Blackhawks Breakaway

On the latest Blackhawks Talk Podcast, President and CEO John McDonough sits down 1-on-1 with Pat Boyle to discuss his "realistic optimism" about the upcoming season. McDonough also discusses Marian Hossa's impact on the franchise and reflects on the three Stanley Cups the team won in the last decade.

0:51 - McDonough feeling optimistic about Blackhawks

2:00 - The passion of Blackhawks fans

3:17 - His thoughts on the Blackhawks offseason moves

4:31 - Excitement for trip to Europe

5:59 - Marian Hossa's impact on the organization

7:24 - The void Hossa left on the Blackhawks

8:37 - Has Hossa been offered a front office job?

9:16 - On a new era of sports in Chicago

10:24 - How McDonough savored the three Stanley Cups

On the latest Blackhawks Talk Podcast, Blackhawks Head Coach Jeremy Colliton sits down 1-on-1 with Pat Boyle before the team heads overseas to start the season. Colliton discusses how the Blackhawks have handled the preseason to Colliton's expectations for the team.

0:33 - Does this season feel different to Colliton?

1:18 - Was camp as competitive as he wanted?

2:28 - Players who exceeded expectations at camp

3:52 - Where Adam Boqvist fits with the team

4:57 - Are the Blackhawks tougher to play against?

6:11 - His conversation with Bulls coach Jim Boylen

7:08 - The message to the team

8:23 - How the veterans' work ethic rubs off on others

9:42 - Confidence in the PK and the d-zone systems

10:34 - Will Prague remind him of coaching in Sweden?

11:18 - Colliton's work/life balance

12:12 - Importance of the early home schedule

13:35 - Kirby Dach's status

14:40 - The Crawford/Lehner relationship

15:46 - Colliton's expectations for the season

On the latest Blackhawks Talk Podcast, Pat Boyle and Charlie Roumeliotis discuss the roster being trimmed to 30 and the forwards that are on the bubble.

The guys weigh in on Kirby Dach’s situation and whether he will end up playing nine games with the big club. How does Calvin de Haan’s status impact Adam Boqvist’s chances of making the team and what did Duncan Keith think about Boqvist’s between the legs move last week?

Plus, they discuss Alex DeBrincat, Patrick Kane and Dylan Strome practicing on the same line.

1:30 - Forwards on the bubble

3:35 - Alex Nylander evaluation

6:15 - Kirby Dach chances of going to Europe

7:45 - Dylan Sikura sent to Rockford

11:18 - de Haan’s availability

14:15 - Will Boqvist make the team?

15:45 - Boqvist highlight reel play

19:25 - Third line appears to be set in stone

21:45 - Kane on different lines

On the latest Blackhawks Talk Podcast, Pat Boyle and Charlie Roumeliotis break down the first three days of training camp.

Which players have stood out so far and how will the injuries to Kirby Dach and Calvin de Haan impact the final roster?

The guys also discuss Jonathan Toews being motivated by an NHL Network snub and their feelings about the relationship between Corey Crawford and Robin Lehner.

0:45 - Fan support at Training Camp Festival

1:45 - Impressions of Wedin-Toews-Nylander line

2:35 - Olli Maatta getting offensive

4:00 - Aleksi Saarela impact

5:00 - Andrew Shaw at center

6:00 - Will Kris Versteeg get another spin with Blackhawks?

7:45 - Optimism at camp

10:15 - Kirby Dach injury

12:00 - What are Dach’s chances of making the team?

14:00 - Will Calvin de Haan be ready for season opener?

17:15 - Jeremy Colliton teaching D-zone

19:00 - Adam Boqvist chances of making the team?

20:15 - Jonathan Toews motivated by snub

24:15 - Crawford-Lehner relationship

28:45 - Importance of three preseason games in three days

On the latest Blackhawks Talk Podcast, Pat Boyle, Charlie Roumeliotis and Slavko Bekovic recap the top storylines from the 2019 Traverse City Prospect Tournament. How did Adam Boqvist and Kirby Dach perform?

The guys also discuss some standouts, takeaways from the tournament and four prospects escaping with minor injuries. They wrap up by reacting to the Brendan Perlini extension and share what they'll be looking for when training camp opens on Friday.

0:45 – Kirby Dach and Adam Boqvist’s performance in Traverse City

2:40 – What was the talent level at the tournament?

4:08 – Blackhawks Director of Player Development Mark Eaton on tournament evaluation

7:35 – Who can springboard themselves into training camp?

9:36 – How the Blackhawks can reign in Boqvist’s game

12:10 – Crazy injuries in tournament finale vs Wild

16:25 – Other prospects that stood out in the tournament

18:10 – Does Dach or Boqvist have a better chance to play the season opener?

24:02 – Brendan Perlini’s role on the Blackhawks

26:30 – Camp Storylines: Dach’s chances at third line center spot

27:50 – Camp Storylines: the goalie tandem

28:35 – Camp Storylines: the defensive improvements

30:02 – Camp Storylines: Patrick Kane’s usage this season

31:10 – Camp Storylines: the Hawks’ d-zone system

32:20 – Camp Storylines: winger spots open on the top two lines

On the latest Blackhawks Talk Podcast, Slavko Bekovic and Charlie Roumeliotis preview the eight-team prospect tournament in Traverse City and what to look for from the Blackhawks.

