Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar are making Blackhawks must-watch TV again | Blackhawks Breakaway

Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar are making Blackhawks must-watch TV again | Blackhawks Breakaway

[Applause] [Music] Welcome to the Blackhawks Breakaway podcast. It’s brought to you by Toyota. Toyota has more all-wheel drive and four-wheel drive vehicles than any other brand. Find yours and shine on. Toyota, let’s go places. Charlie Romelotus. I am Pat Bole. The Blackhawks win their first onegoal game of the season. They improved to one two-2 in those tight affairs after the 2-1 overtime victory over Anaheim. And they are now 32 and two on the Young campaign. What’s your uh kind of biggest takeaway of the first seven games? Yeah, how about it? A very eventful week since the last time we did a podcast and so there’s been a lot to talk about. I think for me, so I see the record. The Hawks are 30 and1 in their last four games after an 02-1 start. But the 30 and1 record in the last four games is making me look differently at the 02 and1 start cuz now it’s like it feels like the process has been there but the results weren’t in th in those first three games but the process has stayed consistent and now you’re seeing over this course of now whatever it is eight games nine games or seven games the the results are starting to show and so you look at the record 30 and one for Chicago in their last four games. But you look at the Boston overtime, that easily could have been a win for the Blackhawks if Nazar or Baddard buried their chances. You look at the home opener against Montreal where the Hawks lose in regulation. They were 15 seconds away from forcing overtime and getting at least a point. The Vancouver game, Hawks found themselves up two to nothing through one period. So, it feels like in every single game this year, the Hawks had an opportunity to win it outside of maybe the season opener where it felt like Florida was dictating the the pace of that game from start to finish, but they needed all 60 minutes to get it done. So, I’ve been really encouraged, not just seeing the results start to come, but I feel like the process from day one and through all of these seven games has been there. Yeah. Not only are we dealing with one of the youngest teams in the National Hockey League, we’re dealing with one of the youngest teams with a new coach. And there being there on the ground floor watching him install his forch check and install his Dzone coverage and install neutri zone play and power play and PK chain. I mean, there’s been so many changes. So you couple young players who are just getting acclimated to the National Hockey League with now new systems and over the last week I’m seeing them play a little more free, little less thinking, little more reaction. it it seems like these systems are are uh are taking shape and they’re uh you know the process like you said the process you see the process but I’m seeing the results from the process. So, here’s the question I have for you, Charlie, because I’m sure you get it like I get with Blackhawks fans. They see 32 and two. They look at NHL.com and see them in a wild card spot. They say, “Whoa, Pat, is this can this be a playoff team?” And I I I am I don’t want to be buzzill boil, but I also want them to be realistic here. And you and I have always said like, “Hey, look at where they were, 61 points last year. Let’s give them a a historic jump. 25 points in the standings. 25 point in the standings would put you at 86 points. Still at least 10 points out of the final wild card spot. You probably need 98ish to get that final wildcard spot.” So, that’s kind of the world, the way I’ve been framing it. But, like you said, when you look at the seven games and that they’ve been in all of them and then they go to St. Louis and make a statement game on national television and blow the doors off, I think we would all say is probably a team that should be in the playoff discussion and mix and they beat him by five goals. Like all of a sudden I’m like, well maybe maybe maybe there is a way. No, I mean still I’m gonna still hold to my initial thought, but I can see where folks expectations might have changed a little bit with the way they’ve started this season. And kind of like what’s on the horizon, Nick Lardes, you know, and Oliver Moore. I mean, Nick Lardes was AHL player the of the week. I would be lying if I said I didn’t think about on the drive home after Sunday night’s game if the Blackhawks this year could be last year’s Montreal Canadians where they burst onto the scene a year earlier than all of us expected. But my theory goes out the window because Montreal had 76 points the year prior. They had 91 points last year to get into the playoffs. So it was a 15-point jump. Last year the Hawks had 61 points. So a 15 point increase for Chicago is 76 points where Montreal Canadians were two years ago. So I think I’m a year early in feeling that the Hawks could be that. But I think what we’re talking about right now, the process, being encouraged by the process, I think that’s what is encouraging. Like it doesn’t feel like the Hawks are winning these games because they’re getting a 45 save performance from Spencer Knight and the shots on goal are 45 to 20. It like it’s very evenly matched. Now they are getting spectacular goalending and so that is likely going to come down a level like I think Spencer Knight right now has the third best save percentage of any goalender that has started at least three games. And so, do I expect Spencer Knight to hover in the 937 save percentage and a sub two goals against average all year long? Probably not. He’ll he’ll maybe settle into the pack in between the 915ish range or 920 at a at a high level over the course of an 82 game season, but it’s been encouraging to watch the Hawks go toe-to-toe with some of these higherend teams. And I will say this is potentially the encouraging part about this too is the Hawks I believe are the most penalized team in the NHL. I was just gonna bring that up. Just gonna bring the fact that they are where they are leading the league in penalty minutes and you know it’s been it’s been tough to watch. It’s been a parade to that that penalty box. It’s incredible that they’ve had the success they’ve had with giving up going into last night’s game. 14 minutes of power play uh time per night, right? And so if if the penalties get back to like in the two per game range and the power play takes a step cuz we really haven’t seen the power play click yet, right? So the Hawks are doing this based off goalending and offensive I offensive outburst like the one in St. Louis. The most encouraging part about that win was it was a toptobottom win. seven different goal scorers. Nazar and Baddard were buzzing. They got great goalending. It It wasn’t like one line was driving the success. It was top to bottom. Every every player was contributing. And so it’s just been if nothing else, even Pat, if the Hawks come back down to earth a little bit in the standings column, they are so fun to watch. And we have not been able to say that in in years here in Chicago, which I which to me matters more than anything. You have to