The Flying Octopus

  SUMMARY: The Flying Octopus Podcast hosts Evan Sabourin, Devin Little, and Tony Wolak assess Detroit’s recent games, focusing on the team’s resilience and developing players rather than the ongoing Dylan Larkin trade conversation. They also debate the Red Wings’ new Hometown Remix jerseys and discuss Daniil Tarasov’s strong play, John Gibson’s trade value, and the challenge of managing Detroit and Grand Rapids’ goaltending depth. KEYWORDS: Detroit Red Wings, Flying Octopus Podcast, Daniil Tarasov, John Gibson, William Wallinder, Red Wings jerseys, NHL, Grand Rapids Griffins KEY TOPICS: The hosts pan the Hometown Remix jerseys, calling them underwhelming and comparing them unfavorably with past Red Wings alternate designs. Tony Wolak points to Detroit’s ability to learn from one game to the next: holding a lead against Florida, responding after a poor start in Tampa Bay, and starting stronger against Vegas. The panel praises the team’s effort and commitment to Todd Mclellan’s system, even when facing more talented opponents and playing without key contributors. Devin Little highlights William Wallinder’s growing role alongside Justin Faulk, noting that Wallinder had played nine straight games and was earning the coaching staff’s trust. The hosts single out rookie Michael Brandsegg-Nygård (referred to as MBN) for his physical play, including 75 hits, and discuss his growing confidence as a shooting option. Devin contrasts Daniil Tarasov’s impressive performances with John Gibson’s struggles; Tony argues Detroit should ride Tarasov while he is playing well. The hosts weigh a possible Gibson trade against his current form, the return Detroit might receive, and the effect a call-up could have on Grand Rapids’ goaltending depth. The panel says Detroit’s difficult division and upcoming road games against Colorado, St. Louis, Florida, and Tampa Bay will test whether the team can keep competing.  TAKEAWAYS: “They are competing their asses off every may” “They are one hundred percent bought into Todd McClellan's system” “They show that they belong.” “they're playing winning hockey despite not having a winning roster” “Wallander has played now with the Vegas game behind us nine games in a row.” “He's a hockey player. he does all the things that people like like to watch” “you have to roll with him until he has a poor game.” “He explodes up into the shot as opposed to like just letting it hit him.” “you want to maximize John Gibson.” “I really love watching these kids play.” SOUND BITES: "They look kinda cheap." "They show that they belong." "He explodes up into the shot." Chapters 00:00 The Hometown Remix jerseys draw a rough review 05:03 Why the hosts set aside the Larkin trade saga 07:14 Detroit adjusts after setbacks against St. Louis and Tampa 10:25 Wallinder and the young players making their mark 14:52 Tarasov’s strong play and Gibson’s struggles 16:13 Why Detroit should keep riding Tarasov 19:42 What would make a John Gibson trade worthwhile? 22:41 Balancing Detroit’s needs with Grand Rapids’ goalie depth 27:11 A men’s-league comparison and rink-cam reality check 29:05 The next road test: Colorado, St. Louis, and Florida

Summary:  In episode #103 of The Flying Octopus podcast, Devin and Tony react to the breaking news of Dylan Larkin's suspension handed down by the organization on Thursday, as it appears the former captain has played his last game in a Red Wings uniform. Interim GM Shawn Horcoff's press conference didn't give much of a timeline for a move but Larkin has been wiped clean from everything in the organization. Where does the team and Larkin go from here? How will it impact the future of the Red Wings? Tony and Devin break down possible scenarios in a trade for #71.  The guys also react to Detroit's 4-1 win over the Blackhawks on Thursday night and tell you who stood out on a team that seems to be playing at a higher level to start the 2026 season. All that and more on episode 103 of The Flying Octopus Podcast.   

