Blackhawks Breakaway

TSN’s Craig Button breaks down 2026 NHL Draft lottery, Blackhawks’ options at No. 4

On this episode of the Blackhawks Breakaway Podcast, Pat Boyle and Charlie Roumeliotis react to the 2026 NHL Draft lottery results, highlighted by the Toronto Maple Leafs' stunning jump from No. 5 to No. 1 overall. They also discuss the Blackhawks falling to No. 4 and share early thoughts on their options before tossing to Pat’s 1-on-1 interview with GM Kyle Davidson following the lottery.TSN draft analyst Craig Button then joins the show to react to the results and break down his first mock draft, which has Ivar Stenberg landing with the Blackhawks at No. 4. He discusses his Big Board, what Toronto could do at No. 1 and whether Gavin McKenna is a lock, along with San Jose’s intriguing decision at No. 2 between the best available forward or defenseman. Button also weighs in on how the lottery outcome could impact Auston Matthews’ future, whether the Blackhawks could emerge as an appealing destination for a disgruntled elite player, and much more.Pat and Charlie close by reacting to Button’s comments and sharing their biggest takeaways from the conversation. Charlie also explores a potential Matthews-to-San Jose scenario, and examines why each of the three teams picking ahead of Chicago faces a pivotal decision.They wrap up by debating whether the Blackhawks should take the best player available or draft for organizational need at No. 4, plus Connor Bedard’s decision to skip the 2026 IIHF World Championship while rehabbing his shoulder and the latest on Roman Kantserov’s contract timeline.

Report cards, Part 2: Defensemen, goaltenders, and Jeff Blashill

On this episode of the Blackhawks Breakaway Podcast, Pat Boyle and Charlie Roumeliotis hand out individual grades for the defensemen, goaltenders, and head coach Jeff Blashill as they put a bow on the 2025-26 season.
How did Louis Crevier and Wyatt Kaiser grade out in their breakout seasons on the back end? What steps do Artyom Levshunov and Sam Rinzel need to take to raise their grades next year? And how should Alex Vlasic’s season be viewed after leading the Blackhawks in ice time? They dive into all that and more.
Then, they evaluate the goaltending tandem, including Spencer Knight’s emergence as a bona fide No. 1 and Arvid Soderblom’s up-and-down campaign. Should there be an open competition for the backup role next season?
Finally, Pat and Charlie assess Blashill’s first season behind the bench and explain why he deserves a positive grade despite the team’s 31st-place finish in the standings.

Report cards, Part 1: Connor Bedard's breakout headlines forward grades

On this episode of the Blackhawks Breakaway Podcast, Pat Boyle and Charlie Roumeliotis break down the opening week of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, highlighting standout performances from former Blackhawks like Jason Dickinson and Brandon Hagel, who are off to strong starts with their respective teams.Then, Pat and Charlie shift their focus to the Blackhawks’ 2025–26 season, handing out individual grades for the forward group. How do they evaluate Connor Bedard’s breakout campaign? What stood out from Frank Nazar in his first full NHL season? And how did young players like Ryan Greene, Nick Lardis, and Oliver Moore perform after being expected to spend most of the year in the AHL? They also weigh in on Anton Frondell’s 12-game stint and assess several others.In Part 2, the guys will hand out grades for the defensemen, goaltenders, and head coach Jeff Blashill.

Exit interviews spark optimism: Are the Blackhawks ready for a playoff push?

On this episode of the Blackhawks Breakaway Podcast, Pat Boyle and Charlie Roumeliotis recap the Blackhawks’ multi-goal comeback win over the San Jose Sharks in the season finale and reflect on the season as a whole. They discuss the team’s 11-point improvement, what it says about the trajectory of the rebuild, and why there’s legitimate reason for optimism heading into next year.
They also dive into exit interviews, where Connor Bedard and several players expressed confidence in the team’s ability to push for a playoff spot next season. But how realistic is that expectation, and what still needs to happen to make it a reality?
Pat and Charlie also break down Anton Frondell’s impressive 12-game NHL stint, why he’s already looking like a core piece of the rebuild, and how elements of his game resemble Aleksander Barkov and Leon Draisaitl.
Later, they discuss Blackhawks chairman and CEO Danny Wirtz rewarding GM Kyle Davidson with a multi-year contract extension. They evaluate Davidson’s rebuild to this point, explain why his patient approach continues to make sense, and debate whether this could be the summer he finally pulls off a blockbuster move.
To close the episode, Pat and Charlie predict all eight first-round matchups in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, including a few notable upsets.

Alec Martinez talks FRONDELL impressions, Bertuzzi’s breakout & young D core

On this episode of the Blackhawks Breakaway Podcast, Pat Boyle and Charlie Roumeliotis are joined by three-time Stanley Cup champion and CHSN Blackhawks analyst Alec Martinez. They share their early impressions of No. 3 overall pick Anton Frondell, discuss his development path, and explain why the Swedish Hockey League helped prepare him for the NHL.
They also dive into Tyler Bertuzzi’s career year after he surpassed his personal best in goals with 31, why he’s having a breakout season, and what led to his leadership role as an alternate captain.
Later in the show, Pat, Charlie, and Alec talk about Ilya Mikheyev’s game and why they hope he’s back with the Blackhawks next season. They also break down the five-forward power play with Connor Bedard as the quarterback, with Alec sharing his thoughts on what makes a good power-play quarterback from a defenseman’s perspective and why Wyatt Kaiser could be an intriguing option in that role moving forward.
They also discuss the Blackhawks’ young defensemen group—all 24 or younger—and Alec reflects on the age when he felt he reached his peak as an NHL defenseman.
To wrap up the show, in honor of April Fool’s Day, Alec shares some prank stories from his playing days.