give your fans something excited to cheer about because down the road the results will eventually start to come. Let’s get into Baddard. We’ve talked a lot about him for obvious reasons on this podcast over the last two plus seasons. Um we talked in the preeason and how watching training camp the speed was evident there. There was a change there. Then when we the season starts, we get the data to support that claim that he indeed is faster than he was. We’ve seen him getting shots off in tight quarters. Part of the reason why he cut that stick down, nine shots on goal last night and the sets up the game-winning goal. Uh you had texted me the stats before the Vancouver game. Uh punk battle wins. He was ninth in the league at the time in puck battle wins. He was 189th in that category a year ago. I mean, you can’t even that that I mean, that’s off the charts improvement. Relentless on the puck. that came Wednesday night when he and Nazar both get on the score sheet and put on a show and then do the postgame press postgame interview with TNT. And considering what Paul Bisette said and his platform last year, uh, and and you know, look, he’s a fan of Bards, he’s a fan of the game, but he he was he was putting him on notice and and calling it the way he saw it. And for him on national TV Wednesday night to say, “Hey, look, this is what I said last year and this is why I said it. What I’m looking at right now is a different player.” And that is almost verbatim what we have been echoing on this podcast and our other platforms over the last three weeks. Different player. I thought that game in St. Louis was big on many levels. Not only announcing to the rest of the league that okay this rebuild may take not just a step this year. It might take a couple of steps, but also Connor Baddard is is here. He’s a different player and he’s ready to put his face right back on this league and say, “Get on my back.” And he wants to be considered for team Canada in the Olympics. and uh I I just thoroughly impressed with him and it it was a great week. It’s been a great week, first three weeks of the season for him, but it was a it was a great week for the franchise as far as uh the messages I think that were sent for for sure. I I thought for Connor to play the way that he did on Wednesday night in St. Louis on national television. I know it was a late local start, but for the narrative, I mean, even outside of Biz and the TNT crew, I saw some comments from the casual NHL fans that were just that just had the game on because they they were watching the first game of the the double header and they just decided to keep the second game on and they were like, “Are the Hawks nasty again?” That you know, like even the casual fan was like, “Oh, we might have to tune into Hawks games again because they seem fun to watch.” And a huge reason is the growth that seemingly Connor Baddard has taken. And we heard all summer that he he he radically changed his offseason program. He wants to get a step faster. You see the clip surface of him training in Vancouver and part of your eye tells you he looks faster or is it just me trying to see that he’s faster and then it translates onto the ice and you’re like, “Oh, he most certainly looks like a different player.” And the one area too that I’ve noticed a significant change in in Baddard is he looks far more relaxed off the ice than he did in his first two years. He’s joking around with the guys. He he doesn’t seem as uptight and as kind of um like how serious Jonathan Taes won in his early years. Eventually over time he started to let his hair down a little bit. You’re seeing that with Bedard. And I wonder how much of that how much of a reason for that is the fact that he has gotten really close off the ice with Frank Nazar who is easily the the uh biggest personality in that Blackhawks dressing room. Even today I got home or we uh we were the the Blackhawks locker room opened up. We were waiting after practice just for some of the guys and Frank Nazar comes walting in from pract from uh from the ice and he’s like singing a song and he’s just like he’s just got that personality and Connor and Frank are both roommates on the road and I think they are both feeding off each other where they’re both internally competitive but Frank’s personality is rubbing off on Connor and I think the two of them are having a lot of fun together so it’s been a treat to watch. Yeah, you brought it up being on the the road trip a couple of weeks ago about seeing them together a lot in the hotel and dinners and lunches and whatnot. That comes, I think, in in large part because they are roommates. So, you’re you’re saying, “Okay, what time are you getting something to eat? Hey, I was thinking of doing this, whatever.” Um, so kudos to the Blackhawks for putting those two guys together. Uh, I think it’s been great for Connor and and for Frank for that matter because Frank Frank had to come into this season like, “All right, I got to live up to this contract extension that and now we all think and and the rest of the league, you’re starting to see like bargain. Whoa, Blackhawks knew what they were doing.” Um, so he came in with some pressure. I mean, you always have pressure in this league, especially at a young age. Um, but I I I think that putting those two together has helped them both on the ice and off the ice. And I think it’s a combination. You say he’s a different person for Connor. 20 is a lot different than 18. He’s been through now two full seasons in the National Hockey League and he’s been through a lot. all the extra stuff off the ice, all the stuff on the ice, injury, you name it, losing predominantly a veteranladen locker room and the voices of those guys uh being the voice of that room. And now things have changed. It’s a younger locker room. the voices are of Nazar coming in off practice singing and them talking to the social media people of the Blackhawks and all of a sudden they’re not trying to fit in. It’s their room. So I I think that there’s been that. But I also think like it means something when you go on national television together. Like you know Kane and Taves were always branded together and part of that was the car deal and things of that nature. Um, but like as far as they they respected the hell out of each other and they had the utmost respect and they had the internal competition thing going, but they didn’t have this unbelievable like bromance, so to speak. They they weren’t tight buddies off the ice. Um, I’m not saying you need to have that, but it it seems like Connor and Frank have a little more of a a vibe personalitywise that can can help them deal with the other stuff, the off the ice stuff. That That’s a great observation. And I see the way that Mlin Celibbrini and Will Smith have kind of been two peas in a pod over in San Jose where they’re doing everything together both on and off the ice. And I see a similar bromance quote unquote developing with Baddard and Nazar. And I think one of the things too, the emergence of Frank Nazar as a star in Chicago, but not just in Chicago, but now the NHL is recognizing that to take the media attention away from Baddard, I think has played a crucial role because now it’s not