Blackhawks Breakaway

On the latest Hawks Talk Podcast, Pat Boyle, Jamal Mayers and Charlie Roumeliotis assess the past week and provide early impressions on Brendan Perlini and Dylan Strome.

They also weigh in on the ongoing first period struggles, the inefficient power play, whether their recent physical play has helped bring the Blackhawks together and what Connor Murphy’s return could mean for the defense.

The guys wrap up by discussing what their favorite NHL city to spend an off-night in is.

1:00 Strome and Perlini's first week with the Blackhawks

3:30 First period struggles

6:15 Blackhawks getting used to playing man-on-man under Colliton

9:00 Kunitz' penalty forcing the Blackhawks to an extended penalty kill in two straight games

15:00 Has the recent physical play help bring this team together?

16:00 Blackhawks 1-for-16 on the power play over the last seven games

20:05 Kahun-Kampf-Kane playing together and other possible line changes

23:00 Is Alex DeBrincat a top-6 forward?

26:00 What Connor Murphy's return will mean to the defense

28:00 Favorite NHL city to spend an off-night in

In the latest Hawks Talk Podcast, Rocky Wirtz joins Pat Boyle to talk about the state of the team, the firing of Joel Quenneville, and the release of his new book "The Breakaway".

1:00 Rocky Wirtz explains background of “The Breakaway” book

4:00 Rocky talks about his relationship with his father, Bill

5:30 The decision to let Joel Quenneville go

6:00 The dialogue between Rocky and Joel after the decision

7:00 Early thoughts on Jeremy Colliton’s time as Head Coach

8:00 Does Rocky believe this is a playoff roster?

9:00 Rocky will not shy away from tough decisions

10:00 What the Winter Classic means to Rocky

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 deal

1:10 – 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 year

7:10 – What could Schmaltz ultimately become as a player?

8:50 – Trade frees up some summer cap room for the Hawks

11:15 – Fourth trade between Hawks and Coyotes in 18 months

13:30 – Schmaltz never reached his potential with Hawks

16:37 – What are Hawks getting in Strome & Perlini?

19:50 – Hawks hope change of scenery does wonders…again

21: 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 future

29:30 – 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 control

5:30 Problems exiting zone cleanly

8:00 Art of the hoister

9:40 Best Saad has looked?

10:45 Schmaltz inconsistencies

12:30 New wrinkles on Power Play

16:30 Sikura call up?

18:00 Leaders handling coaching change

22:00 What Q’s been up to

25:00 Burish Beauty

26:00 Edzo's One More Shift and Hockey Fight’s Cancer Night

28:30 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 loss

02:00 - Opposition getting quality chances against hawks goalies

4:00 - Toews and Kane playing on the same line

5:00 - Nick Schmaltz needs to take more shots

5:45 - Colliton's lines during overtime

8:00 - DeBrincat playing on a line with Kampf and Kahun

9:45 - Debrincat with more goals than Kane or Roenick through 100 career games

12:10 - 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 Colliton

1:26 – His biggest challenge taking over the Blackhawks

1:55 – How his style is different from Joel Quenneville’s

3:08 – His memories of playing at the United Center

4:07 – On playing with Brent Seabrook as kids

4:50 – Dealing with concussions as a player

6:00 – When he knew he wanted to coach

6:55 – How he went from Sweden to Rockford

8:15 – What he learned in his deep run with the IceHogs

9:00 – How he attacks the power play

10:10 – On how he uses analytics

11:30 – 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 firing

9:15 - Young players and Q

12:30 - Blackhawks brass believes they have a playoff roster

15:50 - 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 trip

1:35 - How did the Hawks blow a 3-1 lead in Calgary?

2:20 - Trouble closing games

4:00 - Time to call Rockford?

5:15 - Should Cat join Kane?

7:00 - What’s up with Schmaltz?

8:55 - Bottom 6 talk

10:40 - Improving defense

12:30 - Power play solutions

18:00 - 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-backs

2:12 – Patrick Kane’s never-ending quest to get better

5:25 – When did Sharp know when to retire?

6:30 – How Patrick Kane changed the NHL

7:55 – Sharp on how Chicago has embraced the Blackhawks

9:35 – On Corey Crawford’s return

10:05 – Alex DeBrincat taking the next step

11:40 – The bounce-back of Jonathan Toews

13:10 – Sharp joins the media “dark-side”

14:04 – Sharp and Boyle break down the Blackhawks power play