CHGO Chicago Blackhawks Podcast

It's Mailbag Monday! Jay Zawaski and Mario Tirabassi answer your questions about the Chicago Blackhawks, including breaking down what the team's defensive pairings could look like heading into the 2026-27 season. With Bowen Byram, Alex Vlasic, Artyom Levshunov, Sam Rinzel, Kevin Korchinski, Wyatt Kaiser and more in the mix, who plays together and who could be fighting for a spot? Plus, Jay and Mar...

The Chicago Blackhawks brought Patrick Kane back to Chicago, but who else was on Kyle Davidson’s radar this offseason? On the CHGO Blackhawks Podcast, Jay Zawaski and Mario Tirabassi break down the potential free-agent and trade targets Chicago considered beyond Kane. With Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar and the Blackhawks’ young core entering a critical stage, who could have added scoring, depth and e...

What went into the Chicago Blackhawks' decision to bring Patrick Kane back? In this exclusive interview, General Manager Kyle Davidson walks through the entire process, from evaluating the roster and identifying what the team still needed, to discussions with the front office and coaching staff, contingency plans if he reached free agency, and why this offseason was the right time to make the move...

Join Jay Zawaski and Mario Tirabassi on the CHGO Blackhawks Podcast as they break down NHL.com's fantasy projections and debate whether the Chicago Blackhawks offense is finally strong enough to contend in the 2026-27 NHL season. The crew dives into projections for Connor Bedard, Patrick Kane, Frank Nazar, and the rest of Chicago's top offensive weapons, discussing scoring potential, breakout cand...

The Chicago Blackhawks have one of the deepest prospect pools in the NHL, but which players deserve the most attention right now? Jay Zawaski and Greg Boysen each highlight five of the organization's prospects that they are most excited about, including players like Xavier Villeneuve, Mason West, Vaclav Nestrasil, and AJ Spellacy. The guys discuss each player's development, NHL upside, and why the...

Chicago Blackhawks General Manager Kyle Davidson joins Jay Zawaski, Mario Tirabassi, and Greg Boysen for an in-depth conversation about this year's busy offseason. Davidson discusses the decision to bring Patrick Kane back to Chicago, acquiring and extending Bowen Byram, Connor Bedard's contract extension, the direction of the rebuild, and what he expects from the Blackhawks heading into the 2026-...

Have the Chicago Blackhawks done enough this offseason to change the way fans feel about the franchise? Jay Zawaski, Mario Tirabassi, and Greg Boysen react to the results of The Athletic's Blackhawks fan survey, discussing confidence in owner Danny Wirtz, general manager Kyle Davidson, and head coach Jeff Blashill following a busy summer. The guys also break down how additions like Patrick Kane an...

Could the Chicago Blackhawks be home to the NHL's next Calder Trophy winner? Jay Zawaski and Mario Tirabassi debate whether Anton Frondell or Roman Kantserov has the better chance to capture Rookie of the Year honors in 2026-27 and discuss how each prospect fits into Chicago's future. Plus, the guys answer your Mailbag questions and break down the Blackhawks' 2026-27 promotional schedule, highligh...

Could the 2023 NHL Draft be Kyle Davidson's best draft class with the Chicago Blackhawks? Jay Zawaski, Mario Tirabassi, and Greg Boysen revisit Chicago's 2023 selections following Scott Wheeler's recent NHL re-draft for The Athletic. The guys discuss Connor Bedard's place at No. 1 overall, Roman Kantserov's rise up the rankings, Oliver Moore's development, and how the rest of the Blackhawks' 2023...

What does the CHGO's Blackhawks crew think about the biggest questions facing Chicago? Jay Zawaski and Mario Tirabassi take The Athletic's Chicago Blackhawks fan survey and give their answers on everything from the state of the rebuild, confidence in Kyle Davidson and Jeff Blashill, the offseason moves, Patrick Kane's return, the Bowen Byram trade, Connor Bedard's future, breakout candidates, capt...

The CHGO Blackhawks Podcast breaks down whether the Chicago Blackhawks have improved enough to return to the NHL Playoffs this season. Mario Tirabassi and Greg Boysen analyze how the Blackhawks' offseason moves compare to the rest of the Western Conference, which teams in the Central Division and Pacific Division could rise or fall, and where Chicago fits in the playoff race. Could Connor Bedard l...

Macklin Celebrini has signed a five-year, $18.8 million contract with the San Jose Sharks, but how does it compare to Connor Bedard's five-year, $15 million extension with the Chicago Blackhawks? Jay Zawaski and Mario Tirabassi break down both deals, discuss which contract provides better long-term value, and what they mean for two of the NHL's brightest young stars. Plus, the guys dive into The A...

