The Flying Octopus

Summary: In this episode, Tony Wolak and Devin Little delve into the recent NHL salary cap shifts, the record-breaking Leo Carlsson contract, and the ongoing Dylan Larkin trade saga. They explore how these developments are reshaping team strategies, player valuations, and the league's financial landscape. Keywords: NHL salary cap, Leo Carlsson contract, Dylan Larkin trade, NHL free agency, hockey...

In this week’s episode of The Flying Octopus Podcast, the fellas dive into Detroit’s July 1 acquisitions and what they mean for the organization. Viktor Arvidsson and Keegan Kolesar, in particular, address key offseason objectives, and the guys will share how. The discussion then pivots to the 2026 NHL Draft, where Evan got an up close view of Detroit’s draft picks as a credentialed member of the...

In this episode, Tony and Devin discuss the latest NHL trades, the potential trade of Dylan Larkin, and the Detroit Red Wings' upcoming draft strategy, including key prospects and draft picks. They analyze team moves, draft value, and strategic considerations for building a competitive team.   Key Topics: NHL trade activity and potential Dylan Larkin trade Red Wings draft strategy and key prospect...

Interview: Summary In this episode, Shane Malloy, a renowned hockey scout and author, shares insights on NHL draft strategies, player evaluation, and the Detroit Red Wings' prospects and management. Tune in to learn how to assess talent and build a winning team in hockey. Keywords Hockey Draft, Player Evaluation, Detroit Red Wings, Shane Malloy, NHL Prospects, Draft Strategy, Hockey Management Key...

 In this week’s episode of The Flying Octopus Podcast, the fellas dive into the latest news surrounding Dylan Larkin’s trade request, including an updated trade list, potential returns, and the impact on his legacy. The discussion then turns to Steve Yzerman and if he’s the right person to be managing the situation on Detroit’s end, plus what a trade (or holding out for a better return) might mean...

This episode dives into the emotional and strategic implications of Dylan Larkin's trade request from the Detroit Red Wings. We analyze the potential impact on team dynamics, future prospects, and the broader NHL landscape, featuring insights from hockey experts.   Chapters 00:00 The Trade Deadline Rift 03:16 Dylan Larkin's Trade Request 07:43 Emotional Reactions and Organizational Impact 12:16 Fu...

Former USA Today Hockey Writer and current editor-in-chief of Detroit Hockey Now, Kevin Allen, joins the show to talk Red Wings hockey, the legacy of Claude Lemieux, Detroit's Draft approach, and the legend that is Doc Emrick. He also weighs in on Steve Yzerman's draft strategy and tells us why you can't build a contender through the draft. All that and more on Episode 83 of The Flying Octopus Pod...

On episode 82 of The Flying Octopus podcast, Evan Sabourin and Devin Little discuss long term ripple effects from the Ken Holland era. They breakdown GM Steve Yzerman's early drafts and discuss just how "prime" they are. What's the real reason behind the ten year playoff drought? Plus the guys react to Frank Seravalli's Sebastian Cossa comments. Could the Red Wing's once crowned "goalie of the fut...

In this week’s episode of The Flying Octopus Podcast, the fellas dive into 2025-26 player grades now that the emotion from the season/collapse has subsided. Find out which Red Wings players passed the test and which need summer school. After that, the guys examine the organization as a whole and identify other opportunities for improvement this offseason, including front office hires, team identit...

In this week’s episode of The Flying Octopus Podcast, the fellas recap Steve Yzerman and Todd McLellan’s end-of-year press conference, including notes on team offense needing to improve, the bottom-six needing an identity, the coaching staff remaining in place, and much more. The guys also share their thoughts on how the Red Wings can go about reconstructing their forward group for 2026-27 and wha...

In this week’s episode of The Flying Octopus Podcast, the fellas take a high-level view of the Red Wings’ 2025-26 season, including what went wrong, what went right, and what needs to change. There were certainly some successes from this season, but, at least for now, are overshadowed by the failure of the collapse. There is hope, though, and the guys preview how the Red Wings can right the ship i...

In this week’s episode of The Flying Octopus Podcast, the fellas dive into Detroit’s late-season collapse and what comes next for the organization. The discussion ranges from offseason priorities, to potential targets, to a confidence check on Steve Yzerman’s ability to guide the team moving forward. The guys also recap the week that was, which included three painful losses and a breakthrough win...

Description:  On episode 77, Evan and Devin compare the Red Wings season to a movie - horror or comedy? The Red Wings leave March behind and start April with a win, but what's behind the issues with this lack of offense and are they even playoff worthy? Goals have been hard to come by, we'll discuss why and what we think the fix is.  Devin breaks down the future core of this team and the guys deba...

In this week’s episode of The Flying Octopus Podcast, the fellas dive into Detroit’s playoff push - or lack thereof. All of the other wild card-contending teams have caught fire, while the Red Wings have fallen back to Earth. What needs to happen for the Red Wings to break through and reach the playoffs? Who do they need to count on to get them across the finish line? The conversation then turns t...

In this week’s episode of The Flying Octopus Podcast, the fellas recap Detroit’s playoff-style win against the Montreal Canadiens, and what the regulation victory versus an Atlantic Division foe means in terms of the playoff race. With how the Eastern Conference is shaking out, it was truly a must-win game for the Red Wings. The guys also highlighted players who stood out, and gave J.T. Compher an...

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 Wing...

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. Th...

 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 Tyle...

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...

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...

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...

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 connection...

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 r...

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'...

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 sp...