Blackhawks Breakaway

On this episode of the Blackhawks Breakaway Podcast, Pat Boyle and Charlie Roumeliotis are joined by three-time Stanley Cup champion and CHSN Blackhawks analyst Alec Martinez. They share their early impressions of No. 3 overall pick Anton Frondell, discuss his development path, and explain why the Swedish Hockey League helped prepare him for the NHL. They also dive into Tyler Bertuzzi’s career year after he surpassed his personal best in goals with 31, why he’s having a breakout season, and what led to his leadership role as an alternate captain. Later in the show, Pat, Charlie, and Alec talk about Ilya Mikheyev’s game and why they hope he’s back with the Blackhawks next season. They also break down the five-forward power play with Connor Bedard as the quarterback, with Alec sharing his thoughts on what makes a good power-play quarterback from a defenseman’s perspective and why Wyatt Kaiser could be an intriguing option in that role moving forward. They also discuss the Blackhawks’ young defensemen group—all 24 or younger—and Alec reflects on the age when he felt he reached his peak as an NHL defenseman. To wrap up the show, in honor of April Fool’s Day, Alec shares some prank stories from his playing days.

On this episode of the Blackhawks Breakaway Podcast, Pat Boyle and Charlie Roumeliotis break down No. 3 overall pick Anton Frondell’s NHL debut, discussing what stood out in his game, including his lethal shot, his 200-foot play, his hockey sense, and where he could fit on the power play. They also debate whether Frondell projects best as a long-term second-line center or as Connor Bedard’s top linemate. Plus, they discuss Frondell’s wise decision to play in the Swedish Hockey League after being drafted instead of turning pro right away and how valuable that was for his development. Pat and Charlie also talk about Nick Lardis’ promotion to the second line and how he’s taken advantage of the opportunity after previously playing in a fourth-line role since his second call-up and whether that fourth-line experience helped his development. They also discuss Arvid Söderblom’s terrific last two starts and whether he could earn more starts down the stretch, Andre Burakovsky’s struggles, the Blackhawks’ overtime and shootout record, and more. They close out the show by talking about where 2024 first-round pick Sacha Boisvert could slot into the lineup as he prepares for his NHL debut.

On this episode of the Blackhawks Breakaway Podcast, Pat Boyle and Charlie Roumeliotis break down how the Blackhawks have already surpassed last season’s point total with 15 games still to play, and why that marks meaningful progress even if it doesn’t quite feel like it. They dive into Connor Bedard’s game, Frank Nazar’s hot streak, and Artyom Levshunov’s promotion to the top pairing. The guys also debate whether Louis Crevier deserves a look on the power play, where his shot could be an asset after leading the NHL in 100+ mph slap shots. Plus, they discuss Nick Lardis' ice-time deployment and where 2024 first-round pick Sacha Boisvert might fit in following the signing of his entry-level contract. Later, Pat and Charlie examine the Blackhawks’ back-to-back slow starts against Vegas and Minnesota, and why the sluggish opening in Vegas particularly stood out, especially after the team was rewarded with an off day following an overtime win in Utah. To wrap things up, they reflect on former captain Nick Foligno’s return to Chicago and the lasting impact he made during his three-year stint. They also touch on how Team USA’s success at the 4 Nations tournament and Winter Olympics potentially impacted the U.S. baseball team at the World Baseball Classic, and what it means for international competition across sports.