every road city, they want to talk to Connor. They they’re going to Canada, they they want to talk to Connor. like even the TNT game. So, I wasn’t aware of this, but I guess Nazar did a pregame interview with the TNT folks, but it didn’t get to air on television because the Detroit game ran late. And so, that’s one of the reasons why TNT as So, this is what I heard TNT asked after the game. They asked for Baddard or Nazar. And the Hawks said, “We’ll give you both.” And what a genius what a genius marketing decision by Chicago because I that that clip was incredible because it’s like it’s hard not to think well the these these are going to be Chicago’s you know the fa the two faces of the franchise up front for the Blackhawks moving forward and it it’s been it’s been awesome to see. The one thing I’ve also observed about Connor Baddard this year he is not he is not the last one off uh the ice at practice every single day anymore. I think that’s one of the learning lessons that he tried to internally uh reflect on this summer is I think there were times last year where his body just felt like it was breaking down on him when he gets to, you know, you get to game 60 and you’re like, man, I’ve never played. That was his first full year last year cuz he had that he broke his jaw in January last year. So, he didn’t really understand or fully grasp the rigors of an 82 game season. And so, I think Connor did some self-evaluation and realized, okay, let me pick my spots on when I’m going to stay out there late and when I just need the working smarter than instead of always working harder mentality. And that and that to your point is the overall theme of his offseason training approach with the new trainer. Um that was Kent Johnson’s trainer. Right. And last thing I’ll say about Baddard, can we talk about the shot angle from in the second period? I’ve watched this video countless times since yesterday where he tow drags it. I It’s the biggest tow curl and drag I’ve ever seen him make. And his left hand is almost above his helmet. I don’t even think I’ve ever seen Austin Matthews have a release angle like that. And a Austin Matthews is the guy that kind of perfected that. Austin has his his uh his right hand um is is lower, but Dard’s is it was like a slingshot. I cannot believe he was able to get that shot off. And we asked Jeff Blashel about that today cuz there were there were several times in the game against Anaheim where Baddard did the curl and drag and I know the puck hasn’t found the back of the net yet, but each time the goalender is has un has been unable to get it cleanly. it grazes the shoulder or it gets the knob of the stick or it hits the crossbar. He’s so close from it going in. And I thought it was so unfortunate that he didn’t have anything to show for it because nine shots on goal. No other Hawk had more than three. I That was one of those games, Pat, I watched where I’m like, this is the Connor Baddard in a couple years. If the Hawks aren’t at their best, Connor can take over a game himself and say, just hop on my back. I got this one tonight. Like if he scores one of those go, just one goal, you’re like that was a Conor Bard statement game. And you can even argue the overtime winner, him setting up Ryan Ryan Donado was borderline it. Yeah. No, and and you know, his quick release has always been something we’ve been amazed by. It’s even quicker this year. the the shots he’s getting through and in tight quarters going through defenseman’s leg. You know, he nutmegs the defenseman and like you said, the puck was coming basically to the crest of Dosaw, but it he’s not picking up the puck uh quick enough because it’s coming through the defenseman. And so he end it ends up handcuffing the the goalie and you know what seemingly is an easy save isn’t an easy save because of the quick release and the way he’s shooting through defenseman and through sticks and through lanes. It’s just been it’s been crazy to watch. And talk about the high volume of minutes. He played a career-high 25 against Van. I think he played 24 plus last night. he played almost all of overtime. Um, so his stamina is been off the charts. Uh and and you know part of that is is this 117 setup that you know Jeff Blashel has been going with most of the year and so far and I think we’re going to see most of it. It it allows Bedard and Nazar to be double shifted and it uh it allows your young D to disperse those minutes a little bit more judiciously and not put too much on. So, say Sam Renzel’s plate if he’s not if he’s not going. Um, and it it gives you flexibility. It moves Donado up and down the line. I mean, when you win, you can say it works in your favor. It’s when you know you’re you the the question becomes, hey, with with all the movement, is it hard to get chemistry with a with a line made if if it’s changing so much? That could also be the question. But for right now, uh, it’s been, uh, it’s been pretty good. And you kind of see why that the 11 forward 7D setup kind of fits this team right now. Yeah, it feels like it’s working out perfectly. And mainly because I thought Ardm Lechinoff his first his first trip Florida, Boston, it was it was a tough road trip for him. So, I think after those after that trip, we were talking to Jeff Blasto today and he said a part of him wanted to he said he was considering going 11 and seven even during training camp and he said a part of me regrets not doing it in Florida but we hadn’t done it at all in the preseason that he didn’t want to change it up and so when they did it in Boston I think for the first time it ended up working out almost immediately I think it was in the the I can’t remember which goal when Louis creier scored the goal that was when Connor was double shifting on the fourth line. Felo wins the draw. Connor right back to Connor Baddard. Connor gives it over to Crevier who drew into the lineup as the seventh defenseman from Connor Bard who was the extra double shifting on that shift and it leads to the back of the net. So it it’s really worked out well for the Blackhawks and they’ve been able to shelter the minutes of left offensively and put Creier on the back end give him more defensive responsibility where he that’s his bread and butter. How about Nazar’s goal last night? Starts with him making a great play at the blue line. First of all, to not be offside. He kind of slides into the neutral zone a little bit while he’s stick handling. Gets it over to Donado. Then Donado gets it back to him. Um uh they get it to uh who was Kaiser. Kaiser sends it off the the post and then Frank with the uh the tap in. But that that you know like I looked at at both goals last night and it was like young stars young players other than Donado making key plays. you know, the the the Renzel uh steel in overtime uh leading to Bedard Donado and and Bard’s uh setup on the gamewinner. Um it it just you’re seeing young players all over the ice. A lot of the times it’s Nazar and Baddard making these great plays, but other other young players such as Renzel and Kaiser also showing their wares as well. Right. Nazar, beautiful plays and I didn’t think his line was great in the first two periods, but I think it was encouraging that even though