Clear Breakaway

Bob McElligott
  • 5.0 (43)
  • Hockey
  • Updated Semiweekly

A clear breakaway is that moment where what's in front of you is wide open and you just go for it. That's where Bob McElligott is right now. On this new platform, Bob will share his opinions, sure. But what he really wants is the conversation. Conversations with the people who listened over the years driving an 18-wheeler, cleaning schools at night, working third shift at the plant, and tuning in to the Monday mailbag. Twice a week, Bob is joined by Aaron Portzline of The Athletic to talk Blue Jackets and news around the NHL. Follow @clearbreakaway across all platforms.

  1. 11h ago

    Bobby Mac and Porty for October 6, 2026

    Bob McElligott and Aaron Portzline talk about the Columbus Blue Jackets 1-1 start to the season. Also, the impact of Damon Severson returning to the lineup. They also talk about what's going on in Hockeytown, the Pittsburgh Penguins, Alex Ovechkin's retirement and the demise of Hot for Hockey.

  2. 1d ago

    Bobby Mac's Monday Mailbag - October 5th

    Bob McElligott answers your questions from X, YouTube and more following the Columbus Blue Jackets 1-1 start on the season. Also, Aaron Portzline and Jody Shelley stop by to honor the memory of Lyle Odelein. *Video coming late Monday evening for eligible platforms.

  3. 4d ago

    Bobby Mac and Porty for October 2, 2026

    Bob McElligott and Aaron Portzline talk about the Columbus Blue Jackets opening night win over the Buffalo Sabres.

  4. Sep 30

    What a Summer: The Blue Jackets Roundtable With Porty, Arace and Svoboda

    Norris Trophy. Vetoed trade. Camp holdout. Retiring president. A six-player blockbuster two days before the opener. And it might not be over. Bob McElligott opens the 2026-27 season with a roundtable: Aaron Portzline of The Athletic, Michael Arace of The Disrespected, and Jeff Svoboda, formerly the Jackets Insider and now a free agent. In this episode: • Why Arace calls the Marchenko trade a coup, and why the team that gets the best player doesn't always win the deal• Jeff on Marchenko's heel turn, and the press conference that made it easier for fans and teammates to let go• Should fans boo on October 20? Rick Nash got booed. So did Sergei Fedorov.• Merzlikins gets a timeline within 24 hours of leaving• Why Toronto moved Matthew Knies, and why getting out of that pressure cooker might be the best thing for him• Emil Andrae: 5-foot-9, 195 pounds and headed for the third pair• Fantilli's six-year deal and a September that may be a watershed moment in team history• A cycling team now: size, Lomberg's mouth, and who drives play without Marchenko• Kent Johnson, Connor Garland, Cole Sillinger and the bets this team is making• "First ballot" Denton Mateychuk, and why Waddell should be walking an extension down the hall• Jet Greaves, Cam Talbot and a drama-free goalie corner• Why picking Columbus last in the Metro is insane• Opening night against Buffalo, a shootout lineup, and Knies vs. Cutter Gauthier• Valeri Nichushkin, maybe the most underrated move of the NHL offseason• A 71-year-old coach on a one-year deal, and whether there will be a captain at all• The lightning round: points, playoffs, leading scorer, Greaves' save percentage and bold predictions The Blue Jackets open Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres. Bobby Mac & Porty are back Friday.

  5. Sep 29

    BLOCKBUSTER TRADE: Marchenko, Merzlikins and Wood sent to Toronto for Matthew Knies and more

    Bob McElligott heard the Blue Jackets might be making a deal with Toronto, so he did the only reasonable thing: drove to Canada. (He was already driving home from Watertown, N.Y., and his son wanted to see Niagara Falls. It counts.) Hours before the 5 p.m. roster deadline, Don Waddell pulled off the biggest swing this franchise has taken in years. Kirill Marchenko, Elvis Merzlikins and Miles Wood go to the Maple Leafs. Matthew Knies, Steven Lorentz, Emil Andrae and a second-round pick originally belonging to Seattle come to Columbus. Marchenko signs a six-year extension in Toronto at $12.5 million a year. In this special edition: • Why Bob loves the deal, and why a player who became a distraction had to go• Marchenko's 208 points against Knies' size and toughness, and why the numbers don't tell the whole story• Merzlikins: the rocky start, the Korpisalo contrast, the loss of Matiss Kivlenieks, and a genuine send-off from Bob• Getting it done without long-term injured reserve, with Columbus reportedly retaining part of Merzlikins' salary• Your chat questions: "does he like Columbus," will Mathieu Olivier hit him on Oct. 20, and can Marchenko survive the Toronto media?• Porty on how Waddell worked the phones, why Toronto got "a Ferrari" and Columbus got "a Range Rover," and a frank read on how Marchenko had checked out in camp• How Jody Shelley's career started, and why the old grudge games are gone• What Knies means for Adam Fantilli and Kent Johnson• Marchenko's WWE heel turn, and why Panarin and Bobrovsky never hated Columbus• Jack Williams to Cleveland, and Luca Del Bel Belluz's chance to stick Toronto visits Nationwide Arena on October 20. The Blue Jackets open Thursday against Buffalo. Join us tomorrow night at 7 for the preseason predictions roundtable.

  6. Sep 25

    Bobby Mac & Porty - Blue Jackets beat Pens in preseason game 3 and Adam Fantilli is excited to get back on the ice

    Bob McElligott and Aaron Portzline react to the Columbus Jackets win over Pittsburgh in their third preseason game as well as Adam Fantilli's presser announcing his contract signing.

  7. Sep 25

    Adam Fantilli signs biggest contract in Blue Jackets history

    The Jacket got some Mo! Bob McElligott and Aaron Portzline of The Athletic react to the big news out of Columbus that Adam Fantilli signed a contract extension.

  8. Sep 22

    Bobby Mac and Porty- Blue Jackets win first preseason game in OT 'thriller'

    Bob McElligott and Aaron Portzline talk about the first Columbus Blue Jackets preseason game, Dante Fabbro's injury, possible trade scenarios and NHL expansion

See All (13)

5
out of 5
43 Ratings

About

A clear breakaway is that moment where what's in front of you is wide open and you just go for it. That's where Bob McElligott is right now. On this new platform, Bob will share his opinions, sure. But what he really wants is the conversation. Conversations with the people who listened over the years driving an 18-wheeler, cleaning schools at night, working third shift at the plant, and tuning in to the Monday mailbag. Twice a week, Bob is joined by Aaron Portzline of The Athletic to talk Blue Jackets and news around the NHL. Follow @clearbreakaway across all platforms.

Information

  • Creator
    Bob McElligott
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Bob McElligott
  • Show Website
    Clear Breakaway

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