Blackhawks land what might be the 2023 draft's biggest steal in Roman Kantserov

Chicago grabbed Kantserov 44th overall in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft in Nashville.

Back then he was fresh off a 54-point (27 goals, 27 assists) season in 45 games with Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk of the MHL.

Many questioned the pick because he stands just 5-foot-9, 176 pounds. Scouts warned size might limit his reach.

He's erased those concerns with the stick. This season with Metallurg Magnitogorsk in the KHL, Kantserov is leading the league with 21 goals and is smashing Artemi Panarin's KHL totals as a youngin'.

Kansterov has been turning heads with his KHL play all season.

His playmaking has matured, and he's proving to be among the best players outside the NHL right now.

That offensive burst comes after a 2024-25 campaign with 38 points in 47 KHL games.

Fans and analysts in Chicago should be pretty hyped right now. Kantserov plays bigger than his frame suggests, hunting rebounds, using his edges hard, and showing hunger for dirty goals that many bigger forwards shy away from. His shot is quick and accurate, his skating sharp; he isn't a one-dimensional winger, he's becoming a dual threat.

Davidson deserves credit for seeing this potential in 2023. He grabbed a forward with size concerns, yet backed up by skill, hockey IQ, and finishing ability. Kantserov's success in the KHL makes him a legitimate future asset-perhaps arriving to the NHL by 2026-27, as some reports project.

If he continues this pace, Kantserov could become a cornerstone forward for Chicago's rebuild. And that makes this pick a steal by any measure.