Blackhawks Breakaway

In the latest Hawks Talk Podcast, Jamal Mayers joins Slavko Bekovic and Charlie Roumeliotis to discuss the three-player trade that saw Chicago send Nick Schmaltz to Arizona for forwards Brendan Perlini and Dylan Strome. Why did the Blackhawks give up on Schmaltz now and who are they getting in Perlini and Strome?The guys also talk about why Schmaltz was never able to reach his full potential in a contract year, whether Alex DeBrincat and Strome can rekindle the magic they shared with the Erie Otters in the OHL and how this trade impacts the Blackhawks’ plans next summer in free agency. 0:27 – Initial thoughts on the Schmaltz for Strome/Perlini deal1:10 – Why did the Hawks give up on Schmaltz now?3:00 – Did contract negotiations play into the timing of the trade?4:20 – Patrick Kane disappointed in Hawks trading Schmaltz?5:40 – Coyotes have pursued Schmaltz for a year7:10 – What could Schmaltz ultimately become as a player?8:50 – Trade frees up some summer cap room for the Hawks11:15 – Fourth trade between Hawks and Coyotes in 18 months13:30 – Schmaltz never reached his potential with Hawks16:37 – What are Hawks getting in Strome & Perlini?19:50 – Hawks hope change of scenery does wonders…again21: 45- Can Strome/DeBrincat OHL magic be rekindled? 23:45 – How does Jeremy Colliton rework his lines?26:00 – Hawks add young forwards to promising defense prospects for future29:30 – Another former first-round pick traded by Bowman

On a special Thanksgiving Day edition, Pat Boyle and Slavko Bekovic give thanks for the last 11 seasons of Blackhawks hockey. From the way the city of Chicago embraced the franchise (7:00), to the evolution of Patrick Kane from 18-year-old talent to 30-year-old superstar (11:30), they touch on everything that has happened since the Blackhawks franchise was “rejuvenated and reinvigorated” in 2007. Blackhawks fans have been spoiled by success over the last 11 seasons and there is much to be thankful for! However, the Blackhawks success has also proven costly (3:30) in the salary cap era because winning Stanley Cups means you have to pay players, and that makes longevity difficult in today’s NHL.We asked the listeners of the Hawks Talk podcast to tell us what they were thankful for and the resounding response was the return of Corey Crawford (14:25). Other responses were the return of Jonathan Toews to top form (17:00), the prominsing start to Henri Jokiharju’s career (21:00), and the health of Eddie Olczyk (25:45) allowing him to return to the broadcast booth.As a bonus, Hawks fans are also thankful for the challenge the St. Louis Blues have had winning a Stanley Cup…but could there be a reunion with Joel Quenneville in St. Louis? The guys discuss the fit (23:30) and where Joel Quenneville might eventually end up.

On the latest Hawks Talk Podcast Adam Burish joins Pat Boyle to breakdown the Blackhawks' recent four-game point streak, Corey Crawford's second star of the week honors and Brandon Saad’s best stretch of hockey since he returned to Chicago.Burish talks about the criticism that Nick Schmaltz receives, the tweaks to the power play and whether he is impressed with how the team leaders have handled the coaching change.Adam also shares his thoughts on Joel Quenneville attending Sunday night’s Bears game, Eddie Olczyk’s "One More Shift" and shares a couple off-ice stories about Patrick Kane.0:36 What have you seen over this four-game points streak?2:35 Crow is second star of the week, are the Hawks relying too much on Crawford?4:00 Crow: no soft goals and rebound control5:30 Problems exiting zone cleanly8:00 Art of the hoister9:40 Best Saad has looked?10:45 Schmaltz inconsistencies12:30 New wrinkles on Power Play16:30 Sikura call up?18:00 Leaders handling coaching change22:00 What Q’s been up to25:00 Burish Beauty26:00 Edzo's One More Shift and Hockey Fight’s Cancer Night28:30 Kane’s 21st Birthday and off-ice 88 story

The Blackhawks losing streak extended to eight games with an overtime loss in Carolina, but there were some signs of improvement with the team. Pat Boyle and Steve Konroyd discuss Jeremy Colliton going to the “nuclear option” pairing Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane on the same line and it seemed to work, but how did the other lines fare? Plus – how close are we to seeing some calls made to Rockford and how important are the next two “winnable” games? On the latest Hawks Talk Podcast, Pat Boyle and Steve Konroyd break down...00:45 - Mindset of the team after their 8th straight loss02:00 - Opposition getting quality chances against hawks goalies4:00 - Toews and Kane playing on the same line5:00 - Nick Schmaltz needs to take more shots5:45 - Colliton's lines during overtime8:00 - DeBrincat playing on a line with Kampf and Kahun9:45 - Debrincat with more goals than Kane or Roenick through 100 career games12:10 - How close are the Blackhawks to making some callups from Rockford to give the team a boost?14:00 - Hawks get a chance against 2 other struggling teams in Blues and Knights

