Top KHL Scorer And Blackhawks Prospect Roman Kantserov On Bedard And Breakout
Roman Kantserov, one of the top prospects of the Chicago Blackhawks, is putting together a remarkable season in the KHL. The 21-year-old forward has scored 27 goals in 39 games – a pace that naturally invites comparisons with the NHL’s elite goal scorers. At the moment, Kantserov is the KHL’s clear top scorer. Having played at the professional level since he was 18, he remains calm about lofty comparisons and prefers to focus on work, development, and the team.
“There are a lot of players to learn from. I watch the NHL with real interest – McDavid, MacKinnon,” Kantserov said in an exclusive interview with R.org. “And the young guys too, like Celebrini and Bedard – they’re already at the top. It’s unfortunate that Connor got injured. But I believe age is not the most important thing. What matters is to keep working and improving. There’s always something to aim for.”
Shooting as a Skill
Kantserov was selected by the Blackhawks in the second round of the 2023 NHL Draft, 44th overall. He has spent his entire career with Metallurg Magnitogorsk, his hometown club (which is also the hometown of Pittsburgh Penguins star Evgeni Malkin). In 2024, he won the Gagarin Cup with Metallurg in his first KHL season.
His wrist shot has long been considered one of his main strengths, and Kantserov confirms that it is the result of consistent work rather than coincidence.
“I worked a lot on it back in junior hockey. There were times when I went on the ice one-on-one with a coach to focus specifically on shooting. I often stayed after practice – if there was free ice, I tried to get extra reps in. Before practice, I also go out for about ten minutes, shoot at one spot, sometimes help warm up the goalies. It’s a skill. For a forward, the ability to score is one of the most important things.”
At the same time, he stresses the importance of balance.
“The key is not to overdo it. There were moments when I overloaded myself, trained too much, and it had the opposite effect – fatigue built up. You have to find the right balance.”
Physical Development and the Move to Center
Over the summer, Kantserov noticeably improved physically, but he does not see it as a deliberate attempt to add bulk.
“I wouldn’t say I really bulked up my upper body. It was already quite strong. I just had a good rest, time to reset, and then work properly. It’s all connected: strength, agility, technique.”
This season, Kantserov has been playing at center – and looks as if he has always been there. The move was initiated by Metallurg head coach Andrei Razin, under whom Kantserov established himself in the KHL.
“At the first team meeting, Andrei Vladimirovich (Razin) called me over – that was on July 29. He said he saw me at center for now. From that moment, I started preparing specifically for that role.”
According to the player, adaptation took time.
“I’m getting more and more comfortable as a center now. It’s a big workload: offense, defense, faceoffs. But I’ve adapted. I have a deeper understanding of the game and a more complete picture now. I think this will be useful for me going forward.”
Chicago’s Reaction
Kantserov’s move to center did not go unnoticed within the Blackhawks organization. He stays in regular contact with club representatives, who give him feedback and discuss his game.
“I told them I was being used at center, and they were a bit surprised. Later, when Evgeny Kuznetsov was signed, they assumed I would move back to the wing. But Andrei Vladimirovich didn’t want to change something that was working, so he kept me at center. Chicago was puzzled – genuinely surprised.”
He also feels the growing attention from fans, but tries not to dwell on it.
“Fans message me on Instagram, and people sent me posts showing there’s a lot of talk on Twitter too. When you have a season like this, attention is natural. But it’s important not to focus on it and just keep working. It’s nice, but it’s part of the profession.”
Contract and Future Plans
Kantserov speaks cautiously about his future contract with Chicago. His current deal with Metallurg expires on June 1, 2026.
“To be fair, Chicago has handled this well. They don’t put pressure on me. After the draft, there was more communication, they tried to convince me to sign. But at that time, I decided to stay in Russia. Now they don’t push me, and I’m happy about that. I get ice time here, and there’s no pressure. A decision will have to be made at the end of the season, maybe a bit earlier, but I don’t want to predict anything. It’s a bad omen. Athletes have their own superstitions.”
Role Models and Reference Points
When talking about players he looks up to, Kantserov again points to the NHL.
“I watch highlights of MacKinnon and McDavid. Among the younger players, I’d mention Jack Hughes and Bedard. But MacKinnon, Eichel, Bedard – they’re right-handed. It’s not easy to adapt to them because the grip and positions are different. Overall, I focus more on myself. Among wingers, I follow Kucherov closely. I stay in touch with Yurov. And I want to wish Max Shabanov good luck – he dominated the KHL for two years. I hope everything works out for him with the Islanders, without injuries.”
Special attention is reserved for Connor Bedard, who was selected first overall by Chicago in 2023 and has already become a star.
“I’ve seen Connor – he’s a strong guy. If we ever get a chance to play together, that would be interesting. He can both shoot and pass, but he’s really about speed and his shot,” Kantserov said.