Episode 96: Kings Banged Up, Ducks Spiraling, and Utah Goes Outdoor

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A brutal stretch for SoCal hockey turns into a candid therapy session and a scouting report rolled into one. We open with the Ducks’ eight-game slide and the growing nerves around Cutter Gauthier’s extension, then challenge the logic of chasing the wrong trade targets while scratching one of the few consistent forwards in Ryan Strome. Waivers for Nikita Nesterenko and a goalie shuffle with Mrazek to IR and Husso back up only added to the churn. The pattern is clear: Anaheim often strikes first, then drifts, and a fragile middle frame buries them.

Across the freeway, the Kings somehow took two smart wins off the Wild before laying an egg in Winnipeg. Injuries to Kopitar and Trevor Moore forced call-ups and a reliance on structure over spark, but the special teams slide is becoming a weekly headline. The bright spots help—Brandt Clarke’s swagger, Alex Turcotte’s pop, and flashes from Kuzmenko—but Quinton Byfield’s offense remains the swing factor. He wins pucks and tracks like a center you trust; the finishing and usage need a nudge to unlock the ceiling everyone saw. We also break down a Zegras revenge night in Philly, a controversial goal reversal vs San Jose, and what slow-motion reviews get wrong about real-time intent.

Around the league, we touch on fresh extensions, a poignant goodbye to Hall-of-Famer Glenn Hall and his impossible 502-game streak, and early Olympic roster reveals. Then it’s predictions and an invite: meet us at Noble Ale Works on Friday the 16th for a free, all-ages Ducks vs Kings watch party with vendors, giveaways, and a live stream. If you enjoyed this one, follow, subscribe, and leave a quick review—it helps more fans find the show. Which fix would you make first: shake up lines, change special teams, or pull the trade trigger?

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