Can Pavel Dorofeyev finish as the team leader in goals scored?
Pavel Dorofeyev has the opportunity to do the coolest thing ever. Can he go through with it?
Last season, Jonathan Marchessault shocked the Vegas Golden Knights (and the hockey world) by scoring a team-leading 42 goals. He was in a contract year and jumped on plenty of "golden" scoring opportunities. Now? He's in Nashville riding a mechanical bull before every Predators game. Yeehaw!
Now, the mantle for the leading goal-scorer is open. Pavel Dorofeyev is eyeing the throne with a team-high nine goals. That includes a game-winning third-period goal against the Anaheim Ducks.
"Rebound — score! Pavel Dorofeyev!
— Golden Knights Radio (@VGKRadioNetwork) November 14, 2024
"The Knights have a 3-1 lead!
🎙 @Dan_DUva
Dorofeyev adds an insurance marker for Vegas in the final frame. pic.twitter.com/IJkeulvf09
The insurance goal came off his own rebound, where Dorofeyev stuffed it past Lukas Dostal. It's an example of the net-crashing the Russian winger has done this season, giving him more goals than expected.
In fact, those nine goals are good enough to be tied for 13th in the NHL. The 24-year-old is on pace for 46 goals, which would be a team record. Considering how well the winger has done so far, it wouldn't be surprising to see him break the mark.
However, that also requires being the team leader this season. There's another Russian winger looking to break that mark as well. His name? Ivan Barbashev, who already has eight goals this season
Will Dorofeyev beat out his fellow Russian for the top spot? Or will Barbashev reign supreme? Perhaps there's another big name that could take the mantle for the Golden Knights. Whatever the case, here are some reasons why the Russian star will (and won't) lead the team in goals this season.
Why Pavel Dorofeyev will lead the Vegas Golden Knights in goals
Last season, Pavel Dorofeyev scored 13 goals in 47 games. That's good for a 22.68 goal pace in an 82-game season. This season, those projections have more than doubled, giving fans reason to believe he'll lead the team by season's end.
There's good reason for that, too. The 24-year-old protects the puck well and pulls off some insane handles. He's also persistent in front of the net, going after any puck for a stuff-in. His third-period goal against the Ducks is a perfect example: he got his own rebound for a goal.
He's also a big body who's hard to knock off the puck. He's 6'1" and has bulked up to 194 lbs. in the past couple of years, making him a scoring threat. Combine that with fantastic offensive moves and shiftiness and the winger is a massive problem.
Dorofeyev might not benefit from having Jack Eichel and Mark Stone on his line. However, he makes up for this in resourcefulness, doing whatever it takes to score key goals. That could lead to him leading the Golden Knights in goals by season's end, elevating his game once more.
Why Dorofeyev won't lead the team in goals
There's the Ivan Barbashev problem that stands out. As mentioned, Barbashev benefits from having Eichel and Stone on his line, where he'll get countless opportunities set up for him. That'll make life harder for Dorofeyev as he looks to take the throne in goals scored this season.
Consider this: Eichel's on pace for 100+ points (128, to be exact). He's second in the NHL in assists with 20, while Stone is tied for ninth with 15. That's despite the latter missing three games with a lower-body injury.
Barbashev has the advantage in accessible resources, making him a slight favorite to steal the title. The Russian top-line star also plays similarly to his fellow countryman: He crashes the net and has nice handles to boot.
Stone himself could be a threat for the mantle. Before leaving last week's game against the Edmonton Oilers, Stone had six goals. The Captain has found new life on the top line, adding another element to the Golden Knights offensively. Like Barbashev, Stone has the added benefit of having a Hart Trophy candidate on his line, which could help him steal the title.
The verdict
Regardless of what happens this season, fans are seeing the emergence of Pavel Dorofeyev. They're discovering the 24-year-old and how impactful he is for the Vegas Golden Knights. Even on the second line, he's creating offense and crashing the net, making the attack go.
Of course, obstacles remain, ranging from unforeseen injuries to the top line's overall production. Players like Mark Stone and Ivan Barbashev will make life hard for Dorofeyev to take the goal-scoring throne, specifically if they continue to play at a high clip.
Still, that shouldn't stop the Russian forward from shocking the world and emerging as the team leader in this category. He's an exciting player with terrific handles and moves, doing whatever it takes to score a goal. It's the type of player Bruce Cassidy needs offensively to replace Jonathan Marchessault's production from last season.
Whatever the case, Dorofeyev will be a player to watch throughout the season. Many questions will arise if he continues his pace.
"What else is there for him to do?"
"Should he get top-line consideration?"
Stay tuned because the next episode will be exciting.
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