Blackhawks Breakaway

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 151: Could more moves be coming for Blackhawks? Jun 27, 2019

Show notes

On the latest Hawks Talk Podcast, Slavko Bekovic and Charlie Roumeliotis offer their thoughts on the Calvin de Haan trade and what it could mean for the future of the Blackhawks defense. Is Stan Bowman finished exploring the trade market?

The guys also talk about the Blackhawks' restricted free agents, potential free agent targets, competition for the bottom-six spots and the prospects on display at development camp.

0:53 – Thoughts on the Calvin de Haan trade

2:46 – NHL trades have been salary cap driven

6:00 – How does Hawks blue line shake out?

9:07 – What to do with Erik Gustafsson

11:59 – Hawks have depth on the blue line

14:20 – Potential free agent targets for the Hawks

18:44 – Will Artem Anisimov get traded?

21:17 – Can Kirby Dach make the NHL right away?

23:44 – RFA’s that got qualifying offers

25:21 – Competition for bottom six spots

26:52 – Is Dylan Sikura a lock to make the Hawks?

27:36 – A wild week for Ryan Hartman

30:30 – Prospects on display at development camp in two weeks

32:20 – Michal Teply headed to the CHL

35:12 – Will we finally see an offer sheet signed?

Ep. 150: 1-on-1 with Kirby Dach (Bonus Episode) Jun 24, 2019

Show notes

After being introduced to the media, Blackhawks third-overall pick Kirby Dach sits down with Charlie Roumeliotis to talk about what it's like to join the historic Original Six franchise, why he wears the number 77 and how he plans on breaking camp in the NHL this fall.

0:35 – Kirby Dach joins the podcast

0:55 – Dach on the history of the Blackhawks

1:25 – His conversations with Kane and Toews

1:40 – The whirlwind after the draft process

2:10 – His meetings with the Blackhawks at the combine

2:50 – What draft day was like

3:23 – On his competitive nature

3:40 – How much hockey does he watch?

4:20 – How his game translates to playoff hockey

4:50 – Why he wears #77

5:10 – Will he wear 77 in the NHL?

5:30 – His offseason plans

6:10 – His goal of making the NHL right away

6:25 – Winning the Cup would be…

Ep. 149: Recapping Blackhawks draft and looking ahead to free agency Jun 22, 2019

Show notes

Day 2 of the NHL Draft kicked off with a bang as PK Subban was traded out of the Central Division and Pat Boyle and Charlie Roumeliotis recap a busy weekend in Vancouver. The guys break down how Wilmette native Alex Vlasic could be a steal in the 2nd round and Pat catches up with the newest Hawks’ defenseman prospect. Plus - why their trade with the Devils bringing back a Quenneville to Chicago could be a good change-of-scenery for both sides and GM Stan Bowman looks ahead to the next 10 days where there could be a lot of movement with trades and in free agency.

0:30 – Morning trades shook up day 2 of NHL Draft

1:57 – John Hayden traded for John Quenneville

3:36 – Thoughts on Blackhawks drafting Alex Vlasic

5:29 – Interview with Alex Vlasic

7:48 – Vlasic’s NHL projections

9:11 – Hawks prioritize adding size in draft

10:41 – Will Bowman be active in trade market?

12:16 – Stan Bowman on the next moves for Hawks

14:26 – How Hawks will fill out roster in next 10 days

15:22 – Does Corey Perry fit with Hawks next season?

17:30 – Blackhawks interested in Christian Dvorak?

18:57 – Dach’s chances of making NHL immediately

Ep. 148: Reacting to the Blackhawks selection of Kirby Dach at No. 3 overall Jun 22, 2019

Show notes

Kirby Dach is the newest Chicago Blackhawk! On the latest Hawks Talk Podcast, Pat Boyle and Charlie Roumeliotis react to the Blackhawks selecting Dach with the third overall pick in the NHL Draft. Pat catches up with Dach 1-on-1 just moments after the pick was made, and you’ll hear from Stan Bowman on why it was an “easy decision” to pick the 6’4 center. Plus, how much of this pick was based on organizational need and what did the guys think of some of the other first round surprises?

