Toronto on Monday and how he rebounded nicely against the Panthers, plus other notes on stellar performances. The podcast then turns to why the Red Wings’ power play had been so effective, then ends with Detroit’s goaltending tandem, and what the plan should be for John Gibson and Cam Talbot moving forward. 

In Episode 55 - Evan, Tony and Devin discuss the good feelings heading into the 2025 season and the excitement of seeing three rookies in the opening night lineup. But things did not turn out the Red Wings way on Thursday at the LCA. The guys recap the home opener: a 5-1 loss at the hands of the Montreal Canadiens. Tony discusses what happened to John Gibson and why he deserved to be pulled in his Detroit debut. The guys also break down what they saw from the young kids. Did Axel Sandin-Pellikka get fed to the wolves in his first...

In this week’s episode of The Flying Octopus Podcast, the fellas kick things off by sharing what they’ve seen in Detroit’s most recent preseason games, including top performers, coaching strategy, and more. The guys then transition to what Detroit’s lineup could look like opening night vs. Montreal and discuss the roster battles still at hand. How many prospects will force their way onto the team this year? And finally, the group offers their bold predictions for the 2025-26 season and sound off on a few rapid-fire questions about this year’s Red Wings team.

 In this week’s episode of The Flying Octopus Podcast, the fellas kick things off by analyzing Detroit’s first two preseason games: Tuesday’s 3-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks and Thursday’s 5-2 win versus the Buffalo Sabres. The Red Wings dominated both contests and received stellar performances from their top prospects plus several NHL regulars. The guys then transition to what they’re looking for in the remaining six preseason games, plus predictions for how performances and roster decisions will play out over the next two weeks.

Episode 52 sees Evan and Devin team up with the boys from @HockeytownWPod. The guys talk training camp with boots on the ground from Nick Harrington and Brandon Cooke. We weigh in on the Emmitt Finnie hype train and talk about what Axel Sandin - Pellikka has to do to make the roster. Plus is Nate Danielson ready for the show? Then the guys shift gears as Travis Focht joined, Devin, Nick and Brandon in Grand Rapids for the Red & White game over the weekend. The guys gauge the temperature on a wild weekend at Van Andel Arena.  Who stood o...

On episode 51, the guys chat it up with the legendary voice of Red Wings hockey. Ken Kal  joins the show as he gets set to to call his 30th season of Red Wings hockey. Ken talks expectations, new faces, and reacts to the Sergei Fedorov jersey retirement news. He also tells us what the Red Wings need to do to end the nine year playoff drought that has plagued Hockeytown. Join us on Episode 51 of The Flying Octopus Podcast. 

On Episode 50 of The Flying Octopus Podcast: We had a lot of fun with this one and even talked a little Led Zeppelin.  The guys spent some time with former NHL goaltender Brent Johnson. The Farmington Hills native spent 12 seasons stopping pucks for the Blues, Coyotes, Capitals and Penguins retiring in 2012. He now works as an on air analyst for Monumental Sports Network. Brent discusses his former teammates from Patrick Roy to Sergei Fedorov to Alex Ovechkin. He also talks about growing up in Southeast Michigan and learning from one of the greatest Red Wings of all time who al...

In this week’s episode of The Flying Octopus Podcast, the fellas welcome The Russian Five author and accomplished sportswriter Keith Gave to the show. The discussion covers a wide array of topics, from Keith’s time in the NSA and start in journalism, to Sergei Fedorov’s legacy and Detroit’s current rebuild. Check it out!

In this week’s episode of The Flying Octopus Podcast, the fellas kick things off with Olympic hockey talk. Dylan Larkin is a lock to make Team USA; what about Alex DeBrincat, Patrick Kane, and John Gibson? Will Simon Edvinsson join Lucas Raymond on Team Sweden? And will Moritz Seider ever get off the ice for Germany? The guys touch on the recent rumors involving the Edmonton Oilers showing interest in Detroit’s top goalie prospects, Trey Augustine and Sebastian Cossa. Does it make sense for the Red Wings to pursue a trade or are they better off holding onto the...

In this week’s episode of The Flying Octopus Podcast, the fellas break out their crystal ball and look to the future. Specifically, when is Detroit’s next contention window? The guys discuss which players will make up that team and when you can expect the Red Wings to make a serious push for another Stanley Cup. Then, the conversation turns to a rumor floating around that Detroit has interest in Anaheim Ducks forward Mason McTavish. Is he the right fit? And at what cost? The article about Detroit’s contention window can be found here: https://thehockeywriters.com/red-wi...

 In this week’s episode of The Flying Octopus Podcast, it’s all prospect talk. Tony and Evan critique Devin’s Top 25 rankings and see where Detroit’s prospects fit in with Tony’s five-tier system. Among the prospects discussed are Dmitri Buchelnikov, Amadeus Lombardi, Carter Mazur, William Wallinder, plus recent first-round picks like Carter Bear, Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, and Sebastian Cossa. The guys then wrap up with news and notes, which includes a few birthdays. You can find Devin’s Top 25 Red Wings prospects here: https://thehockeywriters.com/red-wings-top-25-prospects-post-2025-nhl-draft/ 

In this week’s episode of The Flying Octopus Podcast, the fellas bring on Doug Stolhand of the Puck Podcast to discuss John Gibson and what Red Wings fans can expect from their new goaltender. The long-time Anaheim Ducks analyst shares his perspective on what Gibson brings to the table. After sharing their own thoughts on Gibson, the guys transition to expectations for the rest of the offseason. Will the Red Wings make another move or are they done for the summer? Plus, news and notes, Carter Bear signs his entry-level contract, and Detroit’s 10/10 schedule release video.

