Kings Realm · The Kings Realm

357: Bold Predictions with The Royal Army

October 6, 2025·1 hr 29 min·7 clips

James apologizes to Corey Perry for decades of jokes and offers to lead his fan club.

1. Kings Realm episode 357, 'Bold Predictions with The Royal Army,' features host Jordan Heckman and co-host James Whitlock alongside Royal Army fan group members DJ Balthazar and Smoke Show for a preseason bold-predictions roundtable. 2. Jordan Heckman hosts without the usual Dennis Wilson, while James Whitlock joins in a white jacket; DJ Balthazar runs the Royal Army fan supporters group at Section 303 of Crypto.com Arena, and Smoke Show is a barbecue entrepreneur who attended Kings training camp. 3. The episode's core premise is a series of bold predictions for the 2025-26 Kings season alongside the announcement of two major community-side developments: Kings Realm joining the Royal Half media network and the Royal Army's expanded 2025-26 invasion schedule. 4. The first major announcement is Jordan's theatrical on-camera apology to Corey Perry, delivered in a white jacket, apologising for 'decades of jokes' including the 'stepbrothers line of your face so punchable' and for laughing at Perry's post-game walk of shame in Dallas. 5. Perry was introduced as a King at a Dodgers game where he threw out the first pitch; DJ estimates the crowd reaction was 'like 80 percent boos, maybe 20 percent cheers,' prompting debate over whether the Kings were right to put Perry in public that early. 6. The hosts note Perry and Drew Doughty are reportedly close friends — they were roommates for Team Canada — which gives an unusual dynamic to the famous LA-pest now playing alongside the Kings' captain. 7. James predicts Corey Perry will score 40 points by end of the regular season; Jordan predicts Perry becomes a fan favourite and is 'the one that finally puts us over the hump against the Oilers' in the playoffs. 8. Smoke Show reports that a former Kings player told him Kevin Fiala came into training camp noticeably more focused following 'something that happened during the offseason,' details of which remain unspecified. 9. The group sets a specific prediction that Fiala will go the first 15 games without a social-media-notable on-ice mistake, referencing past issues including offensive zone penalties and allegedly missing a game by forgetting to set his alarm. 10. DJ Balthazar makes bold predictions that Anze Kopitar wins both the Selke Trophy and the Lady Byng in what he frames as Kopitar's final season. 11. Additional bold predictions include Drew Doughty winning the Norris Trophy and making Team Canada, and Adrian Kempe having a career year that leads to him becoming team captain next season. 12. Jordan announces Kings Realm has joined the Royal Half, a revived Los Angeles Kings fan media network led by Jesse Cohen, described as a 'one-stop shop for all Kings stuff outside the organisation.' 13. DJ Balthazar describes the Royal Army's 2025-26 away invasion schedule: Nashville (30-plus confirmed deposits), San Jose by bus in November, Colorado in late December, and a suite in Utah in March. 14. He explains the San Jose overnight bus trip format — 56 fans depart after the game, drive through the night, and return to LA at around 4:30am — characterising it as 'the ultimate Kings fan experience.' 15. The Royal Army has accumulated 25 collectible patches over four years of away invasions, distributed through membership kits; the hosts compare collecting them to Pokemon. 16. A DraftKings Pick Six sponsorship is read mid-episode offering new customers $50 in bonus picks with a $5 entry using promo code THPN. 17. The episode has a loose, unscripted format — multiple audio issues are resolved live on air, the whiteboard is cleaned in real time — with most of the bold predictions workshopped spontaneously rather than prepared in advance. 18. The energy is casual and comedic throughout, with recurring ball-in-mouth jokes tied to Smoke Show's barbecue scotch eggs and extended digressions about golf bets and banner-smuggling at San Jose. 19. Dedicated LA Kings fans who follow the team's fan culture, supporter groups, and offseason roster moves will find this most engaging. 20. Listeners unfamiliar with Kings hockey, Corey Perry's history with the franchise, or North American hockey fan culture will find significant portions opaque.

As heard by us

A crowded, funny Kings hangout that turns preseason and bold predictions into a lively fan-room argument.

This Kings Realm episode leans on bold predictions, but the bigger pull is the atmosphere: Royal Army guests, preseason talk, watch-party stories, and banter that keeps the room moving.

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Why you'd press play

You want Kings chaos, bold takes, and a room full of Royal Army energy.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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