they didn’t have their best in the first two periods, like if you looked at some of the numbers, I think the shot attempts were like 11 to2 uh in favor of the opposition through two periods and then in the third period the the that line flip-flopped where they were the aggressors and they were driving play and for but I think that’s what you want to see like even like we say we said it all the time when Patrick Kane was here. It’s like even when he wasn’t at his best, he could have two shifts where he just changes the game. It’s like he had a goal and an assist, but the rest of the other shifts, he wasn’t very great, but because he was Patrick Kane, like he he just did something special on one shift and it just changed the the momentum of the game. That’s how it was with Frank Nazar yesterday against Anaheim where it’s like the play started with him. He gets the puck over to Kaiser. Then he finishes it off and we cannot ignore the grade A cy again for Frank Nazar and a beautiful snapshot by the Blackhawks photographer. So u man it’s been it’s been really fun to watch Frank early on here. All right we mentioned too many penalties. They killed four of five against Anaheim, five of six against Vancouver. Remember they had uh 10 penalties against Montreal. Why do you think they’re having all of these penalties? Yeah. Um I don’t see a consistent theme on the penalties outside of it feels like most of the penalty or a handful of the penalties have come when there have been extended shifts in their own end and what those are just like lazy penalties. But there have been a couple where they’ve been kind of fluky like the Wyatt Kaiser one in the third period. The puck just rolled off a stick. Um the Hawks challenge the you know the Vancouver play. they have to go on the penalty kill because uh you know because they lost the challenge. The Bard the second Baddard penalty on Tyler Meyers I thought was a little ticky tacky. Um you know you know but Jeff said you you if you don’t have body position you can’t reach. Uh we saw Nazar with a holding call earlier in that game. Yeah I um you know and part of this too is you know young players aren’t going to get the benefit of the doubt. you know, they haven’t built up uh that equity with referees. Whether you like that or not, that that tends to be the way things are done, right? Yeah. So, I don’t I don’t see a consistent theme. Lev has taken I think three of them. So, that’s just like inexperience. Um and so, I think as the the Blackhawks get a little bit more disciplined, I don’t like the timing of some of those penalties, too. like there have been a lot of them in the third period late in the games and it’s like those are the back breakers that you don’t want the Bard one right I mean that you’re kind of like wow that that’s exactly what I said in in the moment I said I don’t know if I’m making that call there like right you know we we we can’t we can’t put him on a mountaintop and say how great he is hounding pucks when he’s trying to hound the puck and you know make a a play when the the game is being, you know, hanging in the balance and you kind of do the you make the tickytack call, right? Um, side note, what did you guys think of the the goalender interference? What was the overwhelming I I I mean, I see both sides and it’s really hard. I’ll I’ll tell you how First of all, I’ll break it down. First of all, the the thought is, was it no goal because he blew the whistle or attempted to blow the whistle? Once the referee said that was not the case, because the Blackhawks are trying to figure that out, I if if it’s blown dead because he he lost sight of it and thought it was frozen, what have you, then there’s no challenge to be had. There’s there’s no Yeah. Like you can’t challenge a intent to blow the whistle. It’s just unchallengeable, right? So, um you know, the I’ll I’ll give the referees credit. They had an out right there. They could that could have ended the the discussion right there. Once they found out that that wasn’t the case, then they’re looking at true goalie interference. Is the stick hitting the pad which is causing the puck to go in? What I I you know, usually you get maybe a almost an ice level or what have you, which a tight shot that would show where the stick the blade of the stick hit first. Did it hit puck? Did it hit skate? Did it hit pad? We never got that. It was always a high shot. And one of the philosophies or mantras that the NHL told the broadcasters in their conference call at the beginning of the year is they’re going to try to empower the officials on the ice. And when they go to the situation room in Toronto, just like Tai goes to the runner in baseball, Tai is going to go to the call on the ice if they don’t have indisputable evidence that tells them otherwise. So call on the ice is was an emphatic no goal. They go back and look at it. I don’t think there was a definitive camera angle that showed you what you needed to see. You could kind of deduce like that puck doesn’t look like it’s under a pad. It look, you know, but you didn’t have the clear defining shot. So, you’re going to probably go with the call like just just like if that call had been a good goal and it was challenged by Van, I think the the goal stands, right? So, I think it was going to go with whoever uh whatever the call was on the ice because there wasn’t really tight video that showed otherwise. Yeah. My general feeling with the with this is if it’s 5050, the call on the ice should be good goal and let the review prove that it was not a goal. Don’t let the review prove or like we got to see if it was a goal. Like let the 50/50 prove, okay? Like let’s let the review prove that it it this clearly was not a goal. And it was one of the longest reviews that I can remember because there was a TV timeout right after that as well. So, they were they were kind of like discussing it and then I believe they started getting the iPad out during the commercial timeout. So, it was one of the longest reviews that I can remember. And it’s one of those things that if you’re looking at it from a Vancouver perspective, you’re you’re saying, well, you know, the the it was under the goalender’s pad and that it was clearly goalender interference. But if you’re a forward, you’re trained or if you’re looking at it from a Chicago perspective or the forward like if you’re Tyler Bertusi, you see the puck that like the puck is still loose there and so you’re trying to jam at it and it’s not like he pushed the pad into the net that allowed the puck to get into the net because he was pushing the pad. It was just the puck was loose and so it it was um it was frustrating. I know the big story afterwards was the fact that Jeff Blashield did not get an explanation from the officials. We even talked to him the next day at practice and asked a follow-up if he did. He said he hadn’t, but it sounded like the Chicago management had reached out to the NHL to to get clarification cuz they didn’t want to go through like different back channels. And so, um, yeah, it that was tough because what was frustrating, Pat, is the Hawks were just coming off a massive national TV win in St. Louis. Feels like the casual fans were like, “Oh, we got