Roman Kantserov could be the 2023 draft's biggest steal for the Chicago Blackhawks: 'Bulldog mentality'

The 21-year-old winger leads the KHL with 22 goals this season, outpacing the next-highest scorer by five goals while tallying 38 points in 33 games for Metallurg Magnitogorsk.

He could very well join the Chicago Blackhawks straight from the KHL once his season concluded.

It seems like every week we're discussing Kantserov lighting it up in the KHL.

Chicago originally drafted Kantserov with the 44th overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, a second-round selection that drew little fanfare at the time.

In the MHL the year before, he delivered 54 points (27 goals, 27 assists) in 45 games, numbers that suggested scoring flair, but not necessarily a sure path to dominance.

This year's surge shows he's adapted, refined his shot, and embraced a gritty net-front game.

According to Hawks assistant GM Mark Eaton, Kantserov blends «skill» with a «bulldog mentality,» driving to tough areas, getting to the net, and finishing - including several tip-in goals.

His KHL dominance and consistent scoring have vaulted Kantserov among Chicago's top young forwards. He now ranks among the organization's top five forward prospects, showing why critics in 2023 might have misjudged him.

Many evaluators back then saw him as a lower-tier pick.

That shift feels earned. Fans hoping for value picks can now point to Kantserov as a rare win: smallish, previously overlooked, but suddenly one of the most dynamic offensive threats in Europe.

If he lands in Chicago for the 2026-27 season as expected, or even earlier this season, he could challenge for top-six ice time and will likely line up beside Connor Bedard.

For a team rebuilding on youth and upside, Kantserov might prove to be the smartest mid-round decision in recent drafts. That's a steal in any era.