Show Notes
Welcome to the maiden voyage of Clear Breakaway. Bob McElligott kicks off the 2026-27 season with a guy who has been covering this team as long as he's been around it: Aaron Portzline, senior writer for The Athletic and a Blue Jackets beat writer since the franchise's first puck drop in 2000. First, Bob handles the elephant in the room, the end of his 17-year run calling games, the decision to eliminate the radio broadcast position in favor of a TV/radio simulcast, and why he didn't see it coming. Then it's hockey, with camp physicals hours away: • Kirill Marchenko's trade request — "one of the least effective trade requests I've ever seen" — and why Porty thinks a 30-to-40-goal scorer doesn't get moved right before the season• Adam Fantilli unsigned, and what the Leo Carlsson and Connor Bedard deals do to his number• Why the RFAs, not the GMs, are holding the hammer this summer — plus lost regional TV money, a new team plane, and Don Waddell's internal budget• The Ryan Johansen 2014 cautionary tale, and what a compacted camp and 84-game schedule mean for a late signing• Cam Talbot's incentive-laden deal, and why Elvis Merzlikins' shoulder may be more serious than anyone is saying• A prospect pipeline that now runs through college campuses instead of Cleveland• Carson Soucy's PTO and whether he's already better than Columbus' seventh defenseman• Kent Johnson on the top line, Cole Sillinger in the middle, and Rick Bowness' message: "We're not here to dick around." New episodes twice a week. Hit like and follow on the Clear Breakaway YouTube page, and send us your questions for the next show.
(00:00) Open (00:12) Welcome to Clear Breakaway (01:31) The Elephant in the Room (03:30) Syracuse, the Clippers, a Changing Biz (04:59) Marchenko's Trade Request (09:20) Leverage and the Deadline Scenario (10:47) Fantilli Is Still Unsigned (12:16) Carlsson at 18, Bedard at 15 (13:51) Who Really Has the Hammer? (16:02) Lost TV Money and a New Team Plane (18:19) The Ryan Johansen Lesson (18:53) Short Camp, 84-Game Schedule (20:12) Cam Talbot Signs (22:58) The Pipeline Moved to College (27:20) Soucy's PTO and the Third Pair (30:19) Kent Johnson on the Top Line (33:30) Bowness Sets the Tone (36:03) A Tinderbox? The Mood Around the Team (38:30) Like, Follow, See You Next Time
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Cleveland’s season ends one series short. The Guardians fall to the Rays in six games in the ALCS, and the offense goes quiet after Game 1. Bob breaks down what went wrong, what’s next for a young Cleveland core, and why baseball needs a salary floor more than a salary cap. Then: are pro sports pricing fans out of the stands? Bob runs the numbers on what a family of four really pays for tickets, parking, hot dogs and beer, and asks where your ceiling is. Plus the topic Patreon members voted for: streaming. Too many apps, too many subscriptions, and too many hoops just to follow your team. In the second half, Bob takes your questions: Luxury Suite member Duncan’s $1,200 night at a Canucks game, the 80-inch TV vs. the stadium seat, whether corporate buyers are driving up prices, the Brewers and the “Timeless Ticket,” $10 walk-up Penguins tickets in 1985, and whether last year’s Stanley Cup ratings were about the matchup or about free TV. CHAPTERS 00:00 Welcome to Sports Attack 00:57 5-star review from DeusJes 02:26 Tonight’s three topics 03:17 Topic 1: Guardians lose the ALCS 16:59 Salary cap or salary floor? 17:50 Topic 2: Are fans being priced out? 29:55 Topic 3: Too many streaming apps? 38:03 Patreon perks and our Luxury Suite members 40:08 Duncan’s $1,200 night at the rink 42:12 Couch vs. stadium: the 80-inch TV question 45:15 Are corporate buyers driving up prices? 51:40 The Brewers and the Timeless Ticket 57:36 $10 Penguins tickets in 1985 59:37 Stanley Cup ratings and free TV 61:41 What’s coming up on Clear Breakaway Leave us a 5-star review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. It’s the best way to help new fans find the show, and yours might get read on the air. Get your questions answered first and vote on the third topic each week: patreon.com/clearbreakaway The Rush ($5) · Top Shelf ($10) · Luxury Suite ($25) Watch live Wednesdays at 7 p.m. ET on YouTube. Follow Bob: @BobbyMacSports #SportsAttack #ClearBreakaway #Guardians #ALCS #MLB #NHL #SportsPodcast #Columbus
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