let’s watch a Blackhawks game.” And that call goes against their way and they lose. And it’s like I you wish they would have been able to build on that momentum and unfortunately we saw a call that was so controversial that that was the storyline of the game. Yeah. And also they didn’t play well in the second period. They had they had Vancouver on the back end of a backtoback and they were up two goals on them and they came out flat in the second period and let the Canucks get back into that game. As Blashel said, we let them get get back off the mat. Um but yeah, that call was unfortunate. The other thing is this two thing two points I’d love to make. I know they won’t do this one, but I I would love we’re not talking state secrets here in these goal situation room discussions. Wouldn’t it be great to have sound up full to listen to the people in the situation room debate as they point to the screen in there and it take you be a part of the process. be transparent. Uh be proactive as the first league to do that. Okay. They it probably opens you up to more scrutiny because somebody in that situation room says something and then it it it gets turned around and it becomes the talking point. So probably that that’s a little too much transparency. But whatever the final decision is made and it’s relayed to the official in the arena, in this case at the United Center, share with the crowd and the people watching on TV and listening on radio and the the coach of the team. Share what the ruling is. We dec you know this is no goal for goalie interference. not enough indisputable indisputable evidence that showed um the stick hit the puck first puck was under you know whatever their rationale is explain that to the official in the arena and let that arena that official then share that on mic with the crowd. It doesn’t seem like what we’re adding five seconds to the process. Yeah, that’s what the NFL officials do when it’s just communicating to the fans not only in the building but to that that are watching like what exactly is going on and what year are we in that we need a a a email 30 minutes after a game when when nobody is watching for lack of a you know just why why do we have to wait 30 minutes and do it via email? Why can’t we just do it right then and there? Right. And and I can’t remember I can’t remember what exactly the explanation was. It felt like the these officials actually did provide some sort of explanation, but I couldn’t remember if it came after the the call was made or if if if they announced it uh on the challenge like that was challenging whether the puck were like I I couldn’t remember. I have to go back and listen. But yes, I’m all for procommunicating what is going on the ice and not just the call on the ice stands. we have a good goal and it’s like great. What did we just what were we just dissecting for for the last three minutes? Like please communicate that. All right, we’ve got a uh a Spencer Knight interview that’s coming up that I want to get to in a second. Quickly, uh Felina was back on the ice at Fifth Third Arena. Do you think he’ll be in the lineup on Thursday in Tampa and Dickinson and Burkovski and Bertusi were not? Do you expect them to be available Thursday in Tampa? Yeah, I think all three of them will play uh Thursday in Tampa. It it was great to see Nick Felino back on the ice. Um he said it was a very stressful week for his family, but he felt the outpouring of love and support from everyone in the hockey community, fans. He even said at at the the hospital, all of them were kind of saying, you know, good luck good luck when you go back to Chicago. like it was just it it was very uplifting and I can’t imagine what what that’s like to go through as a parent and it seemed Felina was in great spirits because Milana is back home and doing well thankfully but also it felt like Felo was feeling the love from his teammates and I even Felo it seemed like he was very joyful to be back at practice cuz he was like it’s almost like a distraction from what was going on at home. So great to see Nick back. The family’s doing well. Um, I’m sure that was a scary situation for them and u, but yeah, I expect Nick Felino to travel with the team to Tampa and be ready to go for Thursday. That is great to hear. We heard that the uh, the procedure went well last week that she’s doing well. Like you said, had to be a tremendous uh, you know, the family’s been going through this since she was born and and it’s um, it’s obviously not an easy thing. Certainly watching your child uh uh deal with things that you can’t control. And really quick, Pat, a couple Felina was saying after practice today, it it hit a few of the PLA Blackhawks players hard as well because seven or eight of them went to his house over the summer, remember? And they got to meet her and so they’ve developed a relationship with their with his kids. And so it was um the love was felt from his teammates for sure. back to the ice and Spencer Knight I think he’s what started five of the seven games. Yep. He has been and so has Arvid Solderbloom for that matter. They’ve been everything you could ask for. Um giving your team a chance to win. Spencer Knight is so sound fundamentally and mechanically that even when he can’t track a puck, he’s seemingly in the exact space taking up as much room as he possibly can and the puck hits him and he still makes the play. He was uh he stopped 38 of 39 shots. I thought that stop he had on Zelwagger in overtime was huge. And uh it’s you talk about another contract that looks like a really good contract, the Spencer Knight contract. It’s early, but that was his hundth start in the National Hockey League. And uh he’s he’s been really really good for the Blackhawks. He is so calm both on and off the ice. even watching his press conference after the game yesterday. I think I can’t remember what the first question was, but something about how do you regroup after whatever and he’s like take a sip of water like he was just chill, you know, like it it was a hoham, another night for him. And there were you mentioned his calm demeanor on the ice and he just never looked scrambly. There were I think there were two different occasions in Sunday’s game where he lost his goal stick and he couldn’t have looked more unfased by not having a goal stick. He’s just like, “I’ll get it when it when it comes back.” Like some goalenders are are they keep eyeing it. They’re trying to figure out how how far away is that stick. I need my stick or else I He just looks so uncomfortable. And then there was a time when the puck ended up clearing the zone. He goes to the faceoff circle to retrieve his stick, turns around, and he’s like looking at his stick while the play is going on behind him. And he’s just like, “Okay.” And then he just turns around. Like there’s just no panic in his demeanor. And it I think that is that’s infectious when the guys see they’re like, “Man, our goalender is cool as a cucumber.” I mean, we’re we’re good with him. And do I think he’s going to be in the 937 save percentage all season long? I don’t. But do I believe he’s going to have a an above average save percentage throughout the rest of the year? I I certainly do. And I feel