Chicago Blackhawks prospect Sacha Boisvert meets the media after an offseason dedicated to getting bigger and stronger for his first full professional season. Boisvert discusses his training regimen, nutrition, the weight and muscle he added over the summer, and how he's preparing to build on his NHL debut from last season. Hear what one of Chicago's top prospects expects from himself heading into...

Chicago Blackhawks prospect Roman Kantserov meets the media for the first time since arriving in Chicago. Kantserov discusses learning English, his excitement to play alongside Connor Bedard, adjusting to North American hockey, and what he hopes to bring to the Blackhawks during the 2026-27 season. Hear one of Chicago's top prospects share his first impressions as he begins the next chapter of his...

What will the Chicago Blackhawks' leadership group look like during the 2026-27 season? Jay Zawaski, Mario Tirabassi, and Greg Boysen discuss who will lead the Blackhawks on and off the ice, including the roles of Connor Bedard, Patrick Kane, Tyler Bertuzzi, Alex Vlasic, and the rest of Chicago's core. Plus, the guys answer a few remaining Mailbag questions, and video coach Steve Peters joins the...

Could Kirill Marchenko be the next big addition for the Chicago Blackhawks? With trade rumors continuing to swirl around the winger, Jay Zawaski and Mario Tirabassi discuss whether Kyle Davidson should pursue a deal, what it could cost to acquire Marchenko, and how he would fit alongside Connor Bedard and the rest of Chicago's young core. Plus, it's Mailbag Monday, so Jay and Mario answer your que...

Will the Chicago Blackhawks have one of the best contracts in the NHL next season? After a recent ranking by The Athletic of the league's top-value deals left the Blackhawks off the list, Jay Zawaski, Mario Tirabassi, and Greg Boysen discuss whether that could change as Chicago's young core continues to develop. From Connor Bedard's new extension to the long-term outlook for Alex Vlasic and Frank...

Patrick Kane and Chicago Blackhawks General Manager Kyle Davidson meet the media following Kane's return to the organization on a two-year contract. Hear from both Kane and Davidson as they discuss how the reunion came together, why Kane chose to return to Chicago, expectations for the 2026-27 season, playing alongside Connor Bedard, and what this signing means for the future of the Blackhawks.   ...

Now that Patrick Kane is officially back with the Chicago Blackhawks, what does the 2026-27 lineup look like now? Jay Zawaski, Mario Tirabassi, and Greg Boysen build their ideal Blackhawks lineup both with and without Connor Bedard, discussing how Chicago could start the season while Bedard recovers and what the team could look like once he returns. Plus, the guys break down more takeaways from Ka...

Patrick Kane is officially returning to the Chicago Blackhawks! Kane has agreed to a two-year contract with an $8 million average annual value, reuniting with the franchise where he won three Stanley Cups. Join Jay Zawaski, Mario Tirabassi, and Greg Boysen as they react live to the signing, break down the contract, discuss what Kane's return means for Connor Bedard and the Blackhawks' future, and...

Where does Kyle Davidson stand on bringing Patrick Kane back to the Chicago Blackhawks? After Davidson's latest appearance on The Score, Mario Tirabassi and Jay Zawaski break down what the Blackhawks' general manager had to say about a potential reunion with Kane and what his comments reveal about the organization's approach.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for infor...

What would the perfect Patrick Kane contract look like if he returned to the Chicago Blackhawks? Jay Zawaski, Mario Tirabassi, and Greg Boysen debate what a realistic deal could look like, including contract term, average annual value, and the role Kane would play if he reunited with the Blackhawks. Plus, the guys wrap up the Mailbag by answering more of your leftover questions from yesterday's sh...

Connor Bedard is officially locked in for the next five years, and now the focus shifts to what's next. Jay Zawaski and Mario Tirabassi react to Bedard's first press conference since signing his extension, discussing his comments on the future of the Chicago Blackhawks, expectations for the 2026-27 season, and what it means to commit long-term to the organization. Plus, the crew breaks down Bedard...

The Chicago Blackhawks' 2026-27 schedule is out, so which road trips should fans have circled on their calendars? Jay Zawaski and Mario Tirabassi pick the best road games, weekend destinations, and must-visit NHL cities while debating which trip deserves the next CHGO takeover. From Original Six matchups to can't-miss hockey weekends, the guys build their ultimate Blackhawks travel wishlist for th...

Connor Bedard is officially staying in Chicago! Jay Zawaski, Mario Tirabassi, and Greg Boysen react to the Chicago Blackhawks signing Bedard to a 5-year, $75M contract extension ($15M AAV), breaking down what the deal means for the franchise now and into the future. The crew discusses how Bedard's new contract fits into the Blackhawks' salary cap alongside Bowen Byram's recent extension, whether t...