F Roman Kantserov - Metallurg Magnitogorsk, KHL (2023, 44th, CHI)

BKarchitect

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Oct 12, 2017
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Kansas City, MO
He’s on fire. Leads all KHL prospects in points per game…ahead of Artamonov, Gritsyuk, Buchelnikov, Demidov, etc. Bit of a smaller sample size, so we shall see if he can keep it up - Artamonov for example couldn’t quite keep up his breakneck pace from earlier in the season. But for a guy just drafted in 2023, this is pretty impressive.

Looks like a very worthy second round gamble at this point after rather quietly adapting to the men’s game in his D+1. One more year after this one on his contract in Russia sound about perfect, although I’d wager if he was available to comer over for next fall, the Hawks would gladly have him in Rockford.
 

Petes2424

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Aug 4, 2005
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Have always loved how he explodes offensively. Just hits you in the mouth when you least expect it. On draft night, I thought he had a good chance if one thing happened, and it just hasn’t happened.

If he had a major growth spurt vertically. Unfortunately he’s still 5’9” and that might be pushing it. As thick as he looks, he’s still only 177lbs.

So we all know the concerns. There’s not one thing that will make him any different than any other small, power player.

We just won’t know, until he puts on an NHL sweater and plays NHL games. There’s no marinating in the KHL or AHL for him. He’s much more the older school Brenden Gallagher, than he is Cole Caufield. There’s 50 of him right now, playing really well in other pro leagues. Just not in the league that counts. Those guys don’t play in leagues against 6’5” monsters, who can skate. Let alone 6’4” bottom six wingers who can skate, trying to snuff you out.

All the signs point against him.

I’ve always loved Kantserov’s game. They drafted him, knowing they were getting exactly what we’re seeing. The problem is, they also drafted him, praying he has that growth spurt.

So like I said, good chance at some point he comes over and gives it a try. The odds are firmly against him though. He’s just not sneaky quick enough to keep his nose clean. He’s gonna get hit playing the game he does. Hit by freight trains.

That’s when we’ll know if he can handle playing in the NHL.
 
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EbonyRaptor

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Jul 10, 2009
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Have always loved how he explodes offensively. Just hits you in the mouth when you least expect it. On draft night, I thought he had a good chance if one thing happened, and it just hasn’t happened.

If he had a major growth spurt vertically. Unfortunately he’s still 5’9” and that might be pushing it. As thick as he looks, he’s still only 177lbs.

So we all know the concerns. There’s not one thing that will make him any different than any other small, power player.

We just won’t know, until he puts on an NHL sweater and plays NHL games. There’s no marinating in the KHL or AHL for him. He’s much more the older school Brenden Gallagher, than he is Cole Caufield. There’s 50 of him right now, playing really well in other pro leagues. Just not in the league that counts. Those guys don’t play in leagues against 6’5” monsters, who can skate. Let alone 6’4” bottom six wingers who can skate, trying to snuff you out.

All the signs point against him.

I’ve always loved Kantserov’s game. They drafted him, knowing they were getting exactly what we’re seeing. The problem is, they also drafted him, praying he has that growth spurt.

So like I said, good chance at some point he comes over and gives it a try. The odds are firmly against him though. He’s just not sneaky quick enough to keep his nose clean. He’s gonna get hit playing the game he does. Hit by freight trains.

That’s when we’ll know if he can handle playing in the NHL.

I beg to differ. He has exceptional quickness. He's recently been elevated to the top PK unit where his quickness plays very well,
 

Flynn84

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Apr 27, 2006
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The problem is, they also drafted him, praying he has that growth spurt.
How the hell do you know that.

I don't know if we could trust your reports on russian prospects, after you said that both Demidov and Buchelnikov(!) are natural centers. Demidov at least have been tried as a center in the previous season
 
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Fantomas

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Aug 7, 2012
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How the hell do you know that.

I don't know if we could trust your reports on russian prospects, after you said that both Demidov and Buchelnikov(!) are natural centers. Demidov at least have been tried as a center in the previous season

When the really nitpicky criticisms come, that's how you know a prospect has truly emerged.
 

kmwtrucks

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Mar 11, 2014
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Size is an issue if u lack strength and speed. Kantersov has both. In 2 years he is probably 5-10. 185. Yes 6-2 205 is better, He is same size as bedard. The Hawks issue will be they may end up with too many undersized players.
 

EbonyRaptor

Registered User
Jul 10, 2009
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I watch a few games and size is not an issue in the KHL, very impresive to dominate lime this as a 19-20 year old, first liner etc...Can't wait to see what he can do in north america. I think he can be really good, should have been drafted in the first round.

Kantserov has a teammate on Magnitogorsk named Danila Yurov who was a 1st round draft pick of the Minnesota Wild in 2022 (#24) - so he was drafted the year before Kantserov was drafted by the Hawks in the 2nd round (#44). The profiles between the two players are more different than alike. Yurov is 6'1" and plays center whereas Kantserov is 5'9" and plays wing. Yurov is generally thought to be in the top-5 of the Wild's prospect pool and Kantserov is inching his way toward top-5 status in the Hawks prospect pool.

I've watched a lot of Magnitogorsk games the last 2 seasons so I've seen both players play a lot. Yurov is a fine player who will probably be top-6 player for the Wild in the next couple years. In my opinion Kantserov affects the game more than Yurov and is the better player even while being smaller and a year younger.

Makes me think Kantserov was worthy of a 1st round grade.
 

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