more comfortable through seven games, his five starts this season, that he is a bonafide number one goalender moving forward than I did at the end of last year. And last year I felt pretty confident, but just to see it happened like just transpire in front of our eyes like this kid is the real deal. Yeah, I will say and again it’s early on in this process of picking up the Blashful systems, but I feel like less high danger chances this year for both goalies than what we saw last year. Uh, and unflapable is the word that comes to mind when when I think of Spencer Knight. He was asked, you know, how do you respond after McTavish scores with 35 seconds to go and he goes took a sip of water back to work like right, you know, like he is he’s calm beyond his years. Uh you’re going to see that in this interview. I did I did an interview sit down with Spencer uh before the season started early in October. So keep that in mind. Uh we talked about time in Florida learning from Bob, what it was like watching the Panthers in the Stanley Cup final. Um what it’s been like to be a part of the leadership group of this young this young team. Lots of uh great stuff and and he’s just an interesting person to talk to. So here is my conversation with Spencer Knight. Take me back to March 1st. How did you process that you were being traded to Chicago? It was definitely an interesting process. Um, I remember we had a afternoon or evening game on I think it was a Saturday or Friday. Was it a Friday? Yeah, I think it was a Friday. Was a Yeah, it was we had an earlier game. So, I remember I was going to go out to dinner after the game and I wasn’t playing so I kind of hustled out of the ring. um was gonna go out to dinner after with uh teammate Anton Lundell and I was driving home and as I was kind of pulling in my driveway, you know, that’s when I got called like we traded. I’m like I almost thought it was like a joke like yeah, I wasn’t even it wasn’t even coming across my mind. Um I never really heard anything beforehand. Um and then your initial reaction is almost shock. So you’re shocked first and you’re you’re just you don’t even know what to think. It almost doesn’t feel real at first and then you sets in there, you’re getting traded and then you obviously go through your little upset. You’re like so much change. Um but what I think really helped was honestly just flying out right away and then playing right away. I felt like that kind of made the transition speed up and kind of got me into this, you know, group of guys into the system here. And um after the first game it was it just felt great. It was a lot of fun. Um Chicago’s a great city so I was you know the team did a great job at making everything smooth, easy, set me up with a nice place to live. So it it was uh as smooth I think as it could have went and but it still feels a little chaotic. So okay, you were correct that it was a Saturday that you because you guys played an early game that would have been that would have made sense. And then you debuted here on Sunday. That’s Monday. Monday. Okay. So, there was one one day. Yeah. Um and then they gave you the option like, “Do you want to play or not?” And you were like, “I want to play.” And you really think that that Yeah. helped you get over the shock, so to speak. Yeah. I think, you know, when they first asked, it was the day I got traded and I’m like, I don’t know. Like, I just I don’t even know what’s going on. I’m standing I’m at my place in Florida like Yeah. I don’t even I can’t even think about playing right now. And then, you know, the next day when I was flying in and then I was I was like, you know what, I sometimes think just getting thrown in the fire sometimes is the fastest way to get into things and sometimes the best way. And that’s when I made the decision just the day before. And you make that debut and number one star. I remember how you, you know, you talked to the United Center crowd. I mean, um, it really clicked quickly like as far as just it it seemed like you for someone who just had his world rocked professionally. uh it seemed like you fell into a a really good spot because you know at the time I think there were 12 or 13 players including yourself that were 23 and younger in the lineup and and you kind of took this like leadership role out of the gates. It did did it feel that way for you? Uh I don’t know. I I don’t know if I’ve really say came in and tried to establish myself as a leader. I think the first thing you want to do is just implement yourself into the group, into the locker room. You’re not trying to step on really anyone’s toes right away. And but at the same time, I also knew that I had to come in and have them get to know me. And that’s why I think playing them getting to know what I do on game days, what I’m like, warm-ups, all that sort of stuff. I thought that was also very important. Um, so I didn’t really try to come in and take a leadership role, but I’ve always been someone that I don’t always I’m not someone that maybe will like speak as much on the leadership side, but I will try to say um I’ll try to just let my actions speak louder than my words. Mhm. You know, and that’s sometimes I think the better way to lead. Well, and and because you’re playing all the time here, um you know, your actions are are viewed more uh and you’re talked to after games and it just seemed like uh while it wasn’t an intentional thing for you, um the we before you got here, it was the oldest team in the league a year ago today. Oh, really? Yeah. Wow. I mean, Alec Martinez’s, uh, Patty Maroons, so on and so forth, had the the mean age, you know, as the oldest in the league or one of the oldest. And then by the end of the season and by your entrance in in March, you know, is one of the younger teams in the league and certainly is now. Um, so I I I think the voice of changed throughout the year. you know, Flicky’s always going to be the captain, but as Nazar came up and and Lev Shinoff and others and yourself arriving, it changed the dynamic and by nature, it’s it’s going to change the voice level and it and it seemed that young guys took over. I think you’re going to see that it’s not really going to be any one person that’s going to be this is our leader, this is our guy. And that’s something I think that you need to have on a successful team. It can’t be one person. It can’t be two. It can’t be three. It has to be every single guy has to bring some sort of attribute to the table. It can’t just be, you know, you know, one person’s just, you know, leading the group vocally and on the ice. You need guys that are great, funny locker room guys. You need those. You need guys that are, you know, more energetic. You also need the guys that might not say as much and they just go out there and maybe bring a calm demeanor to the room. Um, and I think we got a lot of great personalities and something I’ve kind of said before was that everyone’s just going to be themselves, right? No one’s going to try to be the next, you know, Sydney Crosby or this guy’s going to be like, uh, a role player like this guy was at some point. Everyone’s just going to be themselves and fall into where they’re supposed to be. And I also think that’ll happen