The Flying Octopus

An all new Red Wings hockey podcast hosted by Tony Wolak, Devin Little and Evan Sabourin

The Flying Octopus is a sports podcast hosted by sabourin91, with 92 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

sabourin91 hosts The Flying Octopus, a sports show with 92 episodes published.

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  Episode #92

  Episode 92: The State of The Red Wings with Kevin Allen

  Aug 13, 202647 min

  Summary: In this episode former USA TODAY lead hockey writer and Hall of Famer, Kevin Allen, shares insights on the Detroit Red Wings' current challenges, prospects, and future strategies. We explore team dynamics, management decisions, and the importance of analytics in shaping the franchise's path forward. Keywords: Red Wings, Kevin Allen, NHL, hockey analysis, team management, prospects, analytics, Detroit hockey Key Topics: Red Wings' management and organizational challenges The impact of Dylan Larkin trade request Role of analytics in team building Prospects and player development strategies Team culture and organizational funk Future outlook for Detroit Red Wings Sound Bites "Larkin is pretty valuable to the Red Wings" "You gotta pay Edmondson more than Cider" "Goals are essential for playoff success" Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Guest Background 03:00 Larkin's Value and Team Impact 04:01 New GM Search and Management Style 05:03 Potential Candidates and Analytics Approach 06:20 Involvement of Jeff Greenberg and Analytics in Hockey 08:13 Pressure on Illich and Franchise Expectations 09:05 Drafting Challenges and Future Strategies 10:28 Team Building and Youth Development 12:13 Organizational Funk and Team Morale 14:27 Defense and Offense Outlook 16:46 Contract Negotiations and Player Relations 18:38 Alex DeBrincat's Future and Contract Talks 20:32 Prospects to Watch in 2026 22:17 Player Development and Prospect Management 24:37 Team Environment and Player Morale 27:51 Young Players and Future Impact 31:00 Team Strategy and Draft Philosophy 33:49 Defensive and Offensive Player Development 39:38 Season Outlook and Optimism 43:11 Closing Remarks and Final Thoughts

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  Episode #91

  Episode 91: Inside the Red Wings GM Search: Internal vs External Candidate

  Jul 24, 202624 min

  SUMMARY In this episode, Tony Wolak and Devin L. explore the complexities of hiring a new general manager for the Detroit Red Wings, debating internal versus external candidates, and analyzing successful NHL organizational changes. They also touch on Patrick Kane's move to Chicago and its implications for the team. KEYWORDS Red Wings, NHL, General Manager, Internal vs External Hire, NHL Organizational Change, Patrick Kane, Detroit Red Wings, Hockey Management, NHL Trades, Team Building key topics Red Wings GM search: internal vs external candidates Success stories of NHL leadership changes Impact of Patrick Kane's move to Chicago Organizational change and team rebuilding strategies The importance of organizational knowledge in NHL management SOUND BITES "They are their own person and they're gonna make decisions on their own." "Change is change, don't just bring in a protege." "A clean slate feels like a fresh start." CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction to the Red Wings GM Search 02:05 Devin's Wedding Plans and Personal Updates 03:47 Discussion on Internal Candidates: Sean Horkoff and Others 07:54 External Candidates and Successful NHL Examples 11:58 The Value of Organizational Knowledge in Hiring 16:08 Differences in Management Styles: Inside vs Outside Hires 19:54 Case Studies: Vegas, Colorado, and St. Louis 24:04 Addressing Team Rebuilding and Player Trades 29:01 The Impact of Leadership Changes on Team Dynamics 31:05 Patrick Kane's Move to Chicago and Its Significance 31:56 Closing Remarks and Next Steps Resources: NHL Organizational Change Examples - https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-organizational-changes-examples Patrick Kane's Career Profile - https://www.nhl.com/player/patrick-kane/8470644 Detroit Red Wings Official Website - https://www.nhl.com/redwings Vegas Golden Knights Management - https://www.nhl.com/news/vegas-golden-knights-management St. Louis Blues Management Transition - https://www.nhl.com/news/st-louis-blues-management guest links Twitter - https://twitter.com/HockeywithDevin Twitter - https://twitter.com/FlyingOctopod

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  Episode #90

  Episode 90: Steve Yzerman Steps Down: What It Means for the Red Wings' Future

  Jul 16, 202646 min

  Summary: In this episode, Evan, Tony, and Devin discuss the shocking news of Steve Yzerman stepping down as GM of the Detroit Red Wings, the team's future direction, and the implications for the franchise. They also touch on Patrick Kane's potential destinations and the broader NHL management trends. Key Topics: Steve Yzerman's tenure and departure Red Wings' team rebuild and management strategy The NHL GM hiring process and analytics influence Patrick Kane's free agency and potential teams Impacts of management changes on team performance Sound Bites: "Yzerman's tenure can be viewed differently now" "The Red Wings are in a pivotal moment" "This is the most hectic Red Wings summer in years" Chapters 00:00 Intro and Wake-up Call 08:11:48 Reactions to Yzerman stepping down Guest links Twitter - https://twitter.com/HockeywithDevin

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  Episode #88

  Episode 88: Red Wings Free Agency Update + 2026 Draft Recap

  Jul 3, 202643 min

  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 media. The guys recap Detroit’s selections, their value, and how the Red Wings adjusted their draft strategy away from the tried and true. The episode ends with a shout out for former guest Shane Malloy, who was hired this week by the St. Louis Blues as their new director of strategic planning. Key Topics - Red Wings draft picks and strategy - Free agency signings and trades - Player development and prospects - Team identity and future plans - Impact of recent NHL moves 00:00 - Flight Cancellations and Scams 02:40 - NHL Draft and Free Agency Overview 05:17 - Analyzing Free Agency Moves 08:09 - The Impact of New Acquisitions 10:40 - Team Identity and Future Prospects 13:28 - Dylan Larkin's Trade Drama 15:57 - Looking Ahead to the Draft 21:31 - Buffalo Draft Experience 23:40 - Victor Plante's Emotional Draft Moment 25:17 - Analyzing JP Hurlbert's Selection 28:16 - Sebastian Cossa Trade Discussion 30:54 - Draft Class Overview and Player Potential 37:32 - Shifting Draft Strategies and Future Outlook 39:26 - Draft Grades and Final Thoughts

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  Episode #87

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

  Jun 26, 202629 min

  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?

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