The Flying Octopus

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...

In this week’s episode of The Flying Octopus Podcast, the fellas do a deep dive on Detroit’s special teams from the 2024-25 season as the third installment of a four-part team review series. The Red Wings had one of the hottest power plays in the league, but also THE coldest penalty kill. Next up are evaluations of Patrick Kane, Marco Kasper, and Vladimir Tarasenko. What does the future hold for these three? The guys then pivot to Carter Bear, one of the more intriguing prospects in the 2025 draft class. The Everett Silvertips forward finished the year with 50 goals and...

In this week’s episode of The Flying Octopus Podcast, the guys do a deep dive on Detroit’s five-on-five defense from 2024-25 as the second part of a four-part team review series. The Red Wings ranked poorly relative to the league in defensive metrics, but improved year-over-year. Next up are evaluations of Moritz Seider, Simon Edvinsson, and Ben Chiarot as the defensive focus continues. What did these players do well? Where can they improve? Also, reactions to Steve Yzerman and Todd McLellan’s end-of-year press conference. Finally, the fellas highlight 2025 draft prospect Jackson Smith, a left defenseman from the Tri-Ci...

 In this week’s episode of The Flying Octopus Podcast, the fellas review Detroit’s five-on-five offense from the 2024-25 as part of a four-part team review series. The Red Wings ranked poorly relative to the league in offensive production, and the guys analyze why that was the case, plus what changed from a year ago. Next up are evaluations of Dylan Larkin, Lucas Raymond, and Alex DeBrincat. What did these players do well? (A lot.) Where can they improve? Also, reactions to Larkin’s end-of-year press conference comments about Detroit’s lack of trade deadline additions and the impact on the lo...

In this week’s episode of The Flying Octopus Podcast, the guys discuss the final three Detroit Red Wings games of the 2024-25 season: a 6-4 win over the Dallas Stars, a 5-2 win over the New Jersey Devils, and a heartbreaking 4-3 overtime loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on the final day of the season. The conversation then turns to key takeaways from the 2024-25 season, including the youth movement, Detroit’s decision to hire Todd McLellan, and a few scoring milestones along the way. Finally, the fellas look ahead to the offseason - the first The Flying Octo...

In this week’s episode of The Flying Octopus Podcast, the guys discuss Detroit’s outings against Montreal and Florida that effectively ended their playoff hopes. The games also illuminated a season-long trend: Detroit’s inability to generate offense on a consistent basis. The fellas talk about the timing of the Red Wings’ offensive woes, offseason priorities, and the forwards heading into 2025-26. The discussion then turns to Detroit’s prospects and who might get a cameo in the remaining games. Sebastian Cossa? Nate Danielson? Amadeus Lombardi? Axel Sandin Pellikka or Michael Brandsegg-Nygard? Also updates on Dmitri Buchelnikov and Tampa Bay Lightn...

In this week’s episode of The Flying Octopus podcast, the guys discuss the Red Wings’ remaining schedule and what to watch for down the stretch, including the young core playing pivotal roles, an improved penalty kill, and more. The discussion then turns to the positives to take away from the 2024-25 season and why the Red Wings are in great shape heading into the offseason. Finally, the fellas discuss Trey Augustine’s decision to return to Michigan State for his junior campaign, plus what that means for the Red Wings and Grand Rapid Griffins next year.

In this week’s episode of The Flying Octopus podcast, the guys discuss the Red Wings’ three games this week – their 5-1 win over Utah, the 5-2 loss to Colorado, and Thursday’s 4-3 loss to Ottawa. It’s not all doom and gloom, though – there are plenty of positive and neutral takeaways from the latest loss and the season as a whole. Next, the fellas turn to the 2025 NHL Draft where the Red Wings are likely to pick in the 9-12 range. Could they land a Jackson Smith or Victor Eklund to bolster their prospect pool? How about Carter Bear, Jake O...

 In this week’s episode of The Flying Octopus podcast, the guys discuss the current state of the Red Wings heading into a critical road trip. Detroit faces off against Vegas on Saturday, Utah on Monday, and Colorado on Tuesday before returning home to take on the Senators on Thursday. The discussion then turns to Detroit’s faltering offensive output and what the Red Wings can do to put more pucks in the net. The fellas also touch on playoff odds, Axel Sandin Pellikka, and the Avengers.

In this week’s episode of The Flying Octopus podcast, the guys discuss Tony and Devin’s experience at the Navy Federal NHL Stadium Series. Next up, the fellas recap Detroit’s 7-3 win vs. Buffalo, including the dominance of the DeBrincat-Kasper-Kane line, Marco Kasper’s emergence as a true 2C, and Petr Mrazek’s second debut in Detroit. The discussion then turns to Jonatan Berggren, who has been scratched the last two games - what is his future? Is it in Detroit? And finally, the focus turns to Red Wings prospect Anton Johansson, who signed an entry-level contract Thursday. What does...

In this week’s episode of The Flying Octopus podcast, the guys revisit the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline. Included are thoughts on the Red Wings trade with Chicago for Petr Mrazek and Craig Smith for Joe Veleno. We'll also discuss the biggest trades of the day and discuss what moves we were hoping to see Detroit make. Carter Mazur's debut did not go as planned and Devin breaks down what's next for one of the Red Wings top prospects. Plus we'll revisit the Jake Walman trade and try to analyze how the former Red Wing fetched a first round pick in a...