off the ice as well. And you probably believe this because of what you experienced in Florida. you saw the dynamic, the different personalities and and even when they acquire players, how they find themsel like Marian just finds himself a role and and adapts. Yeah. Um is that what did you take away from from I mean there’s so much you must have taken away, but what are some of the big things you took away from your time at Florida? Depth, you know, commitment to the team. Not one individual stat line. No one’s just really just trying to play for points. And I really think that that’s something you need if you want to be a successful team in the end. You know, you can be the worst team in the league and still have a guy that gets 100 points. You know what? If that’s what you want, you know what? And if you’re just going to try to play that skill game and get your power play points, I don’t think that’s a team that we’re trying to be. I don’t think that’s a team that I would want to be a part of. And really, any any competitor shouldn’t want to be a part of that. So, that’s not what we’re going to have here. Everyone needs to be able to commit to winning and that’s me sometimes making sacrifices for the you know the betterment of the group and I think as the group grows closer and both on and off the ice and a little more you know get a little more mature then I think you’ll see guys you know really buying in and that’s something you had in Florida is you know I don’t think anyone was really worried if they had one point or two or three or none if the power play you know didn’t score I mean I think it was That’s something I I I think I took away is, you know, really good uh really good view on how to, you know, maybe be a successful team. What kind of influence did Abroski have on you both professionally and personally? Yeah, he you know, he’s a he’s a good friend. Um great human being and a great pro. uh on the ice. Maybe I took little things that maybe he did or would work on. But, you know, I still think I I try to do what’s best for me and I know I’m a different goalie, different person. But just seeing how he handled things, the good and also the bad. You know, I his evolution over the course of what like from when I first got there to when I left, you know, there are a lot of good times, great and the best. And there’s a lot of times that were, you know, maybe hard and he he just handles them so well. So, so, so just with profession, with grace, never shouts or get ang gets angry, flustered. He sticks to the, you know, sticks to his path. And I think that’s something I’m going to take for my for me really, just stay in my course, good or bad. Don’t let the outside noise get to you. Did you lean on him after the trade at all? Like I mean obviously he’s got to go about his job and you’re quickly thrown into the fire here, but like did you have any dialogue with Yeah, we text a little bit uh you know, we chatted a little bit over the phone before uh before they started playing Tampa. Um but you know, he’s he’s uh he’s just a great person and I but I think again I think it comes back to you know I I was going to be me. I think that’s the one thing he also would always tell me is that you know you’re you you know you’re a game. You know that’s you got to know yourself better than anyone and you got to be able to trust yourself your instincts and that’s going to take you a long way. So that’s also something I’ve learned to do is just be my own person just trust myself and I think I can handle that. Have you had that conversation with Bard at all? because you know he comes into this league with so much fanfare and these expectations and I think I remember you saying last year and he said something similar in our conversation today like Connor’s going to be Connor like let let Connor be let’s not compare him to this this player or this number one overall pick and the path that they may or may have not taken. uh let him figure out his own path. Yeah. I I mean I mean I think he’s got a good head on his shoulders. So I’m never again I’m never trying to micromanage people. Yeah. But but he’s you know what but in my view I it say apply it to me or to Connor or to Frank or I don’t know Alex Flick or someone. It’s I get I get it like the media and social media and people want to be like, “Oh, is he is this person gonna be the next Patrick Kane or is this person going to be the next McDavid or Crosby?” And it’s it’s like, “No, they’re not. They’re not. They play everyone has their own unique style.” And that’s what makes every great player so great is that they’re never really exactly the same as the other. You know, Ovetchkin, it doesn’t look the same as Crosby. that doesn’t look the same as McDavid or Matthews or McKennon. So, it’s just that everyone doesn’t be their own player. And I think that’s where I think it’s a refreshing standpoint to have because you just just go be yourself and you take your own path. You know, it’s not going to you’re not going to have the same and you know, this person has the same amount of points after 100 games as this person, so that means he’s like this. Like, no, it doesn’t matter. Like, you’re going to have the highs and lows at different times. and stick stick to your course and your path and that’s all you can do. When you were with the US national development team, did your paths cross with Jeff Lashel? Yeah, a little bit. Yeah. Yeah. So, he would come in every once in a while when he, you know, I was coaching the wings, so which is pretty cool. And he’s always he’s a he’s a really really good guy. Um, I I really appreciate how he’s got a a belief in building kind of like we talked about a team that’s meant to win, that’s structured, that has something that you can rely on. And I think he has he’s holding everyone to that that level, that standard that I think you need from a a coach. So, I’ve really appreciated that. And I really his communication is awesome, too. He’s a very good communicator. So, I think all those things together and the whole coaching staff, too, has been great. They’re all amazing people. I’ve really enjoyed working with them and getting to know them. Everything has a purpose. Like today, I I was trying to remember the last time I saw a drill where players actually changed from the bench. Like I I don’t I you’ve been doing this for a while and I don’t remember seeing that. Everything kind of has a purpose. And have you seen, we talk about the team speed. Have you seen an uptick in the team speed compared to the end of last year and now what you’re facing on a daily basis? I I think the team the team’s always been fast. Um but again, I I think like you said those those situations where you have the changing honestly I don’t always know what we’re doing because I kind of just s the net. But um you you need that structure too to be fast in a game. Anyone can be fast when their ske circles around the you know in the middle of the ice and have no one on them and you know it’s a two on situation. Everyone looks fast there. Doesn’t matter who you are but you need to be be able to know the system to play fast in a game. So I think that’s what we’re trying to do is implement that in different