Life is good if you're the Vegas Golden Knights right now. Sure, you might've lost the Stanley Cup Final. But people are still hating on you because you have access to the NHL's best players. You're literally a destination that superstars like Connor Hellebuyck and Dylan Larkin want to go to, making you the envy of the league (sorry, Steve Dangle, but it's true).
Speaking of Larkin, David Pagnotta on Morning Cuppa Hockey talked about this exact topic. He mentioned a potential deal coming to fruition and the pieces involved in said deal. One of those names mentioned was none other than Golden Knights winger Pavel Dorofeyev.
"If Detroit and Vegas are serious in their discussions involving Dylan Larkin, do the Wings insist on having Pavel Dorofeyev in there; If you're Vegas...do you believe he's gonna be a consistent