The Chicago Blackhawks have signed forward Roman Kantserov to a three-year entry-level contract, with an average annual value of $1.075 million, the team announced Thursday.
Kantserov, 21, led the KHL with 36 goals and 64 points in 63 games with Metallurg Magnitogorsk - both totals were KHL records for players under the age of 22.
Kantserov was the first 21-year-old player to lead the league in goals since Minnesota Wild superstar Kirill Kaprizov did so in the 2018-19 season.
He tallied four goals and eight points in 15 games in the playoffs and represented Magnitogorsk at the 2026 KHL All-Star game.
Now, Kantserov, who was selected in the second round (44th overall) of the 2023 NHL Draft, will begin his career in North America, starting in the 2026-27 campaign.
“I think it’s also something that, call it as it is, comes with the territory when you’re taking a player out of a top league like that, where there’s probably some earning potential,” Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson said Thursday, per The Athletic’s Scott Powers.
“They’re coming over to play in the NHL. But having said that, everything we know and we believe and project in a player, he’s ready to play meaningful minutes in the NHL. I think what I’ve watched, my discussions with [head coach Jeff Blashill], he’s ready for a top-six spot with us out of the gate. He’s played with men. He’s produced against men. It’s not the easiest league to produce in. And so, we see him stepping in and playing a very meaningful offensive role right away.”
The Blackhawks were boosted late in the season by the arrival of forward Anton Frondell, who was the third-overall pick in last year’s draft and made his debut with the team on March 24.
Kantserov, Frondell and 22-year-old centre Frank Nazar have the potential to form a promising core of forwards along with former top pick and 2023 Calder Trophy winner Connor Bedard, who set career highs in goals (30), assists (45) and points (75) last season.
