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Coffee at dawn, hockey at full throttle. We dive into a week where the USA women authored a masterclass in control and composure, capped by Hilary Knight’s last-minute equalizer and Megan Keller’s smooth OT winner over Canada. Aerin Frankel’s poise set the tone, the skaters did the rest, and a new core proved they’re ready to keep the standard high even as a legend bows out.

On the men’s side, the margins tightened and the drama spiked. We unpack the Czechia–Canada controversy around too-many-men, how Mitch Marner still found a backhand winner, and why Finland’s sit-back approach invited chaos against a relentless Canadian attack. Then it’s USA–Slovakia, where Jack Hughes carved the ice, the Tkachuk brothers dragged the game into their world, and the Americans punched their ticket with speed and edge. We talk why some stars shine brighter for their country than their club, how international ice and compressed schedules change decision-making, and which matchups will define USA–Canada at sunrise.

Back home, we hit Ducks and Kings news with an eye on the trade window. Leo Carlsson and Frank Vatrano returning to practice offers Anaheim a late-season spark, while Petr Mrazek’s season-ending surgery opens cap flexibility and solidifies Ville Husso’s path. For the Kings, we weigh the upside and price of names like Elias Pettersson and Bobby McCann, plus the logic of a low-cost Jeff Skinner swing to fix finishing. The question isn’t just who you can get—it’s who actually fits the system without mortgaging tomorrow.

We wrap with bold bronze and gold predictions, the goalie edge that could tilt USA–Canada, and the first NHL moves we expect once the freeze lifts. If you love clutch moments, smart tactics, and a little chaos before breakfast, this one’s for you. Subscribe, share with a fellow hockey nut, and tell us: who lifts gold, and which NHL team must make the first big trade?

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A 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/ESENetwork

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Gary Spink
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A 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/ESENetwork

Join 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/RoyallyQuacked

Podcast Socials:
Instagram: @royallyquacked
Twitter: @RoyallyQuacked
TikTok: RoyallyQuacked

Our Socials:
Cody Spink
Instagram: @spinko1221
Twitter: @spinko1221

Gary Spink
Instagram: @garyspink21