"I know my native Magnitogorsk inside and out, but I always find something new in it"

The best sniper of the last KHL season, Roman Kanzerov, is leaving for the NHL. In mid-May, the 21-year-old striker signed a three-year rookie contract with the Chicago Blackhawks, who selected him in the 2023 draft. The Magnitogorsk native has been one of the key hockey players of the local Metallurg for the past three years, with whom he won the Gagarin Cup in 2024. Last season, he scored the most goals in the regular season (36) and, taking into account the playoffs (40), also became the best sniper.

In an interview with Izvestia, Kantserov shared his opinion about going overseas, talked about communicating with the leaders of Chicago and appreciated the past KHL season, as well as shared his opinion on the prospects of Magnitogorsk.

— Did you have a hard time deciding to leave for Chicago?

— Of course, I've been thinking about it for a long time. I understood that I could stay at Metallurg for another year. Moreover, we had a good team, and I had a great threesome with Vladimir Tkachev and Alexander Silantiev. And, of course, the club wanted to keep me, they were upset that I was leaving. But Evgeny Nikolaevich Biryukov (the sports director of Metallurg. — Ed.) also understands that I have a desire to try myself in the NHL. That's why I wished you good luck and wished you a foothold in Chicago. So I'm going there with inspiration.

— After you were drafted by Chicago three years ago, have you been to the city and the location of the club?

— Yes, I spent 10 days at the Chicago training camp. I was in the city too. It was interesting to visit — it's a different world, different sensations. It was great.

— Have you already looked at any interesting places in Chicago?

— Not yet. It will be all the more interesting to explore the city, walk around it and discover something new. I will watch culture, sights, attend games in other sports, NBA basketball, American football, baseball. In general, there is a place to walk. I know my hometown Magnitogorsk practically inside and out, but even then it is improving every time, you always find something new in it. So God forbid it will be interesting in Chicago.

— Would it be unusual to move to an American metropolis without living in Moscow or St. Petersburg?

— Yes, it will probably be a little bit... Not that it's a problem, but, I repeat, I'll see something new. I am preparing for this with enthusiasm — a big city, a lot of fans, excitement around hockey, another level. I will be glad to participate in this.

— Have you already talked about your future with the key people of the club — general manager Kyle Davidson and head coach Jeff Blashill?

— Yes, I talked, everything was enthusiastic.

— Did they formulate something about what kind of playing time they intend to give you at first, in which links they see?

— Yes, everything is fine here. There has been some discussion on this topic, but I don't want to reveal the details yet.

— Is it possible to be sure at the moment that the season will start in the NHL, in the main team, and not in a farm club in the AHL?

— It all depends on me. Yes, we talked about it — there were a lot of positive aspects in the conversation, more pros than cons. And it's mutual. But, again, it all depends on me. I was told that they would give me chances — I just need to take advantage of them.

— How would you rate the results of the KHL season? Is the championship of Lokomotiv natural?

— To be honest, I didn't fully watch their final episode with Ak Bars. I was on vacation and decided to disconnect from hockey for a while, so I watched the finals more, the scores and highlights. From what I've seen, I'd say the strongest man won.

— Have you watched the decisive matches of the semi-final series of Lokomotiv against Avangard?

— Yes, I watched it. I don't even know what to say. That's how it is. As their captain Alexander Yelesin said when they celebrated their victory in the Gagarin Cup, 33 seconds decided. You won't forget that now.

— You are the same Lokomotiv, but without Alexander Radulov and with a different head coach, you beat them 4-0 in the finals in 2024. When we watched their comeback in the series with Avangard, did you ever think that this could have been the case in the playoffs the year before last, if Magnitogorsk had relaxed a little and let Yaroslavl raise its head?

"I don't know. Maybe there is something like that. Again, different teams played then and now. And we were different two years ago, and they had a couple of people changed — take the parish of the same Radulov.

On the sleepers again: Lokomotiv won the Gagarin Cup for the second year in a row

Yaroslavl won the sixth match of the finals against Ak Bars and defended the championship title.

— Now, a month after losing in the semifinals of the Gagarin Cup to Ak Bars, do you understand what could have been done differently to go further?

— I think that in terms of the game as a whole we were not inferior to Ak Bars. But there was a lack of luck somewhere. It seems that we hooked up with the second match, won it, but did not develop it further. Almost all matches were lost by only one goal, the last fifth match was generally lost only in overtime. Whoever scored first in each match won. Probably, the real fight for us started only in the semifinals. Yes, in the first two rounds, Metallurg was opposed by the strong teams Siberia and Torpedo, they also resisted, but it was with Kazan that the bone-to-bone game and provocations began. We lost this fight somewhere. I can't say that they acted weak-willed, everyone gave their best. But, I repeat, they were inferior in very small things. And it led to this result.

— Is Metallurg able to regain the Gagarin Cup next season?

— Let's see. In any case, I wish Metallurg all the best. To strengthen the transfer market. And for their students to shoot at them. Magnitogorsk has a lot of talented youngsters who are capable of playing in the KHL. It would be great if my students played in the main team.