The Flying Octopus

Episode 65: Road Trip Recap, ASP shines, Berggren moves on

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:
Ketchup phobia is a real thing among some players.
The Red Wings are performing well this December compared to previous years.
Todd McLellan's coaching style is instilling a winning mentality in the team.
Young players like Axel Sandin-Pellikka are showing great potential.
The Griffins are currently on a winning streak, showcasing their talent.
Stadium Series jerseys often receive mixed reactions from fans.
Player development is crucial for the Red Wings' future success.
The Atlantic Division is highly competitive this season.
Fans should remain patient as the team continues to grow.
 
Chapters
00:00 Ketchup Phobia and Hockey Humor
02:33 Red Wings Season Recap and Performance
05:16 Coaching Changes and Team Dynamics
07:51 Player Development and Young Talent
10:44 Recent Transactions and Future Prospects
28:17 Evaluating NHL Prospects and Draft Classes
31:16 The Impact of Draft Decisions on Team Performance
34:02 Spotlight on John Leonard: AHL Success and NHL Potential
37:23 Assessing Player Roles and Team Dynamics
41:14 Stadium Series Jerseys: A Design Disappointment
48:12 Nick Saban Joins the Nashville Predators Ownership
49:19 Wrapping Up: Future Prospects and Holiday Wishes

Episode 64: No Hughes For You

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:
The trade of Quinn Hughes to Minnesota was unexpected.
Minnesota had the assets to make a significant trade.
The return for Hughes included promising young players and a first-round pick.
Comparative trade offers were discussed, highlighting the value of prospects.
The Red Wings were in the mix for Hughes but opted not to trade key assets.
The impact of Hughes' trade on the Western Conference was analyzed.
Future trade targets for the Red Wings were identified.
The importance of not mortgaging the future for short-term gains was emphasized.
The hosts reflected on the Red Wings' current position and potential improvements.
The conversation highlighted the unpredictability of NHL trades.
Chapters
00:00Introduction and Breaking News
02:07Trade Analysis: Quinn Hughes to Minnesota
04:32Comparative Trade Offers and Prospects
07:22Red Wings' Strategy and Future Moves
09:51Potential Trade Targets for the Red Wings
12:34Wrap-Up and Reflections on the Trade
14:43Recap of the Red Wings' Performance

Episode 63: Shane Malloy from Sirius XM NHL Radio Talks Quinn Hughes, Superstars on current roster and Alex Debrincat

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 roster. All that and more on Episode 63 of The Flying Octopus Podcast. 

Episode 62: George Malik and Travis Focht join the show to recap Red Wings' losing streak, Quinn Hughes trade target, John Gibson's struggles and the Grand Rapids Griffins historic start

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. All that and more on Episode 62 of The Flying Octopus podcast.

Episode 61: Ups and Downs with Hockeytown West Podcast, Nate Danielson Arrives plus Griffins Hot Start

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. 

Episode 60 : Losing Streak Halted, Goalie Carousel, Nate Danielson Arrives and Travis Focht from HockeyTown West

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 that and more on Episode 60 of The Flying Octopus Podcast. 

Episode 59: West Coast Recap, Ugly Homecoming & Nick Harrington from Hockeytown West Podcast

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 tandem with Sebastian Cossa. All that and more on Episode 59 of The Flying Octopus Podcast.

Episode 58: Taking Stock of the 2025-26 Red Wings After 10 Games

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. 

Episode 57: Red Wings Harsh Reality Hits Hard After Rough Week

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 roster soon.

Episode 56: Red Wings Win 3 Straight vs. Atlantic Division Rivals

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.