Blackhawks Breakaway

Kirby Dach is the newest Chicago Blackhawk! On the latest Hawks Talk Podcast, Pat Boyle and Charlie Roumeliotis react to the Blackhawks selecting Dach with the third overall pick in the NHL Draft. Pat catches up with Dach 1-on-1 just moments after the pick was made, and you’ll hear from Stan Bowman on why it was an “easy decision” to pick the 6’4 center. Plus, how much of this pick was based on organizational need and what did the guys think of some of the other first round surprises? 0:35 – Was there surprise by the Kirby Dach selection? 1:30 – Dach checks boxes for regular season and playoffs 2:49 – 1-on-1 with Kirby Dach 5:04 – How Dach projects in the NHL 8:01 – Dach’s impact on Artem Anisimov’s role? 9:42 – Stan Bowman’s thoughts on Kirby Dach 12:10 – When the Hawks made up their mind on Dach 14:52 – Concerns about Dach’s skating? 15:28 – What are the chances he plays in NHL right away? 17:15 – Awkward moments with Bowen Byram backstage 18:14 – Other surprises in the first round of the draft

On the latest Hawks Talk Podcast, Pat Boyle, Slavko Bekovic and Charlie Roumeliotis react to the Olli Maatta trade and how this impacts the Blackhawks' defensive group. Is this the first of more moves to come? The guys then break down their top-three candidates for the Blackhawks at No. 3 overall and predict who the pick will be on Friday. They also discuss how the Blackhawks' selection may impact the offseason and the big picture going forward. 0:40 – Initial reaction to the Olli Maatta trade 3:45 – How Maatta fits with the Blackhawks 7:45 – Filling Dominik Kahun’s spot 10:00 – Maatta’s contract situation 11:00 – Our top-3 draft predictions 18:30 – Official predictions on who the Blackhawks will pick 24:30 – Is there a wrong pick in the top 10? 27:30 – If the Blackhawks don’t pick D, the forward is…? 29:30 – How the Blackhawks selections shape the offseason

On the latest Hawks Talk Podcast, TSN's Craig Button joins the show to explain his final NHL Draft rankings, why there was fluctuation in his list and who the Blackhawks should take at No. 3 overall. Pat Boyle, Slavko Bekovic and Charlie Roumeliotis then offer their biggest takeaways from the Button interview and how much the latest rankings have changed their view of who the Blackhawks may select. 0:35 – Craig Button describes his ranking methodology 3:35 – Bowen Byram still a lock to be a No. 1 defenseman 5:30 – How adding Byram to Blackhawks prospect group would look 8:00 – Is there any debate Byram is the third-ranked prospect? 8:50 – Cole Caufield checking all the pre-draft boxes 12:05 – Is there an edge to Caufield’s game? 13:30 – Could Caufield fit in the Blackhawks top-6? 17:00 – Why Craig is so high on Matthew Boldy 19:20 – Does Trevor Zegras have any downside? 20:50 – Why Vasili Podkolzin’s stock is dropping 22:25 – Concerns about Alex Turcotte’s ceiling 23:45 – Concerns about Dylan Cozens’ NHL position 25:10 – The Blackhawks will select... 27:05 – Why the Blackhawks can’t go wrong with the third pick 29:45 – Bowen Byram’s fit with the Blackhawks 32:15 – Question marks about some of the top other prospects?

Jeremy Colliton joins Pat Boyle and Charlie Roumeliotis on the Hawks Talk Podcast for an exclusive interview following Colliton's first year in charge of the Blackhawks. Colliton dives into the process of filling out his coaching staff, how involved he's been in the draft and free agency processes, and how he hopes to improve the Blackhawks next season. 0:45 How the Blackhawks finalized the coaching staff 3:15 Marc Crawford’s responsibilities 4:40 Colliton's relationship with Tomas Mitell 6:05 On moving up in lottery 6:55 His involvement in draft process 8:00 What prospects stand out 9:10 What Hawks need to do to return to playoffs 10:50 The development of the d-zone coverage 12:05 What to improve in training camp 13:10 On their aggressive penalty kill 14:55 How to improve the PK with personnel 15:35 On Kane/DeBrincat playing on the same line 16:50 How Colliton uses analytics 18:30 On analytics staffers in the NHL 19:55 How the Hawks were missing that "edge" 21:05 What he learned from this year's playoffs 22:05 Winning with various styles of play 22:55 Monitoring players at IIHF World Championship 23:35 Kevin Lankinen’s performance 24:05 Competition for roster spots/depth 25:00 Looking ahead to free agency 25:50 On building rosters

The second of a two-part edition of the Hawks Talk Podcast featuring 1-on-1 interviews with some of the top draft prospects at the NHL Scouting Combine in Buffalo. Slavko Bekovic and Charlie Roumeliotis discuss how Cole Caufield, Alex Turcotte and Trevor Zegras could potentially fit with the Blackhawks and what stood out from their interviews. 0:45 – Just how good was this year’s USNTDP team? 2:40 – Interview with Cole Caufield 11:05 – Caufield embracing Alex DeBrincat comparison 16:15 – Interview with Alex Turcotte 25:10 – Turcotte the perfect combo of “sandpaper and silk” 30:40 – Interview with Trevor Zegras 36:35 – Patrick Kane’s influence on Zegras 39:00 – How good can this draft class can be?

