Show Notes
Norris Trophy. Vetoed trade. Camp holdout. Retiring president. A six-player blockbuster two days before the opener. And it might not be over. Bob McElligott opens the 2026-27 season with a roundtable: Aaron Portzline of The Athletic, Michael Arace of The Disrespected, and Jeff Svoboda, formerly the Jackets Insider and now a free agent. In this episode: • Why Arace calls the Marchenko trade a coup, and why the team that gets the best player doesn't always win the deal• Jeff on Marchenko's heel turn, and the press conference that made it easier for fans and teammates to let go• Should fans boo on October 20? Rick Nash got booed. So did Sergei Fedorov.• Merzlikins gets a timeline within 24 hours of leaving• Why Toronto moved Matthew Knies, and why getting out of that pressure cooker might be the best thing for him• Emil Andrae: 5-foot-9, 195 pounds and headed for the third pair• Fantilli's six-year deal and a September that may be a watershed moment in team history• A cycling team now: size, Lomberg's mouth, and who drives play without Marchenko• Kent Johnson, Connor Garland, Cole Sillinger and the bets this team is making• "First ballot" Denton Mateychuk, and why Waddell should be walking an extension down the hall• Jet Greaves, Cam Talbot and a drama-free goalie corner• Why picking Columbus last in the Metro is insane• Opening night against Buffalo, a shootout lineup, and Knies vs. Cutter Gauthier• Valeri Nichushkin, maybe the most underrated move of the NHL offseason• A 71-year-old coach on a one-year deal, and whether there will be a captain at all• The lightning round: points, playoffs, leading scorer, Greaves' save percentage and bold predictions The Blue Jackets open Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres. Bobby Mac & Porty are back Friday.
More from Clear Breakaway
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
The Columbus Blue Jackets lost to the Toronto Maple Leafs, 6-2, at Nationwide Arena, Bob McElligott answers your questions and comments.
Bob McElligott and Aaron Portzline preview tonight's match-up between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Kirill Marchenko returns to Nationwide Arena while Matthew Knies and Emil Andrae go up against the Leafs.
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The Columbus Blue Jackets lost to the Minnesota Wild, 2-1 tonight. Bob McElligott has your postgame reactions on the Clear Breakaway Postgame Show.