Could Roman Kantserov follow in Artemi Panarin’s footsteps?

With the NHL pre-season starting on Saturday and the regular season on the 29th, the long wait for Roman Kantserov in Chicago is almost over. The 21-year-old second-round pick from 2023 is coming off an electric season in the KHL, and hopes to carry that momentum into North America.

The last 20-something-year-old Russian prospect the Blackhawks had come over to the NHL after a great season in the KHL was Artemi Panarin, and he turned out to be a pretty good player.

Kantserov will have the same opportunity as Panarin

It’s not hard to see the similarities between Panarin and Kantserov. Panarin was a 24-year-old coming out of the KHL, where he dominated, scoring 62 points in 54 games. The Russian-born winger joined a Chicago Blackhawks team that was still trying to compete after three Stanley Cups and an aging core.

Panarin was joined at the hip with Patrick Kane throughout his rookie season. He put up 77 points in 80 games and helped push the Blackhawks into the playoffs. Kantserov will have the same opportunity to help the Blackhawks push for a playoff spot. This time, however, Kantserov hopes it is the start of consistent success, rather than the end of a dynasty. 

Kantserov is a 21-year-old center (who is also comfortable on the wing) who led the KHL in goals (36) and had 64 points in 63 games last season. The Blackhawks have been unofficially skating together before camp opens on Thursday; who has Kantserov been paired with? Patrick Kane. The consensus before training camp is that Kantserov will play with Kane and Frank Nazar to open the season; however, things could change between now and opening night in Vegas on September 29th. 

Kantserov is a dynamic, two-way forward with the ability to score both off the rush and in front of the net. He is undersized, standing at only 5’9”, but he doesn’t let that dictate his play. Kantserov plays a large game, throwing open-ice hits, creating space in front of the net, and winning puck battles along the wall. What makes the idea of Kane and Kantserov playing together so exciting is Kantserov’s ability to find open ice in high danger areas. Kane is still an elite playmaker who thrives off finding the open man in the offensive zone. This is why Kane is still effective at 38 years old. Hockey IQ doesn’t vanish with age as foot speed does.  

Panarin and Kane had an on-ice connection so magical, that Blackhawks fans still reminisce about it today. Like Panarin, Kantserov is a goal scorer.

However, saying Kantserov will score 30 goals in his rookie season like Panarin did is a very high expectation, but if he can prove to be a top-six caliber player upon his arrival in the NHL, he will be given every opportunity to succeed and potentially end up as a Calder Trophy nominee. 

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