Blackhawks Breakaway

On the latest edition of the Hawks Talk Podcast, Blackhawks director of player development Mark Eaton joins the show to evaluate the organization’s top defensemen prospects and where each of them are at in their developments. Which ones could make the NHL jump next season?Pat Boyle and Charlie Roumeliotis offer their takeaways from the Eaton interview and outlook the Blackhawks blue line group as a whole.1:00 – Eaton on Henri Jokiharju’s development3:30 – Adam Boqvist’s growth in North America6:50 – Evaluating Nicolas Beaudin’s progression8:15 – Surprised about Ian Mitchell’s decision to return to college?10:55 – Assessing Chad Krys in college and AHL13:10 – Challenge between stressing defensive side of game but not taking away from who the player is15:55 – Which defensemen prospects could be in NHL next season?18:25 – The message Erik Gustafsson’s breakout season sends to prospects21:15 – Takeaways from Eaton interview31:25 – Reviewing Blackhawks defensemen contracts33:35 – Thoughts on Gustav Forsling35:20 – The challenge for Blackhawks defense this offseason

On the latest edition of the Hawks Talk Podcast, TSN analyst Craig Button joins Pat Boyle to discuss the pool of players that could be available for the Blackhawks at No. 3 overall and who may have the highest ceiling. Button also weighs in on which player could be the most NHL ready after Jack Hughes and Kaapo Kakko.Slavko Bekovic and Charlie Roumeliotis join Pat in the second segment to react to Button’s analysis. Could the Blackhawks actually look to draft a defenseman? Who’s the best center available? The guys also discuss which player stands out among the crop.0:45 – Is there a dropoff after Hughes and Kakko?1:45 – Is Podkolzin NHL ready?3:15 – Could Podkolzin get the Artemi Panarin treatment?5:15 – Which center is the best available after Hughes?7:40 – Scouting report on Byram10:30 – Which prospect is the most NHL ready after Hughes and Kakko?11:45 – Could the Devils or Rangers trade out of No. 1 or 2?12:30 – Is there anything Kakko can do to jump Hughes for No. 1?14:00 – Takeaways from Button’s interview16:30 – Could the Blackhawks actually take a defenseman?24:50 – Trevor Zegras earns high praise27:45 – Don’t count out a trade?33:00 – Dylan Cozens stands out on tape36:30 – Patrick Kane to captain Team USA at Worlds

They only had an 8.2% chance at a top 3 pick, but the lottery balls bounced the Blackhawks way and they landed the third overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. Pat Boyle, Charlie Roumeliotis and Slavko Bekovic break down what this means for the franchise, what options they might have now in adding a top asset and what players might be available for the Blackhawks at the third overall pick. Plus, we’ll hear directly from GM Stan Bowman on whether he had any good luck charms with him and how this is changes the outlook of the Blackhawks going forward.0:30 – Holy crap the Blackhawks got a top-3 pick!2:45 – The Blackhawks now have a lot of options6:30 – Stan Bowman addresses the media on the #3 pick9:15 – This should add some “juice” to the organization13:00 – Who are the top prospects in the draft?17:00 – Importance of adding depth at center19:20 – Could the Hawks trade up to #1 or #2?28:45 – Was the draft lottery rigged?!?!30:45 – Would you rather have the #3 pick or make the playoffs?

On the latest Hawks Talk Podcast it’s all about the Blackhawks exit interviews on Sunday. Pat Boyle and Charlie Roumeliotis give you their biggest takeaways from the interviews they had with Stan Bowman, Jeremy Colliton, Jonathan Toews & Patrick Kane. You will also hear from Bowman on how active he plans on being in free agency. Colliton shares how he plans to target Kane’s minutes better next season.00:00 Exit interview podcast01:00 Hawks active in free agency?02:30 No excuse not to spend this summer04:30 Is Gus part of long term core?06:00 Will players ‘overachieve’ again?07:00 Late 50 games, good enough to win division?09:15 Crawford and Delia the future in net?10:30 Recapping other players in the system13:30 Colliton using Kane next season17:30 How do Bowman and Colliton work together to form the head coach’s team?19:15 Kane and Toews – together or apart?21:00 Patrick Kane’s career season23:30 Finding chemistry for the star players26:00 Toews answering his critics28:30 Gus saves his career?30:00 Which Blackhawks heading to World Championships?31:30 Quenneville to the Panthers?33:00 NHL Draft lottery on Tuesday

On the latest Hawks Talk Podcast, Pat Boyle, Slavko Bekovic and Charlie Roumeliotis debate whether this Blackhawks team ever had a playoff roster. The guys also wonder if fatigue became an issue, where the season really turned and what’s at stake in the final three games. They wrap up by summarizing the season, looking ahead to this summer in free agency and the NHL draft lottery.1:00 - Were the Hawks a playoff roster?4:20 - Simply put: the Hawks defense is awful9:00 - Where could Hawks add Top-4 d-man?15:45 - Did the Hawks overperform this year?20:20 - Where did this season go wrong?25:00 - Is there fatigue for the top players?32:05 - Erik Gustafsson's breakout season35:10 - Draft lottery around the corner37:00 - Who will lead the Hawks in goals?38:40 - What's at stake in the final three games?40:15 - Kevin Hayes to the Hawks?!46:20 - How do you sum up this season?48:30 - Keith/Seabrook legacy