WELCOME TO EPISODE 102 OF THE FLYING OCTOPUS PODCAST:   WE BREAK DOWN THE RED WINGS WEST COAST TRIP AS THERE’S A LOT HAPPENING WITH THIS TEAM AS THEY GET SET TO PLAY IN CALGARY ON SATURDAY NIGHT…MICHAL POSTAVA GOT THE CALL UP ON THURSDAY AND SAW HIS FIRST BIT OF NHL ACTION IN THE WINGS 5-2 WIN OVER THE CANUCKS THAT NIGHT. OUR GOALIE GURU TONY WILL WEIGH IN ON THAT, AS WELL AS SOME IMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCES BY SOME OF THE YOUNGSTERS ON THIS TRIP.   WE’LL ALSO GET INTO DYLAN LARKIN’S NOW UPDATED TEN TEAM TRADE LIST AS REPORTED BY HELENE ST. JAMES - AND TELL YOU WHERE WE THINK THE BEST FIT IS FOR HIM   THE SIMON EDVINSSON SAGA IS STILL PLAYING OUT AND I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU,  BUT IT’S STARTING TO FEEL LIKE HE MAY NOT WANT TO SIGN WITH DETROIT. COULD A BLOCKBUSTER MOVE BE ON THE WAY AND WHAT COULD THAT POSSIBLY LOOK LIKE?   PLUS A BIG MOVE WENT DOWN THIS MORNING WITH CONNOR HELLEBUYCK. HOW DOES THAT AFFECT DETROIT?    WHERE YOU CAN FIND US  YT: @theflyingoctopod Twitter: @flyingoctopod Itunes, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.    

SUMMARY: In this week's episode of The Flying Octopus Podcast, Tony and Devin recap Detroit's 2-1 victory over the Flyers and identify players and lines that stood out Thursday night. The conversation then turns to Alex Debrincat's new seven-year extension with the Red Wings, it's implications, and what's next for Simon Edvinsson and Dylan Larkin. 

SUMMARY: In episode 100 of The Flying Octopus Podcast, Detroit Hockey Now's Bob Duff breaks down the state of the Red Wings organization. He explains why Chris Illitch has struggled to convey the direction of the team. Why isn't Simon Edvinsson signed and will he eventually be traded? Is there any chance of a reconciliation with Dylan Larkin after his big performance vs. the Senators? The former Windsor Star columnist answers that and much more. He also explains why fan's shouldn't worry about Alex Debrincat resigning with the team. Tune into episode 100 of the The Flying Octopus Podcast for all the latest discussion, news and notes on your Detroit Red Wings.   

Summary: In this episode, Tony Wolak and Devin Little analyze the Detroit Red Wings' season opener, discussing the team's performance, fan reactions, and prospects for the season ahead. They explore the impact of missing players, coaching strategies, and the overall mood surrounding the team. Keywords: Red Wings, NHL, season opener, fan reactions, team analysis, hockey discussion   Key Topics Red Wings' performance against the Rangers Fan reactions including boos and sell the team chants Impact of missing key players like Dylan Larkin and Simon Edvinsson Defensive efforts and puck possession metrics Coaching strategies and line combinations Player physicality and team effort Line performance and player development Trade rumors and team management decisions Sound Bites "Sell the team chants are starting to fill the arena" "Nothing underscores where this organization is at more than that" "I don't have a good feeling about this season" Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview 00:39 Red Wings' Performance and Fan Reactions 02:33 Boos for Dylan Larkin and Sell the Team Chants 04:36 Game Highlights and Defensive Analysis 06:00 Team Effort and Missing Talent 08:07 Player Physicality and Line Performance 09:37 Defensive Metrics and Line Chemistry 11:22 Looking Ahead to the Next Game and Lineup Decisions 15:18 Injury Updates and Contract Negotiations 21:47 Season Outlook and Team Development  

SUMMARY: In this episode, Evan Sabourin and Devin discuss the recent MLB and NHL highlights, roster decisions, and the ongoing contract negotiations involving top prospects and players. They explore the implications of preseason performances, waiver claims, and the potential trade scenarios shaping the Detroit Red Wings' upcoming season. KEYWORDS MLB, NHL, Detroit Red Wings, roster decisions, preseason, contracts, waiver claims, Justin Verlander, Simon Edvinson, Dylan Larkin  KEY TOPICS Justin Verlander's farewell and emotional moment with his daughter Red Wings roster decisions and the battle for final spots Impact of preseason games on player evaluation, especially goalies Contract negotiations and delays involving Simon Edvinsson Expansion of Dylan Larkin’s trade list and potential trade destinations Analysis of waiver claims and their strategic implications Performance of young prospects like Anton Johansson and Albert Johansson The significance of waiver rules and roster math in team building Discussion of the upcoming NHL season and key players' readiness Speculation on potential trades and organizational moves    

