On the latest Hawks Talk Podcast, Blackhawks winger Alex DeBrincat joins Pat Boyle from the IIHF World Championship in Slovakia.

DeBrincat reflects on his second year in the NHL, how far away the Blackhawks are from being a playoff team and if he’s surprised by the final four in the Stanley Cup Playoffs?

DeBrincat also weighs in on playing with Dylan Larkin and Patrick Kane at the Worlds, and breaks down the game of the two players expected to be taken at the top of June’s draft: Jack Hughes and Kaapo Kakko.

DeBrincat tells us he hasn’t been hanging out with his buddy Dylan Strome and fills us in on who is hanging out with his dog Ralph during the tournament.

0:35 -- What's Kosice like?

1:25 -- How far away are Blackhawks from contending?

3:00 -- What part of your game grew the most?

3:30 -- Decision to represent Team USA again

4:40 -- Playing on larger ice surface

6:48 -- Facing Kaapo Kakko

7:30 -- Playing with Jack Hughes

9:10 -- Film preparation

10:25 -- Still keeping an eye on Stanley Cup Playoffs?

11:45 -- Biggest difference with St. Louis

12:25 -- Intensity building as IIHF World Championship progresses?

13:30 -- Highlight of trip to Slovakia

14:15 -- Who's taking care of Ralph?