Royally Quacked: An LA Kings and Anaheim Ducks Hockey Podcast

Episode 100: Olympic Chaos, Kings Injuries, Ducks RFAs & The Ultimate SoCal Super Team

Send a textA hundred episodes in, we decided to swing for the fences. We start with a quick pulse check on Los Angeles—Artemi Panarin will wear 72—and the tough news that Kevin Fiala underwent season-ending surgery, then dig into what that means for the Kings’ playoff odds, power-play rotations, and cap flexibility. From there, we zoom out to contract strategy: why a Brandt Clarke long-term deal at a rising cap might age beautifully, and how the Ducks can lock in Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier without choking future space. Bridge deals for developing defense, bigger bets for cornerstone talent—this is where smart teams separate themselves.Then comes the fun: we build a combined Ducks–Kings roster designed to take on Colorado. We draft top-six lines with Leo’s vision feeding Panarin’s edges and Kempe’s speed, a rugged second unit around McTavish and Byfield, and Kopitar stabilizing a crafty scoring line. On the back end, Dowdy’s structure pairs with Lacombe’s calm, Mintyukov’s push balances Clarke’s quarterbacking, and Mikey Anderson brings the quiet stops every contender needs. In net, it’s a true 1A/1B with Dostal and Kuemper, riding form while keeping legs fresh for a deep run.Special teams can decide a series, so we map deliberate units: Byfield–Kempe and Anderson–Moore to kill entries, Kopitar–Paling to win the big draws, and two distinct power-play looks—Clarke up top on PP1 with Panarin and Kempe stretching seams, Leo distributing below the goal line; Lacombe on PP2 with Gauthier’s one-timer opposite Terry, and Fiala attacking the bumper slot. It’s all about handedness, retrievals, and pre-shot movement to lift shot quality, not just volume.Threaded throughout, we track Olympic men’s hockey—surprises, blowouts, and standout goaltending—plus the ever-controversial interference calls under IIHF rules. We also test trade fits and risk: retention math for Dougie Hamilton, the utility of Ryan O’Reilly, and the high-variance upside of Elias Pettersson. The throughline is simple: blend skill with structure, protect the slot, and build a cap table that bends but doesn’t break.If you enjoy smart roster talk, Olympic storylines, and a bold SoCal “superteam” experiment, hit follow, leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and drop your ideal lines in the comments—who’s on your PP1 and why?Support the show-Links to all our socials and where to find the podcast: https://linktr.ee/royallyquacked-Check out all ESEN shows and content here: https://linktr.ee/ESENetworkJoin our Discord: https://discord.gg/MEx82G9 Iron+Steel Threads: Use code RQ10 to save 10% on your order.https://ironsteelthreads.com/?ref=rq Use Promo Code: RQ10 for 10 % off your order. Dubby - Clean Energy To Help You Be Better – Dubby Energy Use code ROYALLYQUACKED $20 off your first SeatGeek order:https://seatgeek.onelink.me/RrnK/teamseatgeek Ditch the bulky phone grips, get Ohsnap. Grab yours at https://www.ohsnap.com/RoyallyQuackedPodcast Socials:Instagram: @royallyquacked Twitter: @RoyallyQuackedTikTok: RoyallyQuacked Our Socials:Cody SpinkInstagram: @spinko1221Twitter: @spinko1221 Gary SpinkInstagram: @garyspink21

Episode 99- Panarin Joins the Kings, Ducks Plot Their Push, Olympic Hockey Arrives!

