The biggest surprise at Blackhawks training camp isn’t Connor Bedard, it’s Roman Kantserov. The Athletic reports the rookie could start the season at center instead of on the wing, which flips the script on how the team plans to use its new talent. We’re about to see if this works or if it’s just a camp experiment.
Training camp kicks off next week for the 2026-2027 season. Frank Nazar is the obvious choice for the top line since he’s been practicing with Patrick Kane all summer, but the real question is where Kantserov fits. The assumption was that he’d play the wing, yet reports suggest he could take the center spot. It’s a shift that forces the coaching staff to rethink the entire forward group.
Kantserov’s Unexpected Role
Roman Kantserov has no history with the Blackhawks organization, so this is his first time in camp and he’s likely to get a major role right away. He scored 36 goals in 63 games last season in the KHL, a production level that makes him ready for the NHL. If he plays center, it changes the whole lineup. According to Scott Powers of The Athletic, he might begin the season playing center, which is a big deal because it means the team trusts him to run the offense. Unofficial practices have shown him skating alongside Kane and Nazar, leading to the obvious question: could this be a sneak preview of the first line?
Even if Kantserov takes the center spot, Nazar is still a key player who needs to prove he deserves the job in camp. Frank Nazar was the only player chosen for the NHL media tour in Las Vegas, making him the favorite to fill Connor Bedard’s spot while Bedard misses the start of the season due to surgery. Nazar has chemistry with Kane, so he’s got a head start, but the ball is in his court to show he belongs. Expect him to battle hard for the starting spot at center and impress coaches to keep it, because the team has plenty of options now. Coach Jeff Blashill has choices to make, and the competition is heating up.
Frondell’s Place in the Mix
Anton Frondell is another young player to watch, especially since he was the third overall pick in 2025. NHL.com ranked him as the third-best prospect in the league, and he should be one of the most impactful rookies. The big story is where he plays, and it seems most likely he will play at center. The question is whether he starts there or moves later depending on how the roster shakes out. Frondell played 12 games last spring after finishing in Sweden, tallying three goals and nine points. He is only 19 years old, but he has the size to get past defenders. If he stays consistent, he could be a top-line player, though he might run into slumps like most teenagers do.
Validation for the Prospect Pool
The Blackhawks have one of the best groups of young players in the NHL, with a recent article in The Athletic calling their pipeline the fourth-best in the league. A list of the 26-best prospects came out from the NHL Network, placing Frondell at No. 3 and Kantserov at No. 23. This validates the team’s work and shows the front office isn’t just talking. The ranking did not include Frank Nazar or Oliver Moore since they are not eligible for the Calder Trophy yet, which makes the list even more scary for other teams. The Blackhawks have depth that goes deep, so fans should be realistic about what these players can do, but both might climb to the forefront of discussions regarding the Calder Trophy.
Connor Bedard is skating but not shooting, and he is expected back in early to mid-November. His rehab is going as planned, so the team is building around him for the long term. The perfect storm is brewing in Chicago, and with this much talent converging at once, the roster construction looks solid.
