The Blackhawks are entering the season with a center puzzle, and Roman Kantserov has suddenly become part of the answer.
Chicago will be without Connor Bedard for roughly the first month of the season, though the expectation is that he could be back sooner rather than later. Until then, the Blackhawks need to keep things afloat and piece together the middle of the ice in Bedard’s absence.
There are a few familiar names in the mix. Frank Nazar, Anton Frondell, Oliver Moore, and Ryan Greene all can line up at center or on the wing, which gives Chicago some flexibility but not exactly a clean solution. Now Kantserov is getting a look there too, even though he arrived with the reputation of a pure scoring winger from Russia.
That part is a little surprising, but it makes sense given what he just did. As a rookie pro, Kantserov led the KHL in goals last season. That is no small feat in a league that plays elite hockey, and it’s a big reason the Blackhawks are willing to test his versatility.
The idea is simple enough: if Kantserov can handle center at times, he could help bridge the gap until Bedard returns, possibly even on the top line. And if he does it without dulling the scoring touch that made him stand out in the first place, that’s a major win for Chicago.
Patrick Kane could be a helpful piece of that setup as well. Whether Kantserov is down the middle or on the wing, Kane would give him a smart, experienced playmaker who has a long track record of feeding young goal scorers in dangerous areas. Artemi Panarin and Alex DeBrincat are the obvious examples, and while Kane is older now, his hockey sense still plays.
Once Bedard is back, the Blackhawks may have another decision to make. If Frondell and Nazar both look comfortable at center, Kantserov could remain on the top line, just in a wing role. The long-term answer probably isn’t center for him, but Chicago is going to find out during training camp and the preseason whether that door should stay open.
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Connor Bedard's Return Brings One Big Blackhawks Question
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For Chicago, the sight of Bedard moving around again is encouraging, especially with training camp approaching, but it also leaves the most important question hanging. The Blackhawks have not offered an official update on whether he has been cleared for camp work or contact, and until that changes, his exact status remains the thing everyone around the team is waiting to hear. [Read more 🡒]
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Blackhawks Suddenly Have A Real Goalie Battle Brewing
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For a team still trying to sort out its crease, that matters. Chicagos front office has already shown it believes Commesso can grow into a bigger role, and the next step is getting him into the mix for the backup job as camp approaches. The experience is still limited, but the opportunity is there now, and this is the kind of internal battle that can change a goalies trajectory quickly if he keeps building on what he has already shown. [Read more 🡒]