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Roman Kantserov's KHL Tear Signals Blackhawks Future Firepower


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Sam Walker
December 22, 2025  (3:13 PM)
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Blackhawks prospect Roman Kantserov is lighting up the Kontinental Hockey League with scoring that's hard to ignore, leading the league in goals and turning heads with every shift. He's a 21-year-old Russian forward drafted 44th overall in 2023 by Chicago, and this season he's breaking out in a big way.

Kantserov has 24 goals so far, the most in the entire KHL, and he's added 17 assists for 41 points in 36 games, showing both finishing touch and playmaking flair. Over his last five games he's been unstoppable, potting five goals and adding three helpers in that stretch alone. That surge has pushed him into talk among scouts as a potential top-six NHL winger.
His size plays into the narrative about his game, listed around 5-foot-9 and 176 pounds, but critics calling him undersized look foolish when he drives to the net as relentlessly as he does. Kantserov retrieves pucks in traffic, creates dangerous chances through transition, and doesn't shy from contact even when bigger defenders are square in his path.

Roman Kantserov Dominating KHL Scoring Race

Fans in Magnitogorsk have been buzzing about Kantserov's scoring run, and Hawks followers are starting to dream about how his poise could translate to North American ice. Those who cast doubt on his size now have to rethink, because his goal production rivals league legends rather than typical prospects.
What stands out most is how he's doing it in arguably the world's second-best professional league. The KHL is stacked with seasoned vets and former NHLers, and for a teenager-turned young pro to lead in goals isn't just impressive, it's rare. Players who put up this kind of production overseas often step into the NHL ready to impact right away.
Kantserov's current KHL deal runs through this season, and all eyes are on whether he'll cross the pond for the 2026-27 NHL campaign. If this scoring pace holds, he won't be just another prospect - he'll be a player Blackhawks fans mark on their calendars every night.
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DECEMBRE 22   |   81 ANSWERS
Roman Kantserov's KHL Tear Signals Blackhawks Future Firepower

Do you think Roman Kantserov will be an NHL scorer next season?

Yes he will6276.5 %
Needs more time1113.6 %
Late bloomer00 %
Not sure yet89.9 %
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