CHGO Chicago Blackhawks Podcast

Bowen Byram is coming to Chicago with some BIG expectations. After being acquired by the Blackhawks and signing a six-year, $75 million extension, what should Chicago realistically expect from its new No. 1 defenseman in 2026-27? In this CHGO Blackhawks Mini Pod, we break down the expectations for Byram heading into his first season in Chicago and what he needs to do to live up to the massive inve...

Anton Frondell has his sights set on the playoffs. The Blackhawks forward says his goal for the 2026-27 season is to help Chicago get back to the postseason, and Mario Tirabassi and Greg Boysen break down what that means for the young team. Plus, Mario and Greg go through the full Blackhawks roster for EA's NHL 27 and discuss Kevin Korchinski’s new offseason approach heading into training camp. Ho...

Training camp is right around the corner, and the Chicago Blackhawks have plenty of roster battles to sort out. Mario Tirabassi and Greg Boysen break down the biggest questions, including who makes the top six, who wins the backup goaltending job, how the power play and penalty kill units could look, and who earns the final roster spot. Which players have the most to prove when camp opens?  ...

The Chicago Blackhawks open training camp in just over two weeks and will do so without Connor Bedard to begin the year. Centermen Frank Nazar and Anton Frondell have been the assumed top two options to replace Bedard while he is recovering from shoulder surgery, but could rookie Roman Kantserov actually begin the year in Bedard’s place at the top of the lineup? Mario Tirabassi and Greg Boysen dis...

0:00 SHOW START 1:20 Hockey is close! 5:00 What if Kane & Nazar click? 17:00 Prospect Showcase Talk 34:00 New center ice 42:00 New look Chicago Steel uniforms 51:00 Super Chats What if, while Connor Bedard is nursing his injury, Patrick Kane and Frank Nazar become perfect linemates? The CHGO Blackhawks crew answer a Diehard Mailbag question about that scenario. Plus, center ice will have a new loo...

Kevin Korchinski has re-signed with the Chicago Blackhawks on a new two-year contract! Mario Tirabassi goes solo to break down the deal, what it means for Korchinski, and where he fits on Chicago's blue line heading into the 2026-27 season. Plus, Mario compares Cale Makar's new deal to Bowen Byram's contract, gets into the Blackhawks upcoming prospect showcase, Connor Bedard's No. 44 ranking, Stev...

Who sits at the top of the Chicago Blackhawks' prospect pyramid? Mario Tirabassi has put together his own player pyramid, ranking every Blackhawks prospect, from the players closest to becoming NHL stars to the prospects still climbing their way up the organization. Mario breaks down the biggest risers, fallers, surprises and tough decisions that went into building his pyramid.    Hosted by Simple...

The countdown to the 2026-27 NHL season is officially on! With just over one month until the Chicago Blackhawks open their season, what questions still need to be answered? Jay Zawaski, Mario Tirabassi, and Greg Boysen break down everything Chicago still needs to address before the puck drops, from roster decisions and lineup questions to expectations for the team's young core. What will the Black...

What moves can the Chicago Blackhawks still make before Opening Night? Jay Zawaski, Mario Tirabassi, and Greg Boysen explore the trades, signings and roster moves that could still happen before the 2026-27 season begins. Could players like Teuvo Teravainen, Arvid Söderblom or Andrew Mangiapane be on the move, and are there any other additions Kyle Davidson could make before the roster is finalized...

With NHL expansion on the horizon, could the Chicago Blackhawks eventually move to the Eastern Conference? Mario Tirabassi and Greg Boysen make the case for why Chicago could be one of the teams that moves East as the NHL reshapes its divisions and conferences. Plus, former PHNX Sports reporter Craig Morgan joins the show to share his firsthand experience covering the Arizona Coyotes before the fr...

Daily Faceoff's Steven Ellis has ranked the Chicago Blackhawks' prospect pool No. 1 in the NHL. Mario Tirabassi and Greg Boysen break down why Chicago deserves the top spot and compare Ellis' rankings to Corey Pronman's, who previously had the Blackhawks at No. 4. The guys also dive into the latest NHL trophy odds, looking at where Blackhawks players rank in the Calder, Hart, Vezina, Norris and ot...

Where does Connor Bedard rank among the NHL's best centers? With the NHL's latest Top 20 Centers list putting Bedard at No. 16, Jay Zawaski and Mario Tirabassi debate where the Blackhawks star should actually rank heading into the 2026-27 season. Plus, it's Mailbag Monday, so the guys tackle your questions on the Blackhawks and everything surrounding the team one month before the start of regular...