Episode 24: The crew breaks down the Red Wings Blue Jackets game from Thursday night. Then they discuss the impact of Andrew Copp's injury and look at possible lineup changes. Where does Detroit go from here? Potential trade targets with some big names could be available. Will Yzerman bite? Plus we'll look ahead to Devin and Tony's trip to the Stadium Series on Saturday. 

In this week’s episode of The Flying Octopus Podcast, the guys recap the 4 Nations Face-Off, its impact on the popularity of hockey, and the critical roles Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond played for their respective countries. Next, the discussion turns to the Red Wings returning to action on Saturday vs. the Minnesota Wild. The fellas discuss Detroit’s playoff push, the trade deadline, and what the team needs to do to make the playoffs a reality. Plus, updates on Vladimir Tarasenko, trade targets, and more.

In this week’s episode of The Flying Octopus Podcast, the fellas analyze Detroit’s successful four-game road trip and the impact it had on the Eastern Conference playoff race. After touching on how Elmer Soderblom, Albert Johansson, and Marco Kasper have adapted to the NHL pace of play, the guys transition to a deep dive on how Detroit’s roster is constructed and their confidence level in the player groups.

The fellas took a different approach with this week’s episode – a full trade deadline preview from the perspective of Detroit’s front office. Tony and Devin play the roles of Steve Yzerman and Shawn Horcoff/Kris Draper, respectively, and examine the state of the Red Wings, Detroit’s playoff chances, team needs, pending free agents, and the salary cap. Then, the guys dissect trade proposals and their implications now and in the future.

First up in this week’s episode, the guys recap Detroit’s 4-2 win against the Montreal Canadiens after a rough road trip. Next up is a breakdown of Elmer Soderblom’s play with the Red Wings, what he needs to do to stay in the lineup, and what made him successful in Grand Rapids. After that, the conversation continues with a discussion on Detroit’s top prospects with the Griffins, including Nate Danielson, Carter Mazur, and William Wallinder. And finally, the fellas discuss Detroit’s quarter-century team after the NHL shared the Red Wings’ first and second teams on Thursday. <

Description: First up in this week’s episode, the guys recap Detroit’s 5-2 win on the road against the Florida Panthers, including superb goaltending from Cam Talbot and a resilient effort from Justin Holl after a disastrous game Tuesday against the San Jose Sharks. Next up is a breakdown of the Red Wings’ power play, what has made it successful under Todd McLellan, and how it compares to Detroit’s power play under Derek Lalonde. And finally, the fellas discuss the 2025 NHL Stadium Series jerseys that were unveiled Thursday.

In this week’s episode, the guys take stock of Detroit’s play during their current five-game winning streak, including how the Red Wings have been led by their top players – Dylan Larkin, Lucas Raymond, Patrick Kane, Alex DeBrincat, and Moritz Seider. That’s followed by a discussion on what is driving this change. Next, the podcast turns to Dylan Cozens. The Red Wings have shown interest in the Buffalo Sabres forward, but is he the right fit for Detroit? Finally, the guys chat about Marco Kasper’s new role, what he brings to the top line, and what the future...

In this week’s episode, the guys recap Detroit’s 5-4 win in Columbus, from the Red Wings’ adaptability on the power play to the failed coaching challenge that led to a Jonatan Berggren game-winning goal out of the penalty box. Then, the conversation turns to Todd McLellan’s early impact on the team and how the Red Wings are playing fast and loose hockey. Finally, the guys detail Joe Veleno’s ascendance to the top line, how he fits alongside Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond, and what to expect moving forward.

In this week’s episode of The Flying Octopus Podcast, the guys dissect Detroit’s decision to fire head coach Derek Lalonde and associate coach Bob Boughner. Why was change needed and why was it needed now? They also discuss the Red Wings hiring Todd McLellan as the next head coach and Trent Yawney to oversee the defense. What can McLellan and Yawney bring to the table that can salvage Detroit’s season? Finally, it’s time for the World Junior Championship, and Red Wings prospect Axel Sandin Pellikka kicked things off on a high note in the opening game with a h...

On episode 15 of The Flying Octopus - George, Devin and Evan recap Wednesday's win against the Flyers. Could this be a turning point? The guys discuss Moritz Seider's big week and talk about his overall value to the team. Can he reach Pronger - like status? Prospects are coming and patience is needed. But how much longer? We'll also break down the Kappo Kakko trade to Seattle and discuss why the Red Wings may have stayed away. That and more on episode 15 of The Flying Octopus podcast.

In this week’s episode of The Flying Octopus Podcast, the guys discuss Detroit’s lackluster effort against the Philadelphia Flyers and what that means for the rest of the season. Change is clearly needed, but to what degree? Should the Red Wings adjust their game plan? Or make drastic moves like a trade or a change behind the bench? 

In this week’s episode of The Flying Octopus Podcast, the guys recap Detroit’s losing streak, the organization’s interest in Jacob Trouba, and how these two seemingly divergent topics make sense. Then, a higher level conversation about the month of December and Detroit’s window for closing the gap in the Eastern Conference standings. And finally, how change is needed in Detroit, and what that means, whether that has to do with the coaching staff, lineup tweaks, or trades.

In this week’s episode of The Flying Octopus Podcast, the guys recap Detroit’s 2-1 win over the New York Islanders, including praise for Jonatan Berggren, Lucas Raymond, and even the Ben Chiarot/Jeff Petry pairing. Following that, the discussion turns to what’s next for the Red Wings – two moves to get Detroit closer to a playoff berth, two moves to improve draft lottery odds, and two more moderate moves to stabilize the current team. Finally, the guys discuss the future of the salary cap, which is expected to increase for the 2025-26 season. By how much is still up...