Blackhawks Breakaway

Chicago Sports Network

Pat Boyle and Charlie Roumeliotis bring you the latest news, updates, and interviews from inside the locker room with the Chicago Blackhawks. Follow along all season as they Blackhawks take their next step on their quest for greatness. New episodes every Tuesday and Friday.

  1. 18 June

    Corey Pronman previews 2026 NHL Draft class, Blackhawks options at No. 4 overall

    On this episode of the Blackhawks Breakaway Podcast, Pat Boyle and Charlie Roumeliotis are joined by The Athletic's NHL Draft expert Corey Pronman to preview the 2026 NHL Draft and break down the Blackhawks' options with the No. 4 overall pick. Pronman explains why several players occupied his No. 1 spot throughout the season and why he ultimately ranked defenseman Chase Reid barely ahead of consensus top prospect Gavin McKenna in his final rankings. He also discusses the five players he has in his Tier 1 rankings. If the top three forwards are off the board, should the Blackhawks feel comfortable selecting Reid despite already having two high-end right-shot defense prospects in Artyom Levshunov and Sam Rinzel? Could Reid ultimately be the best of the trio? And is McKenna truly a lock to go No. 1 overall or could there be a surprise at the top of the draft? The conversation also turns to Ivar Stenberg, who has been mocked to the Blackhawks by many analysts. How realistic is that scenario, and how does Pronman expect the top of the draft to unfold? He also shares his NHL comparable for Stenberg. Plus, if San Jose selects a defenseman at No. 2 and Vancouver is deciding between Stenberg and Caleb Malhotra at No. 3, would the Canucks really choose Malhotra, as some reports suggest? Pronman explains what fueled Malhotra's rise into the top-five conversation. Finally, Pronman weighs in on the dramatic transformation of the Blackhawks' prospect pipeline, from one of the NHL's weakest just four years ago to arguably its deepest since GM Kyle Davidson launched the rebuild in 2022. Pat and Charlie close out the episode by reacting to Pronman's insights before discussing the fallout from NHL insider Frank Seravalli's report on Connor Bedard's contract negotiations from last week's episode and explaining why Blackhawks fans shouldn't be concerned.

    30 min
  2. 20 May

    Mark Eaton talks Blackhawks' prospect pipeline transformation

    On this episode of the Blackhawks Breakaway Podcast, Pat Boyle and Charlie Roumeliotis are joined by Blackhawks assistant general manager of player development Mark Eaton to evaluate the organization’s prospect pipeline after a successful season across multiple levels. Eaton discusses what it’s been like watching the Blackhawks go from having a thin prospect pool to one many consider the best in the NHL, and explains how the organization’s transition to off-ice development camps have helped strengthen chemistry and culture throughout the system. He also breaks down No. 3 overall pick Anton Frondell and his brief stint with the Blackhawks, why playing in the Swedish Hockey League was important for his development, and what his NHL ceiling could be. Eaton also shares his thoughts on Roman Kantserov’s breakout KHL season and how his game may translate to the NHL level. Plus, Eaton dives into the development of Artyom Levshunov and discusses the growth of the Blackhawks’ young blue line. Later in the episode, Eaton highlights several underrated prospects who may have flown under the radar, weighs in on the organization’s goaltending depth, and shares his excitement for another incoming draft class and the process of mapping out each player’s development path. To close the show, Pat and Charlie discuss Kantserov signing his entry-level contract and where he could fit into the Opening Night lineup. They also talk about Ilya Mikheyev’s reported availability via trade if the Blackhawks are unable to agree to a contract extension before July 1, and they wrap up with their Conference Final predictions: Colorado and Vegas in the West, Carolina and Montreal in the East.

    48 min
  3. 7 May

    TSN’s Craig Button breaks down 2026 NHL Draft lottery, Blackhawks’ options at No. 4

    On this episode of the Blackhawks Breakaway Podcast, Pat Boyle and Charlie Roumeliotis react to the 2026 NHL Draft lottery results, highlighted by the Toronto Maple Leafs' stunning jump from No. 5 to No. 1 overall. They also discuss the Blackhawks falling to No. 4 and share early thoughts on their options before tossing to Pat’s 1-on-1 interview with GM Kyle Davidson following the lottery. TSN draft analyst Craig Button then joins the show to react to the results and break down his first mock draft, which has Ivar Stenberg landing with the Blackhawks at No. 4. He discusses his Big Board, what Toronto could do at No. 1 and whether Gavin McKenna is a lock, along with San Jose’s intriguing decision at No. 2 between the best available forward or defenseman. Button also weighs in on how the lottery outcome could impact Auston Matthews’ future, whether the Blackhawks could emerge as an appealing destination for a disgruntled elite player, and much more. Pat and Charlie close by reacting to Button’s comments and sharing their biggest takeaways from the conversation. Charlie also explores a potential Matthews-to-San Jose scenario, and examines why each of the three teams picking ahead of Chicago faces a pivotal decision. They wrap up by debating whether the Blackhawks should take the best player available or draft for organizational need at No. 4, plus Connor Bedard’s decision to skip the 2026 IIHF World Championship while rehabbing his shoulder and the latest on Roman Kantserov’s contract timeline.

    54 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Pat Boyle and Charlie Roumeliotis bring you the latest news, updates, and interviews from inside the locker room with the Chicago Blackhawks. Follow along all season as they Blackhawks take their next step on their quest for greatness. New episodes every Tuesday and Friday.

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