Send us a textA quiet week off? Not even close. We came back to a league on tilt: Artemi Panarin chose Los Angeles, signed a buyout-proof two-year deal, and instantly changed how the Kings attack the stretch run. Meanwhile, the Ducks balanced a heartfelt farewell to a beloved superfan with a gritty push to keep a playoff spot, riding big nights from Cutter Gauthier, Mikael Granlund, and Jackson LaCombe while grinding through a maddening shutout loss and a satisfying sweep of Vegas.We pull apart the Panarin trade from every angle—return value, retention, and why a short, bonus-heavy extension makes sense for a win-now window. Then we get practical: best line fits to wake up Byfield, whether Kopitar-Kempe-Panarin becomes a sledgehammer, and how another center at the deadline could let Byfield slide back to wing for a deeper top six. On the Ducks side, we walk through clever reassignment moves during the Olympic freeze, spotlight a fourth line that hunts pucks and creates chaos, and track how special teams and defensive lapses can swing a game in four minutes flat.Across the league, the temperature spiked. William Nylander’s on-camera fine, outdoor-game mayhem with a goalie fight and a four-goal comeback, and a string of injuries and suspensions set the tone. We sift through under-the-radar trades that clear cap and hint at bigger moves after the freeze. The Olympics reshaped rosters, too, with Sweden, Canada, and Finland naming replacements, and a packed viewing slate that might preview international lines before NHL play resumes. Finally, we chart the playoff picture, highlight where Anaheim, Seattle, and LA are bunching up, and break down cap space as the true deadline weapon—Detroit, Pittsburgh, and Anaheim have room to strike, while LA kept just enough to address center depth.If you love smart hockey talk—line chemistry, prospect vs. proven star debates, cap strategy, and the little plays that win big games—you’ll feel right at home. Tap follow, share with a fan who needs a sane breakdown of the Panarin deal, and leave a quick review to help more listeners find us. What move would you make next for the Ducks or Kings?Support the show-Links to all our socials and where to find the podcast: https://linktr.ee/royallyquacked-Check out all ESEN shows and content here: https://linktr.ee/ESENetworkJoin our Discord: https://discord.gg/MEx82G9 Iron+Steel Threads: Use code RQ10 to save 10% on your order.https://ironsteelthreads.com/?ref=rq Use Promo Code: RQ10 for 10 % off your order. Dubby - Clean Energy To Help You Be Better – Dubby Energy Use code ROYALLYQUACKED $20 off your first SeatGeek order:https://seatgeek.onelink.me/RrnK/teamseatgeek Ditch the bulky phone grips, get Ohsnap. Grab yours at https://www.ohsnap.com/RoyallyQuackedPodcast Socials:Instagram: @royallyquacked Twitter: @RoyallyQuackedTikTok: RoyallyQuacked Our Socials:Cody SpinkInstagram: @spinko1221Twitter: @spinko1221 Gary SpinkInstagram: @garyspink21

Episode 98- LaCombe to Team USA, Goalie Saves, Goalie Goals and Goalie Fight!

Send us a textA late-night show with early-morning energy: we open with laughs and jump straight into the week’s biggest swings for Ducks and Kings fans. Leo Carlsson’s thigh procedure casts doubt over Sweden’s Olympic plans, Mason McTavish exits late with an upper-body issue, and Jackson Lacombe earns a deserved call to Team USA thanks to smart role-for-role roster thinking. On the Kings side, trade watch heats up with Connor Garland and Evander Kane rumors, while Brandt Clark finds his groove and Quinton Byfield gets a firm challenge to drive play like a second-overall pick.Around the league, Vegas does Vegas—landing Rasmus Andersson and pushing chips in again—while the Sharks add Kiefer Sherwood to fuel a surprising push behind Macklin Celebrini’s spark. We pause on Linus Ullmark’s candid note about mental health after the Boston-to-Ottawa move, a reminder that behind every transaction is a person navigating real life. Contract updates for Alex Steeves and Josh Doan round out a busy ticker, and we kick the tires on a spicy idea: would you swap Alexis Lafrenière for Shane Wright straight up?The game recaps are pure adrenaline. Anaheim edges L.A. in OT on a brilliant 19-year-old stick lift into a two-on-one winner, then Cutter Gauthier bags a birthday brace to sweep the Rangers. Lukáš Dostál turns into a wall in Colorado, stoning 40 of 41 and keeping McKinnon and Makar off the sheet. Seattle surges late, but the Ducks’ structure holds for a six-game heater—a pattern backed by fewer goals against and calmer breakout habits. The Kings, living on a knife’s edge, finally win a shootout over the Blues with Trevor Moore back in the lineup, though special teams and late-game lapses remain the story.We close with grounded predictions, a quick standings snapshot, and a warm reminder about renewal, family milestones, and showing up for each other. Hit play for smart, fan-first hockey talk—trade rumors, injury updates, tactical takeaways, and the kind of game stories that stick. If you enjoy this one, follow Royally Quacked everywhere, subscribe on YouTube to catch the clips, and leave a rating or review so we can read it on the show. Who’s your Olympic goalie pick, and would you make the Lafrenière-for-Wright trade? Tell us.Support the show-Links to all our socials and where to find the podcast: https://linktr.ee/royallyquacked-Check out all ESEN shows and content here: https://linktr.ee/ESENetworkJoin our Discord: https://discord.gg/MEx82G9 Iron+Steel Threads: Use code RQ10 to save 10% on your order.https://ironsteelthreads.com/?ref=rq Use Promo Code: RQ10 for 10 % off your order. Dubby - Clean Energy To Help You Be Better – Dubby Energy Use code ROYALLYQUACKED $20 off your first SeatGeek order:https://seatgeek.onelink.me/RrnK/teamseatgeek Ditch the bulky phone grips, get Ohsnap. Grab yours at https://www.ohsnap.com/RoyallyQuackedPodcast Socials:Instagram: @royallyquacked Twitter: @RoyallyQuackedTikTok: RoyallyQuacked Our Socials:Cody SpinkInstagram: @spinko1221Twitter: @spinko1221 Gary SpinkInstagram: @garyspink21

