The Flying Octopus

Episode 87: Trade - A - Palooza, Dylan Larkin Trade Destination and Draft Preview

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 prospects at 47
Impact of recent trades on team building
Drafting for value versus ceiling in later rounds
Prospect pipeline and defensemen development
NHL Trade Frenzy: Will Dylan Larkin Be Traded?
Red Wings Draft Strategy: Who Should They Pick at 47?
Sound Bites
"If they don't get a deal draft weekend here, it might go into July or August."
"Steve Yzerman will only do a trade if it's right for the organization."
"Shoot for the stars with your second round pick."
Chapters
00:00 - NHL Trade Frenzy: Analyzing Recent Moves
04:44 - Dylan Larkin's Future: Trade Speculations
09:13 - Draft Strategies: The Importance of the 47th Pick
12:13 - Shooting for the Stars: Second Round Picks
16:31 - Late Round Picks: Building Depth for the Future
26:14 - Hypothetical Scenarios: What If Larkin is Traded?
 

Episode 86: Red Wings Draft Preview Ft. NHL SiriusXM’s Shane Malloy

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 Topics
NHL draft strategy and player evaluationDetroit Red Wings prospects and managementImportance of second and seventh round picksMental makeup and leadership in prospectsDefensemen value in draft and trades
 Guest Name: Shane Malloy
Titles
Decoding the NHL Draft: Insights from Shane MalloyHow to Build a Winning Hockey Team: Draft and Development Strategies
Sound bites
"They just don't hit in the second round.""You want those glue guys in the middle.""It's about players who can play five on five."
Chapters
00:00 The Struggles of Second Round Picks02:43 Dylan Larkin's Trade Request and Its Implications05:27 The State of the Red Wings Organization08:31 Prospects and Future Trade Opportunities11:09 Mental Makeup of Prospects14:03 Leadership and Opportunity in the Red Wings16:54 The Future of the Red Wings Post-Larkin22:09 Rising Stars and Leadership Mindset23:18 Draft Strategy: High Floor Players28:54 Identifying Value in the Draft34:23 The Importance of Off-Puck Play41:13 Finding Late-Round Gems43:36 Evaluating Draft Class Strength
Resources
Shane Malloy on Twitter - https://twitter.com/ShaneMalloyThe Art of Scouting by Shane Malloy - https://www.amazon.com/Art-Scouting-Shane-Malloy/dp/XXXXXXNHL Network Radio Sirius XM - https://www.siriusxm.comProspect Profiles on NHL Network Radio - https://www.siriusxm.com/prospectprofiles
Guest links
Twitter - https://twitter.com/ShaneMalloy
 

Episode 85: Larkin Trade Request Saga Continues + Cossa Trade Rumors

 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 for the Red Wings’ other offseason plans. The guys also discuss the Sebastian Cossa trade rumors that have been circulating as of late and what they potential signal for the organization.
 
WHERE TO FIND US
TWITTER - @FLYINGOCTOPOD
YOU TUBE - @THEFLYINGOCTOPOD
ITUNES, SPOTIFY OR WHEREVER YOU GET YOUR PODCASTS
 

Episode 84: Dylan Larkin Wants Out: Panic In Hockeytown

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 Rift03:16 Dylan Larkin's Trade Request07:43 Emotional Reactions and Organizational Impact12:16 Future Implications for the Red Wings16:42 Leadership and Fan Reactions19:31 Dylan Larkin's Legacy and Fan Reactions21:53 Steve Yzerman's Strategy and Future Implications24:11 Trade Scenarios and Potential Destinations for Larkin31:50 Trusting the Yzerplan Now?: Yzerman's Decisions Under Scrutiny34:57 The Emotional Impact of Larkin's Potential Departure
 
 guest links:
Twitter - https://twitter.com/HockeywithDevin
 

Episode 83: Former USA Today Hockey Writer Kevin Allen

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 Podcast. 

Episode 82: Draft Misses, Where Holland & Yzerman Went Wrong + Cossa Trade Rumors

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 future" be on the move and is Michal Postava next in line to backup in Detroit? All that and more on episode #82 of The Flying Octopus podcast. 

Episode 81: Red Wings Player Grades, Organizational Audit & PWHL Arrives In Detroit

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 identity, and more. And finally, the show ends with the news of Detroit receiving a PWHL expansion franchise and the hype surrounding this week’s unveiling.

Episode 80: Red Wings "Need Better Players" + Yzerman Press Conference Review

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 what blockers they might face. That, and much more about Dylan Larkin’s leadership, team culture, and players that need to pull their weight.

Episode 79: Red Wings’ 2025-26 Season Ends In Disappointment + Looking Forward to the Offseason

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 in the offseason and continue their ascension in the standings heading into 2026-27.

Episode 78: Making Sense of the Red Wings’ Late-Season Collapse + Impressive Win vs. Philadelphia

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 on Thursday. The guys discuss becoming Red Wings therapists to cap it all off!