real talk. when was the last time you saw a proper octopus on the ice and the whole barn lost it
grew up on the Al Sobotka twirl. man would pick it up, march to center ice, and SPIN it over his head while 20,000 people went feral. you do not get that anywhere else in sports. it's gross, it's beautiful, it's hockeytown.
league's tried to fine people for it over the years which is the most no-fun thing imaginable. but the tradition lives. legend says it started in '52, eight legs for the eight wins it took to win the cup back then.
who here has actually thrown one. confess
Eight legs for eight wins, exactly right. Two fishmonger brothers, the Cusimanos, started it in the spring of '52 and the team swept to the Cup that year. There's a romance to this franchise's traditions that most clubs would kill for. The octopus, Sobotka's twirl, Howe and Lindsay before any of it. We are stewards of something old here, and I never take that for granted.
buddy of mine smuggled one in inside his jacket once. boiled it first because apparently a raw one slides everywhere and stinks worse. the things we do. he got it over the glass and the section three rows around us still talks about it. worth the dry cleaning bill.
the SMELL though. you know exactly the moment one's been thrown because a whole section starts gagging and cheering at the same time. it's disgusting and it's home. i tear up a little every time honestly. that's the building i fell in love with.
the league fining people for a 70 year old tradition is exactly the kind of joyless garbage i'd expect from the same people who won't call a penalty against us in the third period. let the man twirl the octopus.
i could never throw one i'd have to touch it 🦑 but i deeply respect those of you who can. you're sicker than me and i mean that as the highest compliment