Episode 97- Ducks and Kings Breakdown: OT Drama & Trade Rumors

Send us a textThe Freeway Faceoff delivered everything we love about SoCal hockey: pace, pushback, and a shootout finish that felt like a high-wire act. We break down how Mason McTavish turned patience into a hammer, how Beckett Sennecke’s hands changed the angle, and why Brandt Clarke’s confidence matters late. From tight 5-on-5 details to the psychology of slowing a goalie’s read, we unpack the moments that swung a rivalry game.Beyond the spotlight, both front offices have real decisions to make. Anaheim’s week brought an AHL All-Star for Tim Washe, a Jeffrey Viel trade, Troy Terry heading to IR, and Leo Carlson’s recovery timeline. Sam Colangelo’s net-front grit stands out in a lineup that wants more inside goals. Across the hall, the Kings face uncomfortable questions about Jim Hiller’s leash and Newell Brown’s power play while evaluating rumored targets like Travis Konecny, Owen Tippett, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Alex Tuch, and Rasmus Andersson. We talk age curves, AAVs, and why rentals that don’t raise your playoff ceiling are a trap.We also zoom out: new alternate jersey colors teased for next season (green for Anaheim, purple for LA), Olympic test games that calmed ice concerns, and a string of league milestones and extensions that frame the market. The game recaps matter—LA gutting out a win in Edmonton, Dallas splitting the SoCal back-to-back, Vegas nicking LA in OT, and Buffalo weathering Anaheim’s late surge—but the theme is bigger. Winning now is about layers: inside ice, screen timing, controlled entries, and letting high-skill players make the last touch under pressure.If you’re here for strategy, trade logic, or just to relive a ridiculous shootout, you’ll feel right at home. Tap play, then tell us: who should your team chase at the deadline, and which alternate color do you want to see on the ice? Subscribe, share with a fellow fan, and leave a quick review so more hockey fans find the show.Support the show-Links to all our socials and where to find the podcast: https://linktr.ee/royallyquacked-Check out all ESEN shows and content here: https://linktr.ee/ESENetworkJoin our Discord: https://discord.gg/MEx82G9 Iron+Steel Threads: Use code RQ10 to save 10% on your order.https://ironsteelthreads.com/?ref=rq Use Promo Code: RQ10 for 10 % off your order. Dubby - Clean Energy To Help You Be Better – Dubby Energy Use code ROYALLYQUACKED $20 off your first SeatGeek order:https://seatgeek.onelink.me/RrnK/teamseatgeek Ditch the bulky phone grips, get Ohsnap. Grab yours at https://www.ohsnap.com/RoyallyQuackedPodcast Socials:Instagram: @royallyquacked Twitter: @RoyallyQuackedTikTok: RoyallyQuacked Our Socials:Cody SpinkInstagram: @spinko1221Twitter: @spinko1221 Gary SpinkInstagram: @garyspink21

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

Send us a textA 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?Support the show-Links to all our socials and where to find the podcast: https://linktr.ee/royallyquacked-Check out all ESEN shows and content here: https://linktr.ee/ESENetworkJoin our Discord: https://discord.gg/MEx82G9 Iron+Steel Threads: Use code RQ10 to save 10% on your order.https://ironsteelthreads.com/?ref=rq Use Promo Code: RQ10 for 10 % off your order. Dubby - Clean Energy To Help You Be Better – Dubby Energy Use code ROYALLYQUACKED $20 off your first SeatGeek order:https://seatgeek.onelink.me/RrnK/teamseatgeek Ditch the bulky phone grips, get Ohsnap. Grab yours at https://www.ohsnap.com/RoyallyQuackedPodcast Socials:Instagram: @royallyquacked Twitter: @RoyallyQuackedTikTok: RoyallyQuacked Our Socials:Cody SpinkInstagram: @spinko1221Twitter: @spinko1221 Gary SpinkInstagram: @garyspink21