The Anton Frondell era has arrived

On this episode of the Blackhawks Breakaway Podcast, Pat Boyle and Charlie Roumeliotis break down No. 3 overall pick Anton Frondell’s NHL debut, discussing what stood out in his game, including his lethal shot, his 200-foot play, his hockey sense, and where he could fit on the power play.
They also debate whether Frondell projects best as a long-term second-line center or as Connor Bedard’s top linemate. Plus, they discuss Frondell’s wise decision to play in the Swedish Hockey League after being drafted instead of turning pro right away and how valuable that was for his development.Pat and Charlie also talk about Nick Lardis’ promotion to the second line and how he’s taken advantage of the opportunity after previously playing in a fourth-line role since his second call-up and whether that fourth-line experience helped his development.They also discuss Arvid Söderblom’s terrific last two starts and whether he could earn more starts down the stretch, Andre Burakovsky’s struggles, the Blackhawks’ overtime and shootout record, and more. They close out the show by talking about where 2024 first-round pick Sacha Boisvert could slot into the lineup as he prepares for his NHL debut.

Blackhawks surpass last year's point total early, Frank Nazar's surge, and more

On this episode of the Blackhawks Breakaway Podcast, Pat Boyle and Charlie Roumeliotis break down how the Blackhawks have already surpassed last season’s point total with 15 games still to play, and why that marks meaningful progress even if it doesn’t quite feel like it.
They dive into Connor Bedard’s game, Frank Nazar’s hot streak, and Artyom Levshunov’s promotion to the top pairing. The guys also debate whether Louis Crevier deserves a look on the power play, where his shot could be an asset after leading the NHL in 100+ mph slap shots.
Plus, they discuss Nick Lardis' ice-time deployment and where 2024 first-round pick Sacha Boisvert might fit in following the signing of his entry-level contract.
Later, Pat and Charlie examine the Blackhawks’ back-to-back slow starts against Vegas and Minnesota, and why the sluggish opening in Vegas particularly stood out, especially after the team was rewarded with an off day following an overtime win in Utah.
To wrap things up, they reflect on former captain Nick Foligno’s return to Chicago and the lasting impact he made during his three-year stint. They also touch on how Team USA’s success at the 4 Nations tournament and Winter Olympics potentially impacted the U.S. baseball team at the World Baseball Classic, and what it means for international competition across sports.

Remembering former Blackhawk and beloved broadcaster Troy Murray

On this episode of the Blackhawks Breakaway Podcast, Pat Boyle and Charlie Roumeliotis reflect on the passing of former Blackhawk and beloved broadcaster Troy Murray. They remember his legacy, reminisce about the good times, and share personal stories about the impact he had on their lives.Later, three-time Stanley Cup champion and new CHSN Blackhawks analyst Alec Martinez makes his podcast debut to discuss his transition from player to broadcaster. He also weighs in on the trade deadline, Nick Foligno being moved, and how the Blackhawks move forward with a new leadership group.Plus, Pat, Charlie and Alec dive into the development of young defensemen Artyom Levshunov and Sam Rinzel, Connor Bedard’s growth from Year 2 to Year 3, and how off-ice bonds typically translate to on-ice success.

Connor Murphy’s legacy with Blackhawks, trade deadline preview, and more

On this episode of the Blackhawks Breakaway Podcast, Pat Boyle and Charlie Roumeliotis recap the Blackhawks’ four-game road trip coming out of the Olympic break. They break down the blown leads, with all three losses unfolding in similar fashion and discuss whether the growing pains of learning how to close out games are simply part of the process.
The guys also dive into the need for more depth scoring beyond Connor Bedard, the future of Kevin Korchinski after being jumped on the depth chart by Ethan Del Mastro against the Winnipeg Jets, and other key storylines.
Plus, Pat and Charlie break down the Connor Murphy trade to the Edmonton Oilers. They reflect on Murphy’s legacy and impact in Chicago both on and off the ice, evaluate his fit in Edmonton, and analyze the return the Blackhawks received for the veteran defenseman. You’ll also hear from Murphy during his Edmonton media availability.
To wrap up, the guys preview the 2026 trade deadline and examine the situations surrounding Jason Dickinson, Nick Foligno, and Ilya Mikheyev. Will any of them be on the move?

USA wins gold and key Blackhawks storylines to follow for the stretch run

On this episode of the Blackhawks Breakaway Podcast, Pat Boyle and Charlie Roumeliotis put a bow on the 2026 Olympic men’s hockey tournament, where Team USA captured gold over Canada to snap a 46-year drought. They break down Connor Hellebuyck’s heroic performance in net, Jack Hughes’ overtime game-winner, and a flawless 18-for-18 penalty kill that powered the Americans to victory.Plus, Pat and Charlie discuss Patrick Kane’s lasting impact on USA Hockey and why his fingerprints were all over this roster, while also debating whether Canada regrets leaving Connor Bedard off its Olympic squad.They also dive into the controversial 3-on-3 overtime format that decided the gold medal and propose potential changes for future tournaments.Finally, the guys shift their focus to the Blackhawks’ final 25 games, outlining their top five storylines to watch, from the trade deadline to potential prospect call-ups and beyond.