In this week’s episode of The Flying Octopus Podcast, the fellas take a look at the current roster construction of the Red Wings and discuss whether or not the team is better than the 2024-25 group. The conversation touches on additions and subtractions, plus player growth and regression. Then, the guys turn to the Erik Karlsson rumors that have been spreading like wildfire. Is he a fit in Detroit? If so, how much would it cost to acquire the future Hall-of-Famer. Join us for another jam-packed episode of The Flying Octopus Podcast.

 In this week’s episode of The Flying Octopus Podcast, the fellas recap the chaos of the last few days, including the 2025 NHL Draft, Detroit’s trade for goaltender John Gibson, several Red Wings re-signings, plus everything that happened (and didn’t happen) on Day 1 of free agency. 

In this week’s episode of The Flying Octopus Podcast, the guys run through a seven-round mock draft for the Red Wings, including a surprise first-round pick. In addition, the fellas share their last draft prospect profile of the offseason: Radim Mrtka. The 6-foot-6 right defenseman is arguably the top blueliner in their year’s class behind Matthew Schaefer. The episode also touches on Detroit’s centennial branding, Antti Tuomisto re-signing, the JJ Peterka trade, the next CBA, and much more. Finally, the Red Wings draft board mentioned in this week’s episode can be found here: https://thehockeywriters.com/red-wing...

The guys welcome in Shane Malloy from SiriusXM NHL Network Radio and break down the logistics for the 2025 NHL Draft. Who will the Red Wings take with the 13th overall pick? The podcast host and author tells us Detroit fans shouldn't worry about the future while breaking down the team's defensive core. We also discuss the competitive advantage that the Red Wings may have in today's NHL. Will general manager Steve Yzerman draft for need or go best player available come this Friday at the draft in Los Angeles? Shane answers that and more on Episode 41 of The Flying...

In this week’s episode of The Flying Octopus Podcast, the guys project launch full speed into mock offseason mode. Tony and Devin make their predictions for Detroit’s trades, buyouts, and signings. Adding scoring throughout the lineup, solidifying the defense, and making the team tougher to play against were the common themes. The fellas then shift gears to Roger McQueen for this week’s draft prospect profile. The Brandon Wheat Kings center entered the year as a likely top-5 pick, but suffered a back injury and watched his draft stock plummet. Could he be a fit in Detroit?

In this week’s episode of The Flying Octopus Podcast, the guys project new contracts for Detroit’s RFAs: Jonatan Berggren, Albert Johansson, and Elmer Soderblom. Plus, identifying what a new deal for Patrick Kane could look like. The fellas then pivot to Cole Reschny and his draft profile. The 5-foot-11 center posted 92 points in 62 games for the Victoria Royals of the WHL. Finally, the show wraps up with news and notes, including Detroit signing goalie Michal Postava, a new home for Dmitri Buchelnikov, and trade rumors involving Vladimir Tarasenko and Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Nic Hague.

In this week’s episode of The Flying Octopus Podcast, the guys recap the hockey hot stove now that we’ve reached the Stanley Cup Final, including Jason Robertson reportedly being on the trade block and what it would take to acquire him. Plus, additional trade targets and the impacts they could have in Detroit. The fellas then pivot to Victor Eklund and his draft profile. The Swedish winger could be available when the Red Wings pick at No. 13 this year. Finally, the show wraps up with news and notes about Dmitri Buchelnikov, Jesse Kiiskinen, and Jay Varady. 

Description: In this weeks episode the Hockeytown West Podcast joins The Flying Octopus and previews the Kelly Cup finals as the Toledo Walleye get set for Game 1 on Saturday. We also take a look back at the Grand Rapids Griffins' 2024-25 season and discuss what players took the next step in their development while predicting who makes a run at a roster spot in Detroit next season. All that and more on Episode 37 of The Flying Octopus Podcast. 

In this week’s episode of The Flying Octopus Podcast, the guys dive into the summer of Mitch Marner. Do the Red Wings have enough cap space to host their own Mitch-a-Palooza? Should they even pursue Marner? The fellas discuss the pros and cons there. Next, the guys offer up two bold moves that the Red Wings should make this offseason. Offense firepower, defensive stalwarts - you name it. And finally, the episode wraps up with an overview of 2025 draft eligible forward Justin Carbonneau of the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada. Could the QMJHL product be a fit for the Red Wings?

In this week’s episode of The Flying Octopus Podcast, the fellas dive into Detroit’s goaltending as the final installment of a four-part team review series. Cam Talbot, Alex Lyon, and Petr Mrazek combined to form a better goaltending core than what we’ve seen in years passed, but still left a bit to be desired. Now, Talbot and Mrazek look to hold down Detroit’s crease in 2025-26. The guys then pivot to Kashawn Aitcheson for this week’s draft prospect profile. The Barrie Colts blueliner racked up 26 goals this season and plays a physical game. Might he be Detr...