structures and different areas. At the exit interviews last uh spring, you were in the process of looking for a place and we you joked about the L and that became a topic. How are things now? Like you know one thing is getting your professional life situated. Um have you got yourself situated here in Chicago? Yeah, I have. Okay. I’ve got a nice place. Um, you know, it’s train somewhat nearby, but I think it’s a it’s they go everywhere. But I mean, everyone thinks I think it’s everyone’s like, “Oh, it’s like why do you care so much about the train?” I’m like, “Stand next to that thing.” And I mean, how annoying would that be if you’d hear that 24/7? I would hate it. So, but this I mean I you know, it’s kind of fun. I think the finding the right place and getting settled off the ice is just as important as getting settled on the ice really. I think you you only spend so much time at the rink and a lot of the time, you know, you can’t I always say you can’t stop pucks from your living room. So, you have to be able to get away when you’re not at the rink and you have no control over, you know, what’s going on on the ice. So, I think I’ve done, you know, a little bit of homework to find some areas, some good places to hang out. So, it’s uh you know, it’s been it’s a cool city. I’m you know, very fortunate to have landed here. What was it like watching some of your really good friends and teammates up until March uh play for the Stanley Cup? What was what was that like for you? It was it was cool. I mean, it wasn’t really, you know, I think I didn’t really have any doubt that they were weren’t going to get there. I knew I I had a really strong belief that they were going to get to this, you know, the finals again. It just you see how again how they treat the game of hockey from camp through the regular season into the playoffs. They’re all about building to be in that moment. And I think, you know, it’s it’s it’s they have a welloiled machine. And I think it’s it’s it’s a cool it’s cool thing to witness. Um, you know, um, I think sometimes it’s hard to, you know, see it, you know, as a competitor and knowing you were there, but frankly, I mean, kind of like I said, you want to be on the ice in those for those moments. And, you know, I don’t think I would have been on the ice for that moment. Um, so to be able to be on the quest to try to get there with Chicago for me is very fulfilling because I think as much as you want to win the Stanley Cup, I think there’s no better feeling than going through a season, being on the ice, going through the ups, the downs, and then getting there instead of just almost not being handed it, but like when you’re if you’re on the bench, it’s like, you know, it’s it’s it’s not as it’s not the same. I I don’t and anyone that, you know, looks at it differently, you know, doesn’t make doesn’t really maybe see that other perspective that that I might have is that it’s not the same. It’s not you’re not you want to be on the ice. That’s why you play. So to be here, I think is, you know, to be on that quest is, you know, really fulfilling. That’s awesome. Well put. Yeah. Thank you, Spencer. Appreciate it. So, we appreciate Spencer for uh sitting down and giving us that time and and thank you uh to the Blackhawks media relations department for making that happen. Hawks seemingly in good good place right now, right? I mean, some of the top profile picks that they have had in recent years are performing well on the ice. Uh they seem to be sticking up for one another. That’s something we haven’t we didn’t talk about like Louis Krevier, you know, coming to um support Nazar after Nazar took a clean hit, but Louis Creier had never really fought in his hockey career. And so some of these young players are they’re getting roles that they had not been handed before. And that brings this unit together even more. And then if you look on the horizon of the Nick Lardises, how is this unbelievable year in Brford? How is it going to translate at the AHL or the NHL level? Well, pretty damn good to start. How about eight points in five games? How about AHL player of the week? Uh you look at Oliver Moore. How about, you know, game-winning goals? uh overtime goals, you know, uh the pipeline looks looks plentiful and it looks really promising. It’s been a good few weeks for the Chicago Blackhawks organization and and as we said, this team and this organization, it seems like it’s going to be fun to watch. Yeah. And boy, we haven’t even gotten to the overseas player, too, like Anton Fondell, who’s pulling off the Michigan, and Roman Canerof has been unbelievable in the KHL yet again. So there there’s so there’s so much exciting exciting talent coming. But when you’re seeing the players in front of our very eyes like Baddard and Nazar and Renzel and Kaiser, man, Guay Kaiser has been legitimately one of the best defensive defenseman in the NHL this season and that we we haven’t even gotten to him, but there’s there’s so many individual players that are growing rapidly in front of our eyes that it’s nice to see the process and the results start to come at the NHL level knowing that, oh, just wait to the boost we’re going to get when Lardris is here and when Moore is a full-time player and Fondell makes the jump to the pros, I mean there’s just so much more excitement coming and it cannot be understated enough. Jeff Blashel effect I think is real. I they have bought into what he is preaching and I think the confidence that Jeff has in his group and the diligence that he is running his hockey team I think is rubbing off on the Blackhawks and I think the confidence from the coaching staff is indicative of what the the coaching staff is preaching to them. So I I think it’s reflecting in the game for for the Blackhawks. All right. Uh unique week for the Blackhawks. Not not a lot of games. Uh they play Thursday in Tampa and then they’re back home Sunday. So that allows me time to do some scouting. I’m going to see Gavin McKenna playing Friday night at Penn State. Are we even going to be in the lottery mix? Who knows? I’m going to go get to see McKenna uh live and in person and uh see what the presumptive number one overall pick in the upcoming draft what he’s all about. All right, I’m looking forward to the full scouting report when when you return. All right, I will do that. That is going to do it for this edition of the Blackhawks Breakaway podcast for Charlie Romelotus. I am Pat Bole. Thank you for watching and listening and we’ll catch you next time. [Music]

On this episode of the Blackhawks Breakaway Podcast, Pat Boyle and Charlie Roumeliotis break down the Blackhawks’ recent 3-0-1 stretch and discuss how the team has become as entertaining and watchable as it’s been in years.. They dive into the strides Connor Bedard has made this season, how his friendship and road roommate Frank Nazar has influenced him, and how both young stars are pushing each other to grow. Pat and Charlie also talk about Nick Foligno’s return after a brief family absence, the team’s penalty issues, and much more. Plus, Pat sits down 1-on-1 with Spencer Knight, who’s quietly been one of the NHL’s top goaltenders this season.

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