Roman Kantserov seems ready for run at center with the Blackhawks

I have a feeling Roman Kantserov is someone we will be writing about a lot this season... so let's start now.

The Chicago Blackhawks love his potential. Since the first day of training camp, the Blackhawks have had him on the top line with Patrick Kane and have even switched his position around.

This will be his first NHL season coming from the KHL, but he looks prepared and is one of many Blackhawks players to watch this season.

What the Blackhawks have seen from Kantserov

The scouting report on Kantserov before he came to the NHL was enough to pique interest because he was the KHL's leading goal-scorer (36 goals in 64 games).

It's easy to get caught up in just the goals. But head coach Jeff Blashill saw more: "I watched him a lot on tape, and I think on tape, he showed a real high hockey IQ. I really like his kind of efficient skill, simple skill. Things like sauce passes ending up flat right on the tape, stuff like that, and then a really good release on his shot. So all those things kind of lead you to think, okay, he can produce offense. Really, really good two-way player. I read somebody's article questioning his defense... like, he plays a 100 percent complete game today. So that's a huge advantage for him because when guys come in and they're super high-skilled, but they don't play a 200-foot game, the coach's job is to train them to play a 200-foot game. And in that process, they usually struggle, to be honest with you.

"He doesn't need to be trained to play a 200-foot game. He already does. So all those things kind of pointed to me, like he has a chance to come in here and be a real solid player. I would say the one question you have when you watch on tape is pace. Not necessarily just skating, but just pace. And his pace seems really good. It seems fine. So, what that means, I have no idea. It's one day in training camp, but I think he's got a chance to be a real good player. I think he's got a lot of really good qualities that can help you win hockey games. I think he's got offensive ability, but without cheating for offense, and those are the kind of guys you need to win."

During the preseason, Kantserov had two points in three games, and the one goal he scored was a power-play goal, which brings more skill to the man-advantage.

Kantserov's early looks at center to start the season

On the other side of his potential, he is now playing center. Blashill decided to try him at center in the Blackhawks' final preseason game against the St. Louis Blues on Sept. 26, in case they want to use him there down the road.

Kantserov held his own, winning 64% of his draws. Blashill said postgame, "I thought he did good, actually. I thought he played well in that spot. I think Kantserov is just a really good player, and whether it's the wing or middle... what he showed me tonight is it doesn't really matter one way or the other, and that's what I thought when I watched him on tape. I don't think one of the two positions necessarily dictates the success he's going to have. He's just such a smart hockey player that I think he can do either, and he's very accountable defensively."

Blashill is keeping him in the middle with Patrick Kane and Oliver Moore on the wings to start the season against the Vegas Golden Knights on Sept. 29.

Kantserov has seen a lot of change in a short amount of time, yet by listening to him talk, he doesn't come off as rattled. He comes off as poised and prepared.

How Kantserov is embracing new responsibilities

The Blackhawks are missing such a vital piece and top-six talent with Connor Bedard out. But in the meantime, Kantserov seems to be embracing the big roles he is getting.

He said heading into the first game of the season on Sept. 29, "It's interesting because, like (for) two games, I played winger. The last game of preseason, (I) played like center/forward, and yeah, maybe it was better for coach. Maybe he saw something, but yeah, for me it's also great experience, and it's not like a pressure, but it's the biggest responsibility. I need to take this opportunity, you know."

It says a lot about a player if a head coach places that much trust in them quickly, and during the preseason, he has given Blashill no reason not to.

Obviously, 22 year old Kantserov has a whole season ahead of him, and he will be learning a lot along the way. But he and the Blackhawks are eager to see what he will do when it counts, and it starts tonight in Vegas.

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