Kantserov signed his three-year entry-level contract with the Chicago Blackhawks in May 2025. His contract with carries a $1.07M cap hit and runs through the 2028-29 season.

Kantserov has continued to strengthen his case as one of Chicago’s most intriguing fantasy prospects, producing at a top-10 scoring pace in the KHL and showing that his offense is not just age-relative noise, but legitimate high-end production in one of the world’s best leagues. His fantasy appeal starts with his processing speed, skill, and ability to create in tight spaces, but what makes him even more compelling is how competitive and translatable his game looks despite his smaller frame. Tracking data points to strong puck battle results, loose puck recoveries, and better-than-expected physical engagement, which helps ease concerns about whether his game will hold up against tougher competition. He still carries some risk because of his size, but the combination of KHL production, motor, and improving two-way detail gives him legitimate top-six upside and makes him a prospect dynasty managers should be valuing aggressively.

Blackhawks vs Lightning game preview

The final straw for me was last night when Jeff Blashill threw 29-year-old Dillon Boucher out for a shift with Connor Bedard and Roman Kantserov. Boucher is often a healthy scratch in the AHL.

This team has issues scoring, why not put Anton Frondell up there to spark something? Frank Nazar? Hell, even Ryan Donato would be a better option.

The Hawks’ have two more games (Tampa tonight and Carolina on Sunday) before heading back home for a four day break. If the Blackhawks lose these next two games and fall to 4-13-1, letting Jeff Blashill go is the likely outcome in my opinion.

One question needs to be answered, is it a coaching issue or a talent issue? Firing Blashill and hiring someone new will likely answer that question. The only thing we know for certain right now is that Blashill doesn’t work with this team.

Blackhawks projected lines

Kantserov – Bedard – Bertuzzi

Blackhawks vs Panthers game preview

Jeff Blashill mixed up the lines slightly again ahead of today’s game. Tyler Bertuzzi gets promoted to the top line with Connor Bedard and Roman Kantserov. Bertuzzi has been one of the Blackhawks’ most disappointing, unengaged players so far this season. I understand that Patrick Kane is out, but rewarding Bertuzzi is an interesting decision.

Anton Frondell needs to play with Connor Bedard

As a result of spreading out Bedard, Nazar, and Roman Kantserov, depth players like Ryan Donato and Andrew Mangiapane find themselves in the top-six. No disrespect to those players, but they are not top -six caliber players. This team is filled with speed and skill, why not use it?

Today, for example, Frondell centered Tyler Bertuzzi and Andrew Mangiapane. Bertuzzi has looked disengaged and slow this season, and Mangiapane is a fringe roster player. Despite his linemates, Frondell played one of his best NHL games, notching two goals and nine shots on goal.

The struggle with Frondell this year has been getting his offense going. What better way to get him going then playing him with Connor Bedard?

Small sample looks good

Frondell has only played on Bedard’s wing three times, in his first three NHL games. Keeping in mind the acclimation process, Frondell looked pretty good next to the captain. He notched one goal and one assist in those three games.

Fast forward to this year, until today, Frondell and Bedard hadn’t played together in any situation. Not at 5-on-5, not on the powerplay, not in overtime, not at any point. However, with Bowen Byram and Teuvo Teravainen out today, Frondell got bumped up to the top powerplay unit.

It didn’t take long for Frondell to show why he needs to play with the big boys. He was set up for a beautiful one timer by Patrick Kane, Bedard was credited with the secondary assist.

The Blackhawks need a large, scoring winger

A few days ago, Blackhawks’ insider Frank Seravalli announced that that GM Kyle Davidson is on the hunt for a shoot-first winger with size. My first thought was Anton Frondell.

Frondell is 6″1′ and has a cannon of a shot. As of now, Frondell is the Blackhawks best defensive center, so removing him from that second line center spot would just result in another hole for Blashill to fill.

Lines with Frondell on the wing

Frondell – Bedard – Kantserov

Moore – Nazar – Kane

Bertuzzi – Donato – Mangiapane/Teravainen

Smith – Greene – Greenway

The line of Oliver Moore, Frank Nazar, and Patrick Kane has been solid in two of the three games they have played together, so keeping them together is a no brainer.

These lines also give Bedard two of most talented wingers he’s every played with in Frondell and Kantserov.

Blackhawks get much needed win over Kings, here are my takeaways

They would strike 11 seconds into the second powerplay. Roman Kantserov buried a chance in tight, set up by Bedard who is now up to six points in six games.

Kantserov now has five goals and five points in 12 games and is on pace for 35 goals. He also leads all rookies in goals.

The BIackhawks’ have a lot of problems, but is it time for a coaching change?

The Blackhawks have so much skill, as evident by Connor Bedard, Anton Frondell, Patrick Kane, and Roman Kantserov. On paper, the supporting cast should be effective with guys like Tyler Bertuzzi, Frank Nazar, and Teuvo Teravainen. But it just doesn’t translate to offense.