0:35 – Was there surprise by the Kirby Dach selection?

1:30 – Dach checks boxes for regular season and playoffs

2:49 – 1-on-1 with Kirby Dach

5:04 – How Dach projects in the NHL

8:01 – Dach’s impact on Artem Anisimov’s role?

9:42 – Stan Bowman’s thoughts on Kirby Dach

12:10 – When the Hawks made up their mind on Dach

14:52 – Concerns about Dach’s skating?

15:28 – What are the chances he plays in NHL right away?

17:15 – Awkward moments with Bowen Byram backstage

18:14 – Other surprises in the first round of the draft

Ep. 147: Predicting who Blackhawks will take at No. 3 overall Jun 17, 2019

Show notes

On the latest Hawks Talk Podcast, Pat Boyle, Slavko Bekovic and Charlie Roumeliotis react to the Olli Maatta trade and how this impacts the Blackhawks' defensive group. Is this the first of more moves to come?

The guys then break down their top-three candidates for the Blackhawks at No. 3 overall and predict who the pick will be on Friday. They also discuss how the Blackhawks' selection may impact the offseason and the big picture going forward.

0:40 – Initial reaction to the Olli Maatta trade

3:45 – How Maatta fits with the Blackhawks

7:45 – Filling Dominik Kahun’s spot

10:00 – Maatta’s contract situation

11:00 – Our top-3 draft predictions

18:30 – Official predictions on who the Blackhawks will pick

24:30 – Is there a wrong pick in the top 10?

27:30 – If the Blackhawks don’t pick D, the forward is…?

29:30 – How the Blackhawks selections shape the offseason

Ep. 146: TSN’s Craig Button explains final NHL Draft rankings and Blackhawks pick at No. 3 Jun 10, 2019

Show notes

On the latest Hawks Talk Podcast, TSN's Craig Button joins the show to explain his final NHL Draft rankings, why there was fluctuation in his list and who the Blackhawks should take at No. 3 overall.

Pat Boyle, Slavko Bekovic and Charlie Roumeliotis then offer their biggest takeaways from the Button interview and how much the latest rankings have changed their view of who the Blackhawks may select.

0:35 – Craig Button describes his ranking methodology

3:35 – Bowen Byram still a lock to be a No. 1 defenseman

5:30 – How adding Byram to Blackhawks prospect group would look

8:00 – Is there any debate Byram is the third-ranked prospect?

8:50 – Cole Caufield checking all the pre-draft boxes

12:05 – Is there an edge to Caufield’s game?

13:30 – Could Caufield fit in the Blackhawks top-6?

17:00 – Why Craig is so high on Matthew Boldy

19:20 – Does Trevor Zegras have any downside?

20:50 – Why Vasili Podkolzin’s stock is dropping

22:25 – Concerns about Alex Turcotte’s ceiling

23:45 – Concerns about Dylan Cozens’ NHL position

25:10 – The Blackhawks will select...

27:05 – Why the Blackhawks can’t go wrong with the third pick

29:45 – Bowen Byram’s fit with the Blackhawks

32:15 – Question marks about some of the top other prospects?

Ep. 145: Jeremy Colliton on draft and how Blackhawks can become playoff contender Jun 06, 2019

Show notes

Jeremy Colliton joins Pat Boyle and Charlie Roumeliotis on the Hawks Talk Podcast for an exclusive interview following Colliton's first year in charge of the Blackhawks. Colliton dives into the process of filling out his coaching staff, how involved he's been in the draft and free agency processes, and how he hopes to improve the Blackhawks next season.