Daily Faceoff recently projected the NHL standings all the way out to 2030, with the Chicago Blackhawks landing at No. 8 overall and in the Stanley Cup contender tier. Jay Zawaski, Mario Tirabassi, and Greg Boysen break down the projection and debate whether the Blackhawks are truly on track to become Stanley Cup contenders by 2030. What will Chicago's core look like by then, and could Connor Beda...

The Chicago Blackhawks are entering a new season with expectations rising under head coach Jeff Blashill, but which players are poised for a breakout? With expectations set high for Anton Frondell and Roman Kantserov, could stars like Connor Bedard and Patrick Kane take another step and lead the way? CHGO Blackhawks hosts Jay Zawaski and Mario Tirabassi break down the biggest Blackhawks breakout c...

Who are the biggest villains in Chicago Blackhawks history? Jay Zawaski, Mario Tirabassi, and Greg Boysen debate the rivals who have earned a spot on the Blackhawks' all-time villains list. Plus, the guys take part in the ALLCITY GOAT debate and build their own lists of the greatest hockey players of all time. Which Blackhawks villain deserves the top spot, and who is the biggest GOAT in hockey? ...

What is the missing piece of the Chicago Blackhawks' rebuild? Jay Zawaski and Mario Tirabassi tackle a full slate of mailbag questions, including what Chicago still needs to become a legitimate playoff contender and what could ultimately complete the rebuild. The guys also dive into your questions about the Blackhawks' roster, young core and the biggest storylines heading into the 2026-27 season. ...

Chicago Blackhawks head coach Jeff Blashill sits down with CHGO for an exclusive interview ahead of his second season behind the bench in Chicago. Blashill discusses why he feels more comfortable heading into Year 2, how he views the team's top rookies and prospects, and what he's expecting from the young core this season. He also opens up about what Patrick Kane's return means for the Blackhawks...

Corey Pronman has released his latest NHL prospect rankings, and the Chicago Blackhawks' pipeline ranks fourth in the league. Jay Zawaski, Mario Tirabassi, and Greg Boysen break down the rankings, from Connor Bedard at No. 1 to new addition Xavier Villeneuve at No. 12, and discuss where the rest of Chicago's prospects landed. How does the Blackhawks' pipeline stack up against the rest of the NHL,...

What was it really like to win Stanley Cups with the Chicago Blackhawks? In these exclusive interviews, Bryan Bickell and Andrew Shaw reflect on their time with the Blackhawks, what winning Stanley Cups in Chicago meant to them, the bonds they built during the team's championship run, and the legacy of that Stanley Cup dynasty. The two former Blackhawks also react to Patrick Kane's return to Chica...

What does success look like for Jeff Blashill and the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2026-27 season? Jay Zawaski, Mario Tirabassi, and Greg Boysen are LIVE from Twin Orchard Country Club at the Helping Hands Network Celebrity Golf Tournament, discussing the expectations facing Blashill as Chicago enters a pivotal season of the rebuild. Then, hear directly from Blackhawks head coach Jeff Blashill, along...

It's time to pick your next Blackhawks jersey! Jay Zawaski, Mario Tirabassi, and Greg Boysen debate which Chicago players are worth putting on the back, from Patrick Kane's return and Bowen Byram coming to Chicago to Roman Kantserov making his NHL debut in the 2026-27 season and the Blackhawks' next wave of young stars. Who is the safest jersey choice, and who could be the next fan-favorite worth...

Mario Tirabassi and Greg Boysen take a look at re-drafts from the 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 NHL Drafts and see where the rebuild would be if things had gone differently. Plus, looking ahead to the 2026-27 season, which five games are on our MUST SEE lists? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It's time to build the Chicago Blackhawks' Mount Rushmore! Jay Zawaski, Mario Tirabassi, and Greg Boysen each pick the four players they believe had the biggest impact on Blackhawks history, leading to plenty of debate over who makes the cut and who gets left off. Then, the guys take the conversation league-wide and build their NHL Mount Rushmore. Which four Blackhawks make your mountain? And who...

Who are the next Chicago Blackhawks headed for the Hockey Hall of Fame? Jay Zawaski and Mario Tirabassi dive into The Athletic's latest Hall of Fame tiers for active NHL players, looking at the players who are already locks, those who are on the edge, and the stars who still have work to do to build their cases. Then, the guys turn their attention to Chicago's own history and debate which Blackhaw...

The NHL just released its Top 20 Defensemen list, and Bowen Byram was notably left off after being teased as a potential inclusion. So just how close is the new Chicago Blackhawks defenseman to cracking that list? Jay Zawaski, Mario Tirabassi, and Greg Boysen break down Byram's numbers, his overall game, and how he compares to the defensemen who made the NHL's Top 20 while looking at what he needs...