Chicago Sun-Times' Ben Pope on Nazar, Bedard & the Blackhawks’ Future

On the latest Blackhawks Breakaway Podcast, Pat Boyle catches up with Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times and they discuss the extension of “Mr Breakaway”, Frank Nazar. They also unpack Ben’s recent interview with Connor Bedard. What tweaks has Bedard made to his game this summer and will he get an extension before camp starts? Plus, Spencer Knight looks for a quiet home & what are the biggest storylines heading into training camp? 

On this episode of the Blackhawks Breakaway Podcast, Pat Boyle and Charlie Roumeliotis recap Patrick Kane Day, from the morning community skate with youth players to the evening’s live Q&A. They also share their thoughts on Kane's 1-on-1 interview with Pat on the previous episode of the Blackhawks Breakaway Podcast. To wrap up, Pat and Charlie offer an early projection of the Blackhawks’ Opening Night roster with just over a month until training camp. Who will skate alongside Connor Bedard? How will the newcomers slot in? Which prospects are ready for full-time NHL roles, and where does Lukas Reichel fit? Pat and Charlie break it all down.

On this episode of the Blackhawks Breakaway Podcast, Pat Boyle sits down with Blackhawks legend Patrick Kane, who returns to Chicago for a special event on Aug. 8 — a day honoring No. 88 and his unforgettable impact on the city and franchise. Kane previews the upcoming celebration, which includes an autograph session, on-ice skate with fans, a live Q&A hosted by Boyle, and more. He also looks back on his time in Chicago and shares what this homecoming means to him.

On the latest episode of the Blackhawks Breakaway Podcast, Pat Boyle and Charlie Roumeliotis are joined by Rockford IceHogs play-by-play announcer Dana Grey to recap the AHL season and look ahead to what's in store for next year. What was it like having a front-row seat to the development of the Blackhawks’ top prospects? How did Artyom Levshunov and Kevin Korchinski evolve over the course of the season? What made Frank Nazar’s rookie year so impressive from start to finish? What should we expect from goaltender Drew Commesso as he enters his third pro season? Who’s a player that didn’t get enough recognition for the year he had? Which newcomer is Dana most excited to watch? And if he had to pick a breakout candidate in Rockford this season, who would it be? Dana answers all that and more.

On the latest episode of the Blackhawks Breakaway Podcast, Pat Boyle and Charlie Roumeliotis are joined by Bleacher Nation’s Tab Bamford to discuss his new book, "The Future: Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks’ New Era." Tab dives into Bedard’s development from Year 1 to Year 2, his revamped offseason training, and what it could mean for Year 3. He also shares what it was like writing a book in real time during Bedard’s rookie season, the behind-the-scenes insights he picked up along the way, and more. The guys also break down the state of the rebuild and when the Blackhawks could realistically return to playoff contention.

On the latest episode of the Blackhawks Breakaway Podcast, Pat Boyle and Charlie Roumeliotis break down a quiet Day 1 of NHL free agency for the Blackhawks, a result that came as no surprise. They discuss the Sam Lafferty trade and share general manager Kyle Davidson’s reasoning for handing the keys to the kids rather than signing veterans who might block their path. Pat and Charlie also offer their early takeaways from development camp, including thoughts on first-round selections Anton Frondell, Vaclav Nestrasil and Mason West. They wrap up the show by revisiting the bigger-picture rebuild discussion in Chicago.

On the latest episode of the Blackhawks Breakaway Podcast, Pat Boyle and Charlie Roumeliotis break down Round 1 of the 2025 NHL Draft. The Blackhawks selected Anton Frondell at No. 3 overall, Vaclav Nestrasil at No. 25, and traded up to No. 29 to land dual-sport athlete Mason West. The guys share their thoughts on each pick and react to post-round comments from GM Kyle Davidson and head scout Mike Doneghey. They also discuss the draft’s new decentralized format, the impact of the New York Islanders trading Noah Dobson, and more. Plus, they dive into the new CBA, which includes an expanded 84-game regular season.

On the latest episode of the Blackhawks Breakaway Podcast, Pat Boyle is joined by NHL Insider Frank Seravalli to break down the Blackhawks’ plans for the 2025 NHL Draft and free agency. Could the Blackhawks trade the No. 3 overall pick? Will they be active on the trade market as a whole? Are they a potential suitor for Mitch Marner? Could the Blackhawks go down an offer sheet route this summer? And what should Blackhawks fans expect from newly-acquired winger Andre Burakovsky? Seravalli weighs in on all that and more.

On the latest episode of the Blackhawks Breakaway Podcast, Pat Boyle and Charlie Roumeliotis are joined by The Athletic's NHL prospects expert Scott Wheeler to preview the 2025 draft class. Is it a foregone conclusion that Matthew Schaefer and Michael Misa will be the first two players off the board? Could the Blackhawks be choosing between Anton Frondell and Caleb Desnoyers at No. 3 overall? And if so, who has the edge? What about dark-horse candidates like Porter Martone or James Hagens? Wheeler breaks it all down. Plus, Pat and Charlie react to his analysis and put a bow on the Stanley Cup Final, where the Florida Panthers completed their repeat over the Edmonton Oilers.

On the latest episode of the Blackhawks Breakaway Podcast, Pat Boyle and Charlie Roumeliotis share their top takeaways from the NHL Scouting Combine in Buffalo. Should the Blackhawks trade up to draft Michael Misa? They also dive into Porter Martone, Caleb Desnoyers and Anton Frondell as potential options for Chicago at No. 3 overall. Plus, thoughts on GM Kyle Davidson saying he's "very open" to trading draft capital for NHL players, and why he believes next season’s roster will look "totally different" from last year's. Pat and Charlie wrap up with a look at the Stanley Cup Final and explain why the winner of Game 4 between Edmonton and Florida could decide the series.