SUMMARY   In this episode, Kevin Allen and Evan Sabourin discuss the Detroit Red Wings' current roster, prospects, and the Dylan Larkin trade drama, providing insights into team dynamics and future prospects.   KEYWORDS   Detroit Red Wings, NHL, Dylan Larkin, hockey prospects, team management, trades, NHL preseason, Detroit Hockey Now   KEY TOPICS Red Wings' roster and prospects Dylan Larkin trade list expansion Team management and ownership issues Preseason performance and player development Future trade possibilities and team strategy SOUND BITES "The expanded trade list gives more hope for a deal." "Larkin's trade situation reflects deeper issues beyond the team." "Young players like Pellikka and Johansson are impressing in preseason."  

  SUMMARY:   This episode, we explore the recent changes in the Detroit Red Wings' management, focusing on Shawn Horcoff's interim GM role, the team's training camp outlook, and the strategic decisions shaping their season. We analyze the implications of organizational moves and player contracts, providing insights into the team's future direction.   KEYWORDS: Red Wings, Shawn Horcoff, NHL management, training camp, player contracts, Detroit Red Wings, hockey strategy, GM decisions, team rebuild, NHL offseason   KEY TOPICS Shawn Horcoff's interim GM role and decision-making authority Impact of management changes on team strategy and player contracts Training camp roster battles and prospects to watch Red Wings' contract negotiations with key players like Edvinsson and DeBrincat Organizational approach to rebuilding and future planning Sound Bites "Horcoff has my complete confidence" "They're actively negotiating with Simon Edvinsson" "Shawn Horcoff's authority to trade Dylan Larkin" Chapters 00:00 - Introduction and episode overview 00:35 - Shawn Horcoff named interim general manager 02:10  - Horcoff's authority and decision-making power 03:55 - Red Wings management approach and organizational timeline 07:40 - Implications of Horcoff's role and ownership decisions 12:12  -  Contract negotiations with DeBrincat and Edvinsson 15:54 -  Horcoff's potential moves and team strategy 20:58 - Player contracts and roster flexibility 27:20 - Training camp competition and prospects 36:49 - Season outlook and potential surprises 38:32 - Closing remarks and upcoming preseason    

SUMMARY In this episode, the hosts discuss the latest developments in the Detroit Red Wings organization, including Dylan Larkin's statement, the GM search, and prospects camp. They also pay tribute to hockey legend Barry Melrose and share personal stories and insights about hockey culture and management. KEYWORDS: Red Wings, Dylan Larkin, GM search, prospects camp, Barry Melrose, hockey management, NHL, Detroit Red Wings, hockey culture KEY TOPICS Dylan Larkin's statement and leadership status Red Wings GM search process and challenges Prospects camp highlights and player expectations Tribute to Barry Melrose and his impact on hockey Organizational strategy and ownership influence in Detroit SOUND BITES Chapters 00:00 Intro and technical difficulties 01:00 Discussion on Bluey and childhood cartoons 02:23 Tony discusses son's favorite cartoons and recent hockey topics 04:22 Red Wings' 95th player and historical trivia 05:09 Dylan Larkin's recent statement and team dynamics 06:32 Red Wings' official response to Larkin and leadership questions 08:12 Analysis of the GM search and ownership strategy 11:19 The state of the Red Wings' management and future prospects 13:45 Key players and prospects for upcoming season 31:02 Tribute to Barry Melrose and his legacy in hockey 34:23 Passing of Andre Pronovost and personal stories 35:30 Devin's new media credential and prospects camp excitement 37:23 Closing remarks and next week's season preview