Are you ready to put on your adult pants for the new hockey season? Do you want to go where no person has gone before? It's time to get serious as a hockey fan because the action begins on Wednesday. You know the time, date, and place, with the Vegas Golden Knights taking center stage in Las Vegas.
Arguably a bigger attraction than big names like Usher, Barry Manilow, and Shania Twain, the Golden Knights bring their brand of hockey to the NHL for its eighth installment. This time, expectations are different for the franchise. Not many people are banking on Vegas to do anything, aside from making the Stanley Cup playoffs. That's despite having reputable players like Jack Eichel and up-and-coming stars like Pavel Dorofeyev.
The "Shiny Toy" is based in Edmonton and is called the Oilers. Led by Zach Hyman, Leon Draisaitl, and Connor McLuckyunderpants--I mean, Connor McDavid, the Oilers look to finish the job started last season. They almost pulled off an incredible comeback from a 3-0 deficit against the Florida Panthers. However, they ran out of juice, losing the seventh game, 2-1.
Still, McDavid won the Conn Smythe Trophy for his troubles, putting up 42 points in the Stanley Cup playoffs. He'll be a bold target to take down in the 2024-25 season, with every NHL team looking for a piece of him. Speaking of which, what are some savvy predictions for the Golden Knights this season? Who will shine the brightest when nobody expects it? Here are five bold predictions for the upcoming hockey campaign, VGK style.
1.) Pavel Dorofeyev will score more than 30 goals this season
Pavel Dorofeyev has made his presence felt within the Vegas Golden Knights organization. Last season, he scored 13 goals in 47 games, establishing himself as a solid winger. He would've scored 22.68 goals in a simulated 82-game season, making him one of the more valuable Golden Knights forwards.
This season, he'll tackle a bigger role on the second line, being paired with Tomas Hertl and Alexander Holtz. The trio did great in the final preseason game, combining for four goals and five assists. Bruce Cassidy knows this line is capable of much more, which could elevate Dorofeyev's game.
Expect the Russian forward to rise to the occasion, giving the Golden Knights much-needed scoring power on the left wing. Having Dorofeyev and Barbashev on the left side gives Vegas more speed and offensive upside, turning the team into a force in transition. Cassidy hopes to see this with the second line, especially with the team's new look.