The octopus first made it's appearance April 15,1952; during the playoffs. Two Detroit brothers, Pete
and Jerry Cusimano, who owned a fishmongers in Eastern Market, threw one on the ice at Olympia
Stadium. Each tentacle represented a win. Back when the NHL was just the original six teams, eight wins
would get you a playoff sweep. The Red Wings swept the series that year, and the Octopus has come to
be the good luck charm ever since. The tradition was carried over to Joe Louis Arena on the opening
night in 1979. 
 

Today: more then a tradition a Detroit hockey  symbol

Today the Octopus has come to signify much more then the playoffs.  It has turned into a second logo
and has found it's way on the ice in many regular season games.  Detroit no longer keeps a live octopus
for the playoffs, it now keeps a huge fake octopus called Al that hangs high above the ice at the Joe.  Even though the NHL has set rules to try to cut the tradition down it is still alive and well today.  The team that really ruined it for us all was Florida and their rubber rats in the '96 cup finals it it was not one or two rats thrown on the ice it was hundreds causing them to delay the game and sweep them up. The Octopus will always be a big part of Red Wing hockey and while it might not be quite the same as it was it is still one of the funniest and weirdest traditions in the NHL. 

 Example of Octopus logo. 1999 Playoff slogan.