The Blackhawks have scored only 22 goals in 10 games (5th last in NHL), and they have allowed 40 (2nd last in NHL). This is a recipe for a 3-7-0 record.

The most noticeable issue to is the lack of size. The Blackhawks top six has an average height of 5″11′. When you play a dump and chase, hard forechecking, puck retrieval style of hockey, it’s hard to be effective. As an example; the F1 (forward 1 – first man in) on the first line is Roman Kantserov. Kantserov is 5″9′, he doesn’t necessarily play like it, but he is still a lot smaller than every guy he is battling for pucks with.

Following Kantserov is Bedard and Kane, two guys who aren’t known for their forechecking. Last night against Montreal, the Blackhawks top line was attacking off the rush, and it was a very effective change. So why don’t they do it more often?

The Blackhawks’ have four solid lines, but there is still one big issue

We have seen three games with Connor Bedard, Roman Kantserov, and Patrick Kane as the top line. The offensive ability is clearly there when they have sustained offensive zone pressure. The key is getting control of the puck in the offensive zone. At 5-on-5, the top line has a shot attempt differential of -15 (28-43). Due to the lack of size and two-way ability, they get hemmed in their own end a lot. When they do the puck out, the dump and chase system isn’t ideal.

Roman Kantserov is the puck retriever on that line. While he does play a bigger game than his 5-foot-9 stature may suggest, he can’t do it all himself. The next man in is Connor Bedard, because you’re not gonna see Patrick Kane forechecking very effectively. While Bedard has improved in this area, he also isn’t the guy you want retrieving pucks.

Blackhawks’ rookies are stepping up in a big way

After last nights 5-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, Blackhawks’ rookies Roman Kantserov and Anton Frondell lead all NHL rookies in goals and points.

Kantserov has found his groove

Kantserov potted his second and third goals of the season last night, he now leads all rookies in that category (tied with Trevor Connolly of the Vegas Golden Knights).

It took Kantserov a few games to get on the score sheet, but it wasn’t for lack of effort or poor play. Kantserov is small, only 5’9″, but he plays a hard nosed style of hockey. Putting Kantserov next to the right linemates is important, and it seems Connor Bedard and Patrick Kane are the right ones.

Both of Kantserov’s goals were scored in areas he thrives, the bumper spot on the powerplay, and in the blue paint at 5-on-5. Kane and Bedard both draw so much of the defending team’s attention when they have the puck, leaving Kantserov free to find the open ice.

This isn’t something new for Kantserov to learn either. In Russia, Kantserov played the bumper role on the powerplay very effectively, he also scored most of his 5-on-5 goals from the slot or in front of the net. His speed and willingness to battle low for pucks, combined with his ability to score in tight make him the perfect linemate for a player like Bedard.

Kantserov was brought over to Chicago to be a top-six contributor. It took him a few games, but it seems he is up for the task.

Anton Frondell’s two-way brilliance

Anton Frondell had two assists last night and is now the stand alone leader in rookie points with six, followed closely by Gavin McKenna of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Combined with his 12 games last year, Frondell now has 15 points in 19 career games. He looks to be exactly as advertised when he was taken third overall in 2025.

Frondell’s brilliance is a little more subtle than Kantserov’s. What makes Frondell so effective isn’t just his production, it’s his two-way game that is the silent killer.

At 19-years old and with only 18 games under his belt, Frondell was given the task of shutting down Sidney Crosby’s line at 5-on-5. A task that most veterans struggle to do. More importantly, it shows how much trust Jeff Blashill has in the young center.

Frondell played a total of 10:10 vs the Crosby line at 5v5, where had a two assists and won 11/18 draws (61%). Granted, he was on the ice for both of Crosby’s goals, but so was Crosby for Frondell’s assists. To come away even, with the edge in faceoffs against one of the greatest players of all time is very promising. Hopefully this is a sign of what’s to come for Frondell.

The future is bright in Chicago

Adding two young top six contributors to this Blackhawks lineup was a boost they desperately needed. Frondell and Kantserov are both expected to be key pieces of this rebuild, and so far, they are living up to expectations.

Don’t Write Off Connor Bedard Just Yet

First overall picks in any sport, they usually enter situations that are not ideal, but for Bedard it was worse than most. The thing is, at least for most of these players, the roster, more specifically, their linemates improved drastically over 3 seasons. For Connor, he is finally seeing some type of improvement in year 4. To give some perspective in the first 3 years of their careers, Connor McDavid and Macklin Celebrini both had similar expectations as Bedard, and some of their most common linemates included Benoit Pouliot, Jordan Eberle, Patrick Maroon, and Leon Draisaitl for McDavid and Tyler Toffoli, William Eklund, Colin Graf, and Will Smith for Celebrini. Many of those players have prior or future All-Star Talent. Bedard’s most common linemates in 3 seasons include the likes of Nick Foligno, Philip Kurashev, Ryan Donato, Ilya Mikheyev, Andre Burakovsky, and Ryan Greene. No disrespect to any of Bedard’s linemates, but there’s a clear discrepancy. Good News for Bedard: two new additions to the Blackhawks lineup have made their way on his wings as the Hawks’ projected first line. Roman Kantserov, a fellow 2023 draftee who led the KHL in goals last season and a Franchise Icon who won 3 Stanley Cups with the Dynasty Hawks in the 2010’s Adding a Hart and Art Ross in his first stint with Chicago. Patrick Kane, who has 3 straight seasons of being on pace for nearly 70 points for the Detroit Red Wings. These linemates alone should improve Connor’s as well as the entire team’s production.