0:45 How the Blackhawks finalized the coaching staff

3:15 Marc Crawford’s responsibilities

4:40 Colliton's relationship with Tomas Mitell

6:05 On moving up in lottery

6:55 His involvement in draft process

8:00 What prospects stand out

9:10 What Hawks need to do to return to playoffs

10:50 The development of the d-zone coverage

12:05 What to improve in training camp

13:10 On their aggressive penalty kill

14:55 How to improve the PK with personnel

15:35 On Kane/DeBrincat playing on the same line

16:50 How Colliton uses analytics

18:30 On analytics staffers in the NHL

19:55 How the Hawks were missing that "edge"

21:05 What he learned from this year's playoffs

22:05 Winning with various styles of play

22:55 Monitoring players at IIHF World Championship

23:35 Kevin Lankinen’s performance

24:05 Competition for roster spots/depth

25:00 Looking ahead to free agency

25:50 On building rosters

Ep. 144: NHL Combine interviews Part 2: Cole Caufield, Alex Turcotte and Trevor Zegras Jun 05, 2019

Show notes

The second of a two-part edition of the Hawks Talk Podcast featuring 1-on-1 interviews with some of the top draft prospects at the NHL Scouting Combine in Buffalo. Slavko Bekovic and Charlie Roumeliotis discuss how Cole Caufield, Alex Turcotte and Trevor Zegras could potentially fit with the Blackhawks and what stood out from their interviews.

0:45 – Just how good was this year’s USNTDP team?

2:40 – Interview with Cole Caufield

11:05 – Caufield embracing Alex DeBrincat comparison

16:15 – Interview with Alex Turcotte

25:10 – Turcotte the perfect combo of “sandpaper and silk”

30:40 – Interview with Trevor Zegras

36:35 – Patrick Kane’s influence on Zegras

39:00 – How good can this draft class can be?

Ep. 143: NHL Combine interviews Part 1: Bowen Byram, Dylan Cozens and Kirby Dach Jun 04, 2019

Show notes

The first of a two-part edition of the Hawks Talk Podcast featuring 1-on-1 interviews with some of the top draft prospects at the NHL Scouting Combine in Buffalo. Slavko Bekovic and Charlie Roumeliotis discuss how Bowen Byram, Dylan Cozens and Kirby Dach could potentially fit with the Blackhawks and what stood out from their interviews.

0:55 – Recapping a busy week at the draft combine

2:45 – How the Blackhawks have made an impact on the top prospects

4:25 – Interview with Bowen Byram

11:45 – Byram’s incredible playoff run helped his stock

15:35 – Interview with Dylan Cozens

23:00 – Why Cozens grew up a Toews/Blackhawks fan

24:30 – Cozens could offer some versatility to Blackhawks

26:50 – Interview with Kirby Dach

34:45 – Dach’s fit in NHL game with his size vs speed

36:30 – Grueling interview process at combine for players and teams

40:20 – Guys who tested well at the combine

Ep. 142: Analytical breakdown of top NHL Draft prospects with J.D. Burke May 30, 2019

Show notes

On the latest Hawks Talk Podcast, J.D. Burke of Elite Prospects and co-host of Rink Wide on TSN 1040 joins Pat Boyle, Slavko Bekovic and Charlie Roumeliotis to give us an analytical perspective on the 2019 NHL Draft class.

What goes into Burke’s rankings? Whose stock is rising and whose is falling? Is Bowen Byram a slam-dunk No. 1 defenseman? Is Alex Turcotte the best center available after Jack Hughes? Burke answers all that and more, including his personal pick on who the Blackhawks should take at No. 3 overall.

0:20 – Ranking methodology

3:45 – Prospect stock movement

7:00 – Vasili Podkolzin’s stock

10:30 – Bowen Byram a sure thing?

13:10 – Where Byram ranks vs. Rasmus Dahlin

15:00 – Is Alex Turcotte the best center after Jack Hughes?

16:30 – Where Turcotte would fit on the Blackhawks

18:30 – Whose stock is rising?

21:45 – Trevor Zegras eye test

26:15 – Turcotte comparison