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The Chicago Blackhawks may have made their biggest move of the offseason already.
Roman Kantserov is coming to the NHL.
The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Kantserov is set to sign an entry-level contract with the Blackhawks.
Chicago has his rights after drafting him in the second round in 2023, but Kantserov's star has only risen since then.
Playing in the KHL for Magnitogorsk Metallurg, Kantserov scored 36 goals in 63 games during the 2025-26 season to lead the league.
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Still just 21, Kantserov grew into one of the brightest stars in the second-best hockey league in the world. The last player his age to lead the KHL in goals was Kirill Kaprizov, who has since become one of the best players in the NHL for the Minnesota Wild.
The Sun-Times writes that Kantserov will likely begin the 2026-27 NHL season in the top-six forward group for the Blackhawks.
Potentially, he could play wing alongside Connor Bedard in what would be an exciting pairing of rising stars in Chicago.
This was big news for the Blackhawks on the heels of falling in the draft lottery to the fourth pick despite having the second-best odds.
Kantserov will join a quality young roster that should only keep getting better. And right when the Blackhawks needed some good news, he provided it.
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