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.

On this episode of the Blackhawks Breakaway Podcast, Pat Boyle and Charlie Roumeliotis are joined by NHL Insider Frank Seravalli to discuss the latest Blackhawks news, rumors and offseason storylines.

How aggressive could Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson be on the trade market this summer? What would it take for Chicago to move the No. 4 overall pick? If the Blackhawks keep the selection, will Ivar Stenberg be available to them? How should the Blackhawks balance positional need/value vs. best player available? Seravalli breaks down the team's options heading into the NHL Draft.

The conversation also expands around the NHL. Seravalli shares the latest on Detroit captain Dylan Larkin's trade request, whether the Blackhawks are becoming a more attractive destination for players in general, and the coaching situation in Edmonton involving Mike Babcock.

Plus, what's the latest on Connor Bedard's contract extension? Seravalli discusses what he expects, potential timing, and what a new deal could look like.

Pat and Charlie close the episode by reacting to Seravalli's insights on Bedard's next contract, the Blackhawks' offseason outlook, and the upcoming draft.

On this episode of the Blackhawks Breakaway Podcast, Pat Boyle and Charlie Roumeliotis break down the Blackhawks' decision to trade the rights to prospect Jack Pridham to the Tampa Bay Lightning for a 2027 third-round pick, explaining how the situation unfolded and why the team ultimately made the move.

They also discuss whether the Blackhawks should consider trading the No. 4 overall pick for an impact player and what it would take for them to move it.

Plus, mock drafts continue to have Ivar Stenberg falling to Chicago at No. 4. Is the fit becoming increasingly realistic or does it feel too good to be true?

Pat and Charlie also address the NHL's recent memo reminding teams about tampering following reports that the Blackhawks made Ilya Mikheyev's rights available for trade. They explain what happened, why it drew attention, and why it's ultimately not a big deal.

Later, three-time Stanley Cup champion and CHSN Blackhawks analyst Alec Martinez joins the show to preview the Stanley Cup Final between the Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights. He shares his perspective on the matchup, breaks down the key storylines, weighs in on who has the edge and who wins the series.

On this episode of the Blackhawks Breakaway Podcast, Pat Boyle and Charlie Roumeliotis break down Vegas’ stunning sweep of Colorado in the 2026 Western Conference Final and discuss the John Tortorella effect. They dive into Mitch Marner’s postseason, what went wrong for the Avalanche, Cale Makar’s injury, and whether Colorado should consider a coaching change. The guys also discuss the Eastern Conference Final between Carolina and Montreal, including the electric atmosphere at Bell Centre and why they believe it’s the best building in the NHL. Later in the show, Pat and Charlie provide an update on Team USA’s path toward repeating at the IIHF World Championship, discuss Ivar Stenberg’s tournament performance, and debate whether Toronto could consider taking him No. 1 overall. They wrap up by projecting what Connor Bedard’s next contract could look like, and whether Macklin Celebrini could be the first to sign to help set the market.

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.

On this episode of the Blackhawks Breakaway Podcast, Pat Boyle and Charlie Roumeliotis welcome Tony Granato to the show to recap the Blackhawks’ 2025-26 season and discuss his optimism level heading into next year. Could this be the summer the Blackhawks finally land a big fish? What needs to happen for them to become legitimate wild-card contenders next season? Tony breaks it all down.

Tony also shares his thoughts on the Blackhawks landing the No. 4 overall pick and evaluates the top of the 2026 NHL Draft class after watching many of the prospects at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship and Under-18 Men’s World Championship. Could Ivar Stenberg realistically fall to the Blackhawks at No. 4 like most mock drafts suggest, or is that just wishful thinking?

Plus, Tony weighs in on whether the Blackhawks should draft the best player available or prioritize positional need, gives his take on the top defensemen in the class; discusses the growth of college hockey development; and more.

To wrap things up, Tony shares his thoughts on the Stanley Cup Playoffs, whether Colorado and Carolina feel destined for a Stanley Cup Final matchup, and what the Blackhawks can learn from teams like Anaheim and Montreal.

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.

On this episode of the Blackhawks Breakaway Podcast, Pat Boyle and Charlie Roumeliotis hand out individual grades for the defensemen, goaltenders, and head coach Jeff Blashill as they put a bow on the 2025-26 season.

How did Louis Crevier and Wyatt Kaiser grade out in their breakout seasons on the back end? What steps do Artyom Levshunov and Sam Rinzel need to take to raise their grades next year? And how should Alex Vlasic’s season be viewed after leading the Blackhawks in ice time? They dive into all that and more.

Then, they evaluate the goaltending tandem, including Spencer Knight’s emergence as a bona fide No. 1 and Arvid Soderblom’s up-and-down campaign. Should there be an open competition for the backup role next season?

Finally, Pat and Charlie assess Blashill’s first season behind the bench and explain why he deserves a positive grade despite the team’s 31st-place finish in the standings.