Blackhawks assign Nick Lardis to Rockford

With Bedard returning, the Blackhawks now have a established top six. Tyler Bertuzzi, Patrick Kane, Frank Nazar, Anton Frondell, and Roman Kantserov.

Connor Bedard takes a big step towards returning to the lineup

There has been a lot of speculation about whether or not Bedard will play with Patrick Kane. If today’s practice lines are any indicator, it looks like Bedard will be centering Kane and Roman Kantserov.

Blackhawks vs Hurricanes game preview

Roman Kantserov has an underwhelming zero points in his first five games this season, leaving fans wanting more. Kantserov was expected to be a top six contributor upon arrival this season.

Jeff Blashill came to the young Russian’s defense this morning “I don’t believe in small sample sizes, if he keeps doing what he is doing he is going to have plenty of points in this league.” (Via CHGO Blackhawks)

Kantserov has done the little things right, and at times has been very noticeable with his speed and physicality. The change from the KHL to the NHL is a big one and it may take time for Kantserov to find his best game.

Blackhawks vs Islanders game preview

Oliver Moore is back on the top line with Nazar and Kane, he played there in game one vs Vegas. Roman Kantserov gets bumped back down to the second line with Anton Frondell and Tyler Bertuzzi in place of Teravainen.

Kantserov has struggled to get much going offensively in the first four games of the season, although you can see the chemistry developing between him and Kane. Hopefully slotting him in with a red hot Frondell can help spark some offense.

Kantserov is someone who has high expectations and is expected to be a top six contributor upon arrival, getting him going would be a big boost for the Hawks.

Kantserov continues to be one of the KHL’s most productive young forwards, leading all players under 25 in scoring. He’s relentless on puck retrievals, drives play through the middle of the ice, and consistently creates offense in high-danger areas. This season, his playmaking has taken another step, he is not just finishing plays but generating them. Kantserov thrives in transition, rarely wasting possessions, and has shown he can drive a line against pros. Chicago’s system is loaded with young talent, but few blend vision, tempo, and creativity like him. If his size doesn’t limit even-strength usage, he projects as a top-six forward with power-play upside which suggests a real long-term fantasy option who can make an NHL impact within a top-six role.

Kantserov has been showing a lot of promise up in the KHL, proving he can hang with the big boys. During the 2024-25 season, he produced 38 points in 47 games and earned a KHL Forward of the Week nod in March; he is putting himself on the radar in a big way. The Blackhawks will have to work to get him over to North America, but if they do, they might have a sneaky-good offensive weapon on their hands.

Kantserov parlayed a strong and productive KHL playoff into a red-hot start to his season (13 points in 23 games, helping his team win the Gagarin Cup). Things began late for Kantserov, as he was sidelined with a preseason injury. But when he did return, he made a huge splash and is rocketing up the scoring list with 15 points in 17 games. As a point of comparison, his teammate, who is more highly touted as a prospect, Daniil Yurov, has 16 in 29! Kantserov’s size (5-9) still leaves questions about an NHL career, but he has sneaky-good offensive upside and could be one to stash in keepers. –

Kantserov was selected 44th overall by the Blackhawks.

Kantserov took a lot of time to warm up to the DobberProspects scouting team. He was off to a slow start, but before the end of the season, he had turned some interesting individual tools into an exciting package of skills. He finished his MHL campaign with an even split of 27 goals and assists for 54 points in 45 games for Magnitogorsk’s MHL side, and even appeared in one KHL game.

A lot of what Kantserov does, he does at his highest possible speed. He loves to rush down the flanks and circle the net with the puck out of transitions, almost to a fault. At the start of the year, it was pretty egregious; I don’t think I saw him cut back a single time with the puck. It was always full steam ahead with Kantserov. As the season went on, it seemed like Kantserov caught on to what works better – he started cutting back with the puck, lifting his eyes off the puck to scan the ice, and that’s when flashes of playmaking became consistent staples of his game. He started hitting tough seams more often, using his hands and feet to get to the middle, and getting shots on goal from more and more dangerous spots. Overall, Kantserov needs a lot of work in refining his game, but the progression throughout the year makes him an alluring prospect to take a shot on in the mid rounds.