Episode 89: Kempe Signs Long-Term, Doughty Injured Again, Ducks Youth Impresses

Send us Fan MailA franchise declares who it is when it chooses certainty over churn, and that’s exactly what we unpack as the Kings lock in Adrian Kempe on a 10-year deal with a savvy, bonus-heavy structure. We get into why that number and term make sense relative to his two-way value, how the no-move and no-trade protections frame the next era, and what it signals about retool talk. Then the plot twists: Doughty’s toe puts Brant Clarke center stage, the defensive metrics trend up, but timely finishing and special teams decide three razor-thin results.Across town, the Ducks face a different kind of tension: a promising blue line that doesn’t have enough nightly seats. We lay out the real choices around Pavel Mintyukov—AHL reps to rebuild rhythm, rotation with clear standards, or exploring value—while spotlighting Ian Moore’s poise on his off side and Olen Zellweger’s OT killer instinct. Cutter Gauthier and Leo Carlson keep stacking milestones, yet PK leaks against Boston show where precision still matters. It’s a week of last-minute equalizers, gutsy goaltending, and the kind of 3-on-3 reads that show which prospects think the game at NHL speed.We widen the lens with quick hits from around the league: timely extensions, tough injuries, Hellebuyck’s procedure, and the IIHF’s move to mandate neck guards at the 2026 Olympics. And yes, we make the full case for more color-on-color games after that gorgeous Red Wings vs Rangers showcase—why select matchups pop on TV, how to avoid clashes, and how rituals like Halloween and Black Friday could become visual events in Southern California.If you care about roster building, development paths, and the tiny details that swing one-goal games, this one’s for you. Tap play, then tell us: should LA keep stacking defense-first minutes, should Anaheim send Minty down for runway, and which color-on-color matchup needs to happen next? Subscribe, share with a hockey friend, and drop a review to help more 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/MEx82G9Iron+Steel Threads: Use code RQ10 to save 10% on your order.https://ironsteelthreads.com/?ref=rqUse 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/teamseatgeekDitch the bulky phone grips, get Ohsnap. Grab yours at https://www.ohsnap.com/RoyallyQuackedPodcast Socials:Instagram: @royallyquacked Twitter: @RoyallyQuackedTikTok: RoyallyQuackedOur Socials:Cody SpinkInstagram: @spinko1221Twitter: @spinko1221Gary SpinkInstagram: @garyspink21 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.