Blackhawks Breakaway

On the latest Hawks Talk Podcast, Dimitri Filipovic from Yahoo, ESPN and The Hockey PDOcast joins Pat Boyle, Slavko Bekovic and Charlie Roumeliotis to discuss the state of the Blackhawks. How far away are they from contending?

Filipovic also talks about the Blackhawks' defensive struggles, what they can do to turn it around, how they should spend their money this summer and which NHL prospects jump out at No. 3 overall.

1:00 - How far are the Blackhawks from contenting?

1:45 – Did the Blackhawks miss a golden chance in this year’s playoffs?

3:45 – Are the Avalanche an example for the Blackhawks to follow?

4:50 – How badly do the Hawks need a top-4 defenseman?

6:15 – How good (really) is Erik Gustafsson?

8:30 – Evaluating the Blackhawks’ defensive personnel

10:15 – Is this defensive system right for the Blackhawks?

13:45 – What franchise are the Blackhawks modeling?

15:00 – Did the Hawks wait too long to move on from Quenneville?

16:20 – Going worst-to-first like the Islanders

18:20 – Blackhawks need to beef up

20:20 – Building the Blackhawks with a Bruins outline

22:00 – The need for more secondary scoring

22:50 – Finding the right line for Patrick Kane

24:50 – Draft prospects that the Blackhawks should consider at No. 3

28:50 – Could Artemi Panarin stay in Columbus?

30:20 – Spending on top-end players or filling multiple needs

32:10 – Extensions for Alex DeBrincat and Dylan Strome

33:35 – Should Kane have been a Hart finalist?

On the latest Hawks Talk Podcast, Pat Boyle catches up with two-time Stanley Cup winner and the newest member of the Rockford IceHogs Kris Versteeg.

Versteeg explains his recent medical issues and his experience playing last season in the KHL and Swedish Elite League. He also talks about why he decided to sign a one-year deal with Rockford and defines his role the IceHogs.

Versteeg weighs in on getting a third chance to play for the Blackhawks organization and what would be the perfect ending to the Kris Versteeg hockey movie?

1:00 - Why sign with Rockford?

2:00 - KHL experience

3:00 - Back on track in Sweden

4:30 - Health update

6:00 - Deal with Rockford

7:30 - Contact with Kane and Toews?

9:00 - Family coming to Rockford?

10:00 - Mentor or last fling with Hawks?

12:00 - Kris Versteeg Movie Ending

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 development

3:30 – Adam Boqvist’s growth in North America

6:50 – Evaluating Nicolas Beaudin’s progression

8:15 – Surprised about Ian Mitchell’s decision to return to college?

10:55 – Assessing Chad Krys in college and AHL

13:10 – Challenge between stressing defensive side of game but not taking away from who the player is

15:55 – Which defensemen prospects could be in NHL next season?

18:25 – The message Erik Gustafsson’s breakout season sends to prospects

21:15 – Takeaways from Eaton interview

31:25 – Reviewing Blackhawks defensemen contracts

33:35 – Thoughts on Gustav Forsling

35:20 – 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 Byram

10:30 – 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 interview

16:30 – Could the Blackhawks actually take a defenseman?

24:50 – Trevor Zegras earns high praise

27:45 – Don’t count out a trade?

33:00 – Dylan Cozens stands out on tape

36:30 – 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 options

6:30 – Stan Bowman addresses the media on the #3 pick

9:15 – This should add some “juice” to the organization

13:00 – Who are the top prospects in the draft?

17:00 – Importance of adding depth at center

19:20 – 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 podcast

01:00 Hawks active in free agency?

02:30 No excuse not to spend this summer

04:30 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 system

13:30 Colliton using Kane next season

17:30 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 season

23:30 Finding chemistry for the star players

26:00 Toews answering his critics

28:30 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 awful

9:00 - 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 season

35:10 - Draft lottery around the corner

37:00 - 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 Blackhawks

6:33 - How did the Blackhawks get here?

8:50 - Power play struggles continue

11:42 - Are John Hayden's days in Chicago numbered?

13:50 - Thoughts on Dylan Sikura's recent play

16:44 - Where does Drake Caggiula fit back in?

18:07 - Brandon Saad's reemergence

22:48 - 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 Canucks

2:45 – Hawks changing up lines has slowed down Patrick Kane

5:45 – 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 spot

10:30 – Brendan Perlini has finally figured it out for Hawks

12:35 – Erik Gustafsson’s breakout year has been vital to Hawks success

15:35 – Dylan Sikura still hasn’t scored, but he’s been all over the ice

18:50 – Prediction time…will the Hawks make the playoffs?