The guys also look ahead to training camp and cover the top storylines, including Kirby Dach's chances at making the Blackhawks roster, where Brendan Perlini fits into the equation and who could get a shot in the top-six.

1:18 – Prospect Tournament preview

3:13 – What to expect from Kirby Dach and Adam Boqvist

7:32 – Defenseman group at the Prospect Tournament

9:37 – Forward prospects to keep an eye on

17:30 – Roster battles open at training camp

19:40 – Should Kane and Toews stay together on a line long-term?

21:27 – Does Dach or Boqvist have better shot to make the Hawks?

25:18 – Clarity on Brendan Perlini’s contract situation

26:15 – The Blackhawks’ bottom-six is wide open at camp

28:15 – How CBA is effecting the RFA market

34:04 – Top Blackhawks get their NHL 20 video game ratings

On the latest Blackhawks Talk Podcast, Pat Boyle, Charlie Roumeliotis and Slavko Bekovic answer your mailbag questions.

Will the Blackhawks will make the playoffs this season? Which darkhorse player could have a breakout season? And is Stan Bowman's seat a little warm? The guys hit on all that and more.

1:06 – NHL Network lists snubbing the Blackhawks

7:32 – Is Corey Crawford ready for the start of the season?

9:51 – Excitement building around potential of the Hawks

13:27 – Can the Hawks improve their age mix and contract efficiency?

19:22 – Brent Seabrook’s future with the Blackhawks

27:15 – Will a signing like Marian Hossa ever happen again?

32:15 – Who are potential breakout candidates this year?

35:51 – The hype surrounding Dominik Kubalik

38:28 – Is Stan Bowman on the hot seat entering the season?

On the latest Blackhawks Talk Podcast, Pat Boyle catches up with Senior VP of Hockey Operations, Al MacIsaac. They discuss the process the Blackhawks took in transforming the roster this off-season. MacIsaac is entering his 20th year with the Blackhawks and talks about the organizational changes over the last two decades. He also weighs in on the role analytics plays in evaluating current or potential Blackhawks and he explains why the team made a commitment to make its new practice facility the “gold standard” of the NHL.

0:45 – MacIsaac on changes within the Blackhawks organization in the last 20 years

4:00 – How the Blackhawks have added great depth this summer

5:25 – A good problem to have with two good goaltenders

6:23 – How the hockey ops meeting went at the end of last season

8:45 – How much the Blackhawks use and rely on analytics

10:27 – The importance of the Blackhawks strength and conditioning programs

12:24 – The planning behind Fifth Third Arena’s development

14:40 – The dynamic between hockey ops and business ops

16:37 – Agreements and disagreements within the hockey ops group

18:32 – MacIsaac’s longtime relationship with Mark Bernard

20:27 – Looking ahead to training camp and the regular season

22:42 – Tough decisions will need to be made when the season starts

On the latest Blackhawks Talk Podcast, Pat Boyle, Charlie Roumeliotis and Slavko Bekovic offer their thoughts on Jonathan Toews being left off NHL Network's Top-20 center rankings and make their case for why he should be on the list.

The guys also answer your mailbag questions, including whether Patrick Kane and Toews have another Stanley Cup run in them, Kirby Dach's chances at making the Blackhawks out of training camp and what the lines may look like on Opening Night.

0:43 – NHL Network keeps Jonathan Toews off top-20 centers list

8:45 – Will Blackhawks move on from Brendan Perlini?

11:30 – Status of DeBrincat and Strome contract extensions

14:35 – Do Toews and Kane have another Stanley Cup run in them?

18:26 – Is Saad/Dach/Shaw the Hawks third line?

22:08 – Evaluating the Hawks’ current playoff chances

24:45 – Who is the Hawks' No. 1 goalie?

27:04 – Will the Hawks make more roster moves?

30:48 – Frontrunners for Hawks bottom six roles?

33:13 – What the Hawks lines and pairings might look like?

37:11 – The Erik Gustafsson situation going forward

On the latest Blackhawks Talk Podcast, Pat Boyle and Charlie Roumeliotis recap the top storylines from the 12th annual fan convention.

The guys talk about Chris Kunitz joining the organization as a player development adviser, Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews on the roster makeover this offseason, Andrew Shaw's return to Chicago and top prospects Adam Boqvist and Kirby Dach aiming to make the NHL roster out of training camp.

0:45 Chris Kunitz joins team as player development adviser

4:45 Biggest takeaway from Hawks Convention

8:15 Kane & Toews discuss offseason moves

9:45 Versatility of roster

15:45 Kane & Toews on Shaw’s return

18:45 Playing in Chicago vs. elsewhere

22:45 Goalie situation & Delia’s role

27:50 Marc Crawford addition

29:20 Brendan Perlini’s contract

31:50 What’s up Dach?

34:20 Upcoming schedule