<p>Most talented forwards arrive in the NHL having played only on the flanks of power-play formations for their junior or college teams because most were stars on those teams.</p><p>That’s not the case, however, for <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks?_gl=1*1fn2n99*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTcwMTQyOTU5NC4xNzg5OTQxODgz*_ga_K0F0MB46T8*czE3ODk5NDE4ODIkbzEkZzAkdDE3ODk5NDE4ODIkajYwJGwwJGgw" target="_blank" >Blackhawks</a> rookie Roman Kantserov. In Russia, he played not on the flanks but in the bumper role — stationed in the middle of the offensive zone — for Magnitogorsk of the Kontinental Hockey League.</p><p>So Kantserov is uniquely qualified to slide right in as the bumper on the Hawks’ power play, which enters this season manned almost entirely by new personnel after limping to a 29th-place finish last season.</p><p>Kantserov’s previous bumper experience is valuable because it’s not an easy position to learn. Coach Jeff Blashill pointed out it often requires slight movements around the slot for the bumper to open himself up to receive passes, make passes or shoot. It also requires keen awareness to know when to push toward the boards to support teammates in puck battles.</p><p>It might not be a completely seamless <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2026/07/29/blackhawks-roman-kantserov-nhl-preparation-english-spencer-knight" target="_blank" >transition for Kantserov</a>, however. He already has realized NHL penalty-killers are better than KHL penalty-killers.</p><p>‘‘In [the] KHL, I was best in this spot on bumper, but now it’s absolutely different,’’ Kantserov said. ‘‘Guys here think faster and bring pressure, and I need to also be stronger, faster, smarter and feel guys.</p><p>‘‘Sometimes I do [a] no-look pass, and I need to know, ‘Where is my mate?’ A couple of games in the season, we [will] understand together.’’</p><p>Surrounding Kantserov on the Hawks’ new-look top unit are Bowen Byram at the point, Patrick Kane on the left flank, Anton Frondell on the right flank and Tyler Bertuzzi down low.</p><p>Connor Bedard’s return from injury eventually will knock somebody (most likely Frondell) down to the second unit, but the Hawks can figure that out later.</p><p>Interestingly, all five of those guys are left-handed. Frondell, whose powerful one-timer was already well-known before he got to the NHL, is set up in the prime one-timer spot.</p><p>That’s because Kane, who has spent most of his career playing on the right flank of power plays, has moved over to the left.</p><p>‘‘I just think this offers him more options in terms of passing,’’ Blashill said. ‘‘It fits our hands better, but it also maybe can fit his skill set.’’</p><p>Kane is <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2026/09/17/blackhawks-patrick-kane-right-decision" target="_blank" >embracing</a> the challenge. On older Hawks teams, it made sense for right-handed forwards such as Artemi Panarin, Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Sharp to set up on the left for one-timers. Kane recognizes that’s not the case here.</p><p>‘‘If that’s how it’s going to be all year, great; I’ll try to own that spot as much as possible,’’ Kane said. ‘‘When Connor comes back, we [will] switch sides maybe or maybe we stay with that. Who knows? I think it’s nice to have both options if things get a little bit stale.</p><p>‘‘I’ve always felt maybe [by] coming down the left, I could shoot and score a little bit more because the puck is not to the middle of the ice. You can protect it a little bit more. You can shoot and use the screens.’’</p><p>Kane and Kantserov already seem to share a natural connection in the Kane-Panarin mold. They made several pretty plays during a scrimmage Sunday.</p><p>Byram, meanwhile, will get an opportunity to show what he can do as a power-play quarterback. Stuck behind Rasmus Dahlin the last three seasons with the Sabres, he got only scraps on the second unit.</p><p>With the Hawks, Byram is the clear No. 1, leaving Sam Rinzel and Artyom Levshunov — both of whom struggled with quarterbacking last season — to compete for second-unit opportunities. It’s worth noting Rinzel has looked improved in that role during camp.</p><p>‘‘[I’m] trying to work on my movement on the blue line and deception,’’ Byram said.</p>
Blackhawks’ power play has new look with Patrick Kane on left, Roman Kantserov as bumper 2026
IUSTITIA.BG – Investigations 2009-2026 2026-09-21 12:10:00
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