Alec Martinez talks FRONDELL impressions, Bertuzzi’s breakout & young D core

On this episode of the Blackhawks Breakaway Podcast, Pat Boyle and Charlie Roumeliotis are joined by three-time Stanley Cup champion and CHSN Blackhawks analyst Alec Martinez. They share their early impressions of No. 3 overall pick Anton Frondell, discuss his development path, and explain why the Swedish Hockey League helped prepare him for the NHL. They also dive into Tyler Bertuzzi’s career year after he surpassed his personal best in goals with 31, why he’s having a breakout season, and what led to his leadership role as an alternate captain. Later in the show, Pat, Charlie, and Alec talk about Ilya Mikheyev’s game and why they hope he’s back with the Blackhawks next season. They also break down the five-forward power play with Connor Bedard as the quarterback, with Alec sharing his thoughts on what makes a good power-play quarterback from a defenseman’s perspective and why Wyatt Kaiser could be an intriguing option in that role moving forward. They also discuss the Blackhawks’ young defensemen group—all 24 or younger—and Alec reflects on the age when he felt he reached his peak as an NHL defenseman. To wrap up the show, in honor of April Fool’s Day, Alec shares some prank stories from his playing days.