2026 Blackhawks Top 25 Under 25: Roman Kantserov soars to No. 4

The 2026 version of Second City Hockey’s Top 25 Under 25 rankings continues with our Top 10, which will contain a lengthier breakdown of each individual who made it into that group.

Roman Kantserov

Position: Center/Winger

Age: 21 (Sept 20, 2004)

Acquired via: Second-round pick (44th overall) in 2023 NHL Draft

2025-26 team : Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)

2025-26 stats: 64 points (36 G, 28 A) in 63 regular season games; eight points (4 G, 4 A) in 14 playoff games

Size: 5-foot-9, 176 pounds

Contract: Three-year, $1,075,000 AAV (entry-level contract)

Rankings: 3 (Eric), 4 (LBR, SCH), 5 (Dave)

Last T25U25 ranking: No. 4, up three spots

The Blackhawks made everything officially official with Kantserov last May, signing him to a three-year, entry-level deal after Kantserov\'s record-breaking KHL season:

it's officially official, everyone say 'hi Roman!!'

📰 ➡︎ https://t.co/XrjmtE7mLT pic.twitter.com/fsdbK88vDV

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) May 14, 2026

Kantserov was selected in the second round (44th overall) in the 2023 NHL draft, then spent the following three seasons in the KHL, where he quickly (and somewhat unexpectedly) developed into one of that league\'s premier playmakers and scorers. After scoring 15 points (8 G, 7 A) in 53 games in 2023-24, then 38 points (13 G, 25 A) in 47 games in 2024-25, Kantserov exploded for 64 points (36 G, 28 A) in 63 games last season. To put his regular season stats into context: his 36 goals and 64 points were both the highest totals ever recorded in the KHL by a player age 23 or younger, and he became the first 21-year-old to lead the league in goals since Kirill Kaprizov in 2019.

One of the most encouraging aspects of Kantserov\'s historic year isn\'t just the sheer number of points he scored, but moreso the way in which he went about accruing them. Kantserov is a player who can simply score from anywhere . Despite the fact he\'s only 5-foot-9, Kantserov plays with a relentless, attacking style. He has a high motor that he blends perfectly with skill, creativity, and top-notch playmaking instincts which allow him to create consistent offense for both himself and his teammates:

https://youtu.be/Lx79Aays_SQ?si=fAI_XDYzUkgfLKyK

The major questions surrounding Kantserov once he signed were where he\'d play, and who\'d be his linemates. Kyle Davidson seemed to answer that earlier this summer by stating Kantserov would start the season on the top line with Connor Bedard (which feels like an odd thing for a GM to announce before his coach has even had a chance to start next season\'s practices, but Kyle does a whole lot of things that don\'t make too much sense to me these days), but then Bedard injured his shoulder in July, had surgery, and now isn\'t expected back until possibly November. Scott Powers made some waves earlier last week when he dropped some new info regarding what he\'s heard of the Blackhawks plans to utilize Kantserov:

“I think he’s [Roman Kantserov] going to start as the #1 Center from the little whispers I’ve heard. I think he’s going to play with [Patrick] Kane to start the season. It’s not definitive but there’s a good chance he plays center.”

- @ByScottPowers

Link: https://t.co/0MwAbNDuc4

— Chicago Prospects (@Chi_Prospects) September 1, 2026

Though Kantserov sounds as excited as anyone about the possibility of playing with Patrick Kane:

Roman Kantserov: “Right now, Connor has the injury. It's sad news. But Chicago signed Patrick Kane. The legend has come back. It's awesome.”

“He's the greatest American player, all-time scorer, and this is a very good opportunity to play with him. Of course, if we play together… pic.twitter.com/JHXR8jTf18

— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) July 29, 2026

While the idea of Kantserov beginning his NHL career as the Blackhawks\' top-line center may have sounded ridiculous just a few weeks ago, it might just be Chicago\'s best option to try and compensate for the loss of Bedard until the latter is ready to return. As a center, Kantserov will influence play far more through the middle of the ice, and he spent all last season showing just how dangerous he can be when he does. Kantserov drives offense with pace, skill, and constant movement. He attacks defenders one-on-one, changes angles well off the rush, and possesses the kind of skating and edgework that immediately jumps off the screen. He looks like he’s actively trying to create something dangerous every shift instead of simply playing within structure and waiting for offense to happen around him.

Our Top 30 NHL Affiliate Prospects

19 - Roman Kantserov

Kantserov is a relentless, highly energetic player, he plays at an extremely fast pace and maintains it. He is a fast, smart and very creative player that create offence from any situation. He has a quick, snappy shot, he… pic.twitter.com/4qrJtp6kVe

— IceMetrix (@IceMetrix) July 25, 2026

Another benefit on Kantserov starting his career off at center would be that it could help neutralize the \"Patrick Kane Effect\", wherein younger, less experienced, or oftentimes less talented linemates consistently defer to Kane in the offensive zone, or stand around and wait for him to make the initial read/play. We\'ve seen Kane elevate lesser linemates before (and I\'m sure we\'ll see plenty more of it this season), but Kantserov has the type of elite offensive instincts that should compliment Kane instead of relying on him. As a center, Kantserov will dictate play as the Blackhawks on-ice quarterback by attempting to control the middle of the ice in all three zones, winning faceoffs, linking defense to offense, distributing the puck, and anchoring both defensive slot coverage and high-slot offensive pressure.

Kantserov also figures to help reinforce/reinvigorate the Hawk\'s top power-play unit, and Scott Kennedy wrote a great breakdown for us earlier this summer about what exactly that might look like (and bear in mind this is before Kane was added to the roster as well):

https://www.secondcityhockey.com/where-would-roman-kantserovs-skills-fit-on-the-blackhawks-power-play/

Kantserov has the highest offensive upside of any player currently in the Blackhawks organization outside of Bedard, and there are so many dynamic qualities to his game that should translate to the NHL. He\'s a threat from everywhere in the offensive zone -- whether that\'s as a shooter or a passer, from the slot or on the perimeter -- while also being an incredibly hard worker who\'s built up an impressive cache of transferable habits and skills that allow him to compete with (and often beat) players that are bigger or stronger than him. He\'s a menace in and around the net, he reads the game at an incredibly high level, he\'ll help transform the Blackhawks\' top power play unit, and he could very well start the season (and his NHL career) as the No. 1 center with Kane on his wing. When you watch Kantserov play, there\'s purpose behind every decision that he makes, and every movement that he takes. He\'s a complete player whose processing and awareness is off the charts, and the sky\'s the limit for the type of offensive player he can become.

2026 Blackhawks Top 25 Under 25 list (so far): No. 5: Wyatt Kaiser No. 6: Sam Rinzel No. 7: Artyom Levshunov No. 8: Nick Lardis No. 9: Oliver Moore No. 10: Kevin Korchinski Nos. 11-15: Greene, Nestrasil, Villeneuve, Commesso, Vanacker Nos. 16-20: Boisvert, Behm, Roobroeck, West, Mustard Nos. 21-25: Del Mastro, Gajan, Spellacy, Slaggert, Alalauri Honorable Mention: Samuel Savoie

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