The first of a two-part edition of the Hawks Talk Podcast featuring 1-on-1 interviews with some of the top draft prospects at the NHL Scouting Combine in Buffalo. Slavko Bekovic and Charlie Roumeliotis discuss how Bowen Byram, Dylan Cozens and Kirby Dach could potentially fit with the Blackhawks and what stood out from their interviews. 0:55 – Recapping a busy week at the draft combine 2:45 – How the Blackhawks have made an impact on the top prospects 4:25 – Interview with Bowen Byram 11:45 – Byram’s incredible playoff run helped his stock 15:35 – Interview with Dylan Cozens 23:00 – Why Cozens grew up a Toews/Blackhawks fan 24:30 – Cozens could offer some versatility to Blackhawks 26:50 – Interview with Kirby Dach 34:45 – Dach’s fit in NHL game with his size vs speed 36:30 – Grueling interview process at combine for players and teams 40:20 – Guys who tested well at the combine

On the latest Hawks Talk Podcast, J.D. Burke of Elite Prospects and co-host of Rink Wide on TSN 1040 joins Pat Boyle, Slavko Bekovic and Charlie Roumeliotis to give us an analytical perspective on the 2019 NHL Draft class. What goes into Burke’s rankings? Whose stock is rising and whose is falling? Is Bowen Byram a slam-dunk No. 1 defenseman? Is Alex Turcotte the best center available after Jack Hughes? Burke answers all that and more, including his personal pick on who the Blackhawks should take at No. 3 overall. 0:20 – Ranking methodology 3:45 – Prospect stock movement 7:00 – Vasili Podkolzin’s stock 10:30 – Bowen Byram a sure thing? 13:10 – Where Byram ranks vs. Rasmus Dahlin 15:00 – Is Alex Turcotte the best center after Jack Hughes? 16:30 – Where Turcotte would fit on the Blackhawks 18:30 – Whose stock is rising? 21:45 – Trevor Zegras eye test 26:15 – Turcotte comparison

On the latest Hawks Talk Podcast, NHL on NBC analyst Eddie Olczyk joins Pat Boyle to break down Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Boston Bruins and St. Louis Blues. Edzo explains how the Bruins turned the game around in the second period and how their young defensemen played a major role in their come from behind win. Olczyk has not been surprised with how Joakim Nordstrom has performed since leaving the Blackhawks. Edzo tells us how the Blues have trailed this postseason before and what it will take for them to win the series. Eddie also weighs in on Blackhawks goalie prospect Kevin Lankinen and his breakout performance at the World Championships, and gives us his top priority for the Blackhawks this offseason. 0:45 - Eddie Olczyk joins the show 1:25 - Edzo on Blues missed opportunity in Game 1 2:45 - Defense helping offense for Boston 4:35 - Bruins top line quiet or rusty? 6:45 - Joakim Nordstrom's career after Chicago 9:40 - How the Blues can win the series 11:40 - Who could Blackhawks jump in the Central Division next season? 16:45 - Kevin Lankinen's breakout at IIHF World Championship 18:45 - Blackhawks' top priority this offseason

On the latest Hawks Talk Podcast, Connor Murphy joins the show to break down the Blackhawks' man-on-man defensive zone coverage, how the team stayed together during the long losing skids and do the young players have a strong voice in the locker room? Pat Boyle is then joined by Slavko Bekovic and Charlie Roumeliotis to discuss what the Blackhawks may be thinking with the No. 3 overall pick and narrow the field to three potential candidates. Should the Blackhawks draft for need or best available player? Plus, the guys provide an update on how the Blackhawks are performing at the 2019 IIHF World Championship. 0:45 – Connor Murphy joins the podcast 2:00 – Murphy’s summer so far 2:35 – Murphy’s off-ice training regimen 3:35 – Murphy evaluates his season 5:05 – Murphy on comeback from injury 6:30 – Murphy explains the Hawks d-zone coverage 10:00 – Murphy’s conversations with father Gord Murphy 12:10 – Murphy on making it through tough times last season 13:10 – Murphy on unity between vets and youth 14:25 – Murphy’s goals for the future 17:00 – Hawks draft prospects one month out from NHL Draft 19:30 – Byram’s stock up while Podkolzin’s stock down 21:00 – Should Blackhawks draft for need and improve now? 26:25 – Future of the Blackhawks blue-line 33:15 – Blackhawks replenishing the prospect pipeline 35:45 – Our top 3 prospects for the No. 3 pick 41:05 – How the Blackhawks are doing at the IIHF World Championship

On the latest Hawks Talk Podcast, Adam Kimelman of NHL.com and host of the NHL Draft Class podcast joins Pat Boyle, Slavko Bekovic and Charlie Roumeliotis to give us scouting reports on the top half of the 2019 class. Kimelman also weighs in on whether Bowen Byram could be a fit for the Blackhawks at No. 3, tells us whose stock is rising and dropping, who's the top center in the draft after Jack Hughes and his gut feeling — as of right now — on who the Blackhawks could take third overall. 0:45 – Could Kakko’s strong Worlds help him leap Hughes? 3:05 – Is Vasili Podkolzin’s stock dropping? 6:40 – Could Bowen Byram be a fit at No. 3? 10:20 – Could someone trade up to No. 3 for Byram? 12:00 – Who is the top prospect after Hughes and Kakko? 13:50 – Alex Turcotte’s stock rising? 16:15 – Who are the top centers after Hughes? 17:45 – Why Dylan Cozens is the 3rd best prospect in this class 19:00 – Other players with a rising draft stock 20:15 – What is Cole Caufield’s ceiling? 21:45 – What would it cost the Blackhawks to trade into the top 2? 23:30 – Getting to know players at the Draft Combine 25:15 – Gut feeling: the Blackhawks will select…