Al Sobotka throughout the years

Al Sobotka uses a Zamboni to flood the ice between periods.

Building Manager Al Sobotka twirls an octopus during the last game at Joe Louis Arena on April 9, 2017.

Al Sobotka, building operations manager for Olympia Entertainment, drives the zamboni to resurface the ice before a Red Wings preseason game at Little Caesars Arena.

Building Manager Al Sobotka poses with the on-ice officials before the game.

Building manager Al Sobotka will soon twirl his last octopus at The Joe. But as he moves to Little Caesars Arena, the tradition may as well.

Building Manager Al Sobotka brings in an octopus that was thrown onto the ice in the second period.

Building Manager Al Sobotka hands a puck to seven-year-old Ali Khaled, of Grosse Ile during a break in the action of a game against the Vancouver Canucks at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, February 3, 2014.

Building Manager Al Sobotka cheers with the crowd while walking down the red carpet before the game.

(caption) Al Sobotka, building operations manager and zamboni driver for Joe Louis Arena, and JLA executive chef John Borso (right) grill burgers and brats as a fundraiser before a playoff game against the Dallas Stars on May 10, 2008. Big Al's BBQ was set up to raise money for the Detroit Red Wings Foundation.

Al Sobotka takes an octopus for a fling after Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg picked up a score in the second period.

May 20, 2007: Joe Louis Arena Building Manager Al Sobotka picks up an octopus that was tossed onto the ice before the start of the game and exhorts the crowd. It was Game 5 of the Red Wings vs. the Anaheim Ducks in the Western Conference finals. This time, the Red Wings would lose the game and the series.

Joe Louis Arena building manager Al Sobotka, center, of Grosse Pointe Woods, and other arena employees carry the head of Al the Octopus up the steps on Thursday, April 14, 2016, as crews prepare the arena for Sunday's home playoff game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Building Operations Manager Al Sobotka, right, and Mike Stapleton of Prop Art (the company that made the octopus back in 1995) attach one of the tentacles while piecing together the 'Al the Octopus' in preparation for the playoffs at Joe Louis Arena on April 18, 2006.

FYI: Al Sobotka, building operations manager for Olympia Entertainment, buys hand sanitizer by the industrial-sized drum.

Joe Louis Arena building manager Al Sobotka drives the Zamboni past a tribute to Mike Ilitch painted on the ice, Feb. 15, 2017.

Al Sobotka takes an octopus from former Red Wings Dino Ciccarelli after Ciccarelli and other alumni took to cleaning the ice during a timeout.

Former Red Wing Dino Ciccarelli twirls an octopus before giving it to Al Sobotka while helping to scrape the ice in the second period.

Al Sobotka prepares one of his famous barbecues during practice at Joe Louis Arena in 2004.

Former Red Wing Dino Ciccarelli high-fives Building Manager Al Sobotka while helping to scrape the ice in the second period.

Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard and Zamboni driver Al Sobotka help to cut the ribbon to open the Red Wings Play Zone.

Building Manager Al Sobotka held one of his famous bar-be-cues outside Joe Louis Arena on March 8, 2008.

Joe Louis Arena Building Manager Al Sobotka drives the Zamboni during the Detroit Red Wings' Stanley Cup parade down Woodward Avenue in Detroit, June 6, 2008. The Red Wings defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins in the finals.

Building Manager Al Sobotka twirls an octopus tossed onto the ice at the beginning of a playoff game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on April 18, 2009.

Joe Louis Arena building operations manager Al Sobotka waters down the ice around the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs logo in preparation for game three of the Red Wings' first-round series against the Anaheim Ducks.

Al Sobotka floods the ice on his Zamboni before the start of a game between the Detroit Red Wings and the Nashville Predators at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, February 23, 2021.

Building manager Al Sobotka twirls an octopus in front of Chicago's Duncan Keith before game four of the Western Conference semi-finals at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, May 23, 2013.

Joe Louis Arena Building Manager Al Sobotka gives a puck to eight-year-old Kenedy Coombe of Clio during a time-out in the third period of a game in 2013.

Zamboni driver Al Sobotka gives a small child a ride on an electric cart down a corridor inside Little Caesars Arena in November 27, 2019.