Blackhawks prospect not 100% all in on Chicago arrival in 2026 season
Photo credit: NHL.com
Blackhawks prospect Roman Kantserov is playing in the KHL and hasn't 100% committed to coming to Chicago next year.
The Blackhawks took forward Roman Kantserov with the 44th pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, and he's currently playing for Metallurg Magnitogorsk in the KHL.
He is one of many young prospects in the Blackhawks system, but based on his latest comments, it sounds like he's not fully made up his mind if he'll try and make the leap to North America next year.
I'll make that decision next year. Right now, I'm focused on helping Metallurg. We have a great team and great opportunities here. But of course, if the chance comes, I'd really like to test myself over there.
So far this year with Magnitogorsk Metallurg, Kantserov has 21 points (13G, 8A) in 21 games.
Roman Kantserov Is Following Connor Bedard's Progress In Chicago
He said that he does follow Connor Bedard, who was Chicago's 1st overall pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, and communicates with the Blackahwks every 10 games or so.
Of course I follow [Connor] Bedard. They're a young team in a rebuild, but they're doing quite well. As for our communication, it's normal, professional. They know I'm in the last year of my contract, and I can feel they're showing more interest now. We have calls roughly every 10 games, go over clips, and discuss areas to improve. Still, the systems in our leagues are very different, so we mostly talk about individual skills.
He also declined an invitation for the Blackhawks development camp over the summer, considering there weren't going to be any on-ice activities.
They invited me, but I turned it down because I was in full preparation mode for the season. And there wasn't even ice at their camp-I went last year, and it was only gym work. So it didn't make much sense to go again.
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