Pat Boyle sits down for a 1-on-1 with new Blackhawks Head Coach Jeremy Colliton and they discuss Colliton’s journey to become head coach of the Hawks, how he plans to attack his new job, plus memories of the only NHL game he played at the United Center.0:45 – A whirlwind of a week for Colliton1:26 – His biggest challenge taking over the Blackhawks1:55 – How his style is different from Joel Quenneville’s3:08 – His memories of playing at the United Center4:07 – On playing with Brent Seabrook as kids4:50 – Dealing with concussions as a player6:00 – When he knew he wanted to coach6:55 – How he went from Sweden to Rockford8:15 – What he learned in his deep run with the IceHogs9:00 – How he attacks the power play10:10 – On how he uses analytics11:30 – When will Forsling, Sikura and Ejdsell

On the latest Hawks Talk Podcast it’s all about the firing of Joel Quenneville and the hiring of Jeremy Colliton as the 38th head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks.Pat Boyle and Charlie Roumeliotis discuss why the move was made now? Blackhawks management believes they have a playoff roster right now and other takeaways from the press conference. Who is Colliton and where could Q end up coaching next?:30 - Why did Q get fired?4:10 - Timing of the firing9:15 - Young players and Q12:30 - Blackhawks brass believes they have a playoff roster15:50 - Colliton, who is he?20:00 - What’s next for the Blackhawks under Colliton?21:20 - Q ends up coaching in...?

On the latest Hawks Talk Podcast Adam Burish joins Pat Boyle to discuss the Hawks recent 0-4-1 stretch of games and answer fans' #AskAdam questions. Burish talks about the Hawks struggles closing games, whether they should call up someone from Rockford and should DeBrincat join Kane’s line?:45 - Takeaway from 5-game losing skid and winless Western Canada road trip1:35 - How did the Hawks blow a 3-1 lead in Calgary?2:20 - Trouble closing games4:00 - Time to call Rockford?5:15 - Should Cat join Kane?7:00 - What’s up with Schmaltz?8:55 - Bottom 6 talk10:40 - Improving defense12:30 - Power play solutions18:00 - Favorite person you fought?21:15 - 2nd fiddle to Sharp?

On the latest Hawks Talk Podcast, Patrick Sharp sits down with Pat Boyle to discuss his new role as NBC Sports Chicago studio analyst. Sharp talks about the return of Corey Crawford and how his presence has a calming effect on the team. He also weighs in on the work Patrick Kane puts into his game and how 88’s style has impacted the young generation of NHL players.Sharpy has some suggestions to improve the Blackhawks' struggling power play and is he ready to deal with Adam Burish and Jamal Mayers on the NBC Sports Chicago set?0:45 – Sharp on his Blackhawks playing back-to-backs2:12 – Patrick Kane’s never-ending quest to get better5:25 – When did Sharp know when to retire?6:30 – How Patrick Kane changed the NHL7:55 – Sharp on how Chicago has embraced the Blackhawks9:35 – On Corey Crawford’s return10:05 – Alex DeBrincat taking the next step11:40 – The bounce-back of Jonathan Toews13:10 – Sharp joins the media “dark-side”14:04 – Sharp and Boyle break down the Blackhawks power play

On the latest Hawks Talk Podcast, Pat Boyle, Adam Burish and Steve Konroyd discuss the Blackhawks' recent nine-day stretch where they went 3-2-1. What worked and what didn't during it?The guys also talk about Patrick Kane's hot start, play a game called "Noticeable or Inconsistent?" with the Blackhawks lineup, and try to figure out what is wrong with the power play.1:15 — Are you happy going 3-2-1 over the 6 games in 9 days stretch?3:00 — Patrick Kane is putting up spectacular numbers despite not getting much help6:05 — Should Nick Schmaltz move back to the same line as Kane?9:15 — The guys play the game "Noticeable or Inconsistent?" with the Blackhawks lineup17:50 — What is wrong with the power play?22:50 — Should Brent Seabrook be taken off the power play?24:50 — Should Stan Bowman be looking to add a top 4 defenseman or a forward?

On the latest Hawks Talk Podcast, Pat Boyle and Charlie Roumeliotis discuss Corey Crawford’s immediate impact on a Blackhawks team that has been struggling defensively. They chronicle the wild week that Brandon Saad experienced, from being a possible healthy scratch, to joining Patrick Kane’s line and having his first multi-goal game in more than a year. The guys break down Erik Gustafsson’s shot-pass effect on the offense and the Art Of Patrick Kane’s one-timer. The boys also join in with the rest of Alex DeBrincat’s teammates for a chuckle after Feisty Cat faced off with Josh Manson. Lastly, they give a shout out to the Blackhawks fans who listen to the podcast from all over the world.0:50 - Corey Crawford’s immediate impact in return to lineup2:40 - On overall team game improving from Tampa Bay game to Anaheim3:55 - Brandon Saad breaks out5:11 - Thoughts on separating Patrick Kane and Nick Schmaltz6:52 - Jonathan Toews continues to look like his old self9:06 - Alex DeBrincat gets scrappy10:51 - DeBrincat, Toews, Kane and Joel Quenneville on Feisty Cat15:45 - The effect of Erik Gustafsson’s slap-pass on offense20:18 - Why Kane adjusted the flex on his stick24:11 - The crowded race in the Central Division25:42 - Hawks Talk country roll call