March 29th, 2018 is a day that most Blackhawks fans will never forget. The game marked the debuts of both Collin Delia and Dylan Sikura, and Brent Seabrook played in his 1000th NHL game. But Scott Foster, an accountant from Chicago, stole the show as the emergency goalie, giving the faithful at the United Center a new star to cheer for, even if it was only for a few minutes. Pat Boyle sits down 1-on-1 with Foster to relive the night that changed his entire life and made him one of the great stories in Blackhawks franchise history.

On the latest Hawks Talk Podcast, Pat Boyle and Charlie Roumeliotis discuss what the weekend vs. Colorado meant and whether fans are looking ahead to the NHL Draft or still holding out hope for a miraculous playoff push.The guys also weigh in on the power play struggles, why John Hayden hasn't been able to crack the lineup, where Drake Caggiula could fit back in and which defensemen prospects could be in Chicago next season.0:55 - What weekend against Colorado meant 3:23 - Looking at the remaining schedule for Blackhawks6:33 - How did the Blackhawks get here?8:50 - Power play struggles continue11:42 - Are John Hayden's days in Chicago numbered?13:50 - Thoughts on Dylan Sikura's recent play16:44 - Where does Drake Caggiula fit back in?18:07 - Brandon Saad's reemergence22:48 - Are you hoping for a miraculous playoff push or more concerned about draft order?25:43 - Which defensemen prospects could be in Chicago next season?

What will it take for the Chicago Blackhawks to earn a playoff spot with 10 games remaining? Pat Boyle, Steve Konroyd and Charlie Roumeliotis discuss where the Blackhawks stand after a rough 3-2 loss in overtime to the Vancouver Canucks. With Corey Crawford at the top of his game again, should the Blackhawks try to ride him into the playoffs? How have Jeremy Colliton’s line changes impacted Patrick Kane’s game? Plus, breakouts from Eric Gustafsson and Brendan Perlini have been huge for the Blackhawks during their recent streak of six straight games with a point.0:45 - Missed opportunity for Blackhawks against Canucks2:45 – Hawks changing up lines has slowed down Patrick Kane5:45 – Should the Blackhawks ride Corey Crawford while he’s hot?8:00 – Hawks will need 13-15 points in final 10 games to get playoff spot10:30 – Brendan Perlini has finally figured it out for Hawks12:35 – Erik Gustafsson’s breakout year has been vital to Hawks success15:35 – Dylan Sikura still hasn’t scored, but he’s been all over the ice18:50 – Prediction time…will the Hawks make the playoffs?

After destroying the red-hot Arizona Coyotes, the Blackhawks find themselves five points out of a playoff spot with 13 games remaining. Pat Boyle, Jamal Mayers and Charlie Roumeliotis break down the Blackhawks playoff chances and discuss the team’s improved play over their last three games. And Jamal fills us in on his discussion with Head Coach Jeremy Colliton and explains the Blackhawks defensive systems. Plus – will Patrick Kane decide his own fate down the stretch when it comes to his ice time? 0:30 – Helpful night in the NHL means Blackhawks playoff hopes not dead yet2:15 – The Blackhawks are finally playing some defense3:50 – Jamal’s discussion with Jeremy Colliton breaking down Hawks defensive coverage7:25 – Perlini breaks out in a big way against his former team8:50 – Kampf’s return made the Hawks fourth line legit once again10:00 – How do the Blackhawks handle Patrick Kane’s minutes down the stretch? 12:35 – Which Hawks goal total is most surprising? Alex DeBrincat or Erik Gustafsson? 16:35 – Thoughts on Dylan Sikura’s fit on Colliton’s new lines20:30 – Any concern over the power play drought? 22:30 – Do the Blackhawks have a shot or are they just teasing us?

On the latest Hawks Talk Podcast, Pat Boyle, Slavko Bekovic and Charlie Roumeliotis discuss whether the West Coast trip sealed their playoff fate. Is it time to look ahead to next season?The guys also weigh in on whether their style of play is sustainable, their man-on-man defensive structure and Patrick Kane's dry spell. Is fatigue kicking in?They wrap up by talking about Brandon Saad's emergence in a third-line role and the rule changes for next season.0:45 - Hawks playoff chances plummet to under 2% 3:45 - Was the way the Hawks were playing sustainable? 6:30 - Hawks defense still struggling with systems 11:30 - Do the Hawks have the right personnel 16:00 - Time to look ahead to next year? Outlook for Jokiharju? 18:45 - Can Kane keep up in points race? 20:30 - Is fatigue kicking in for Kane? 22:40 - Looking at depth forwards down the stretch 24:00 - How do we evaluate Saad's season? 26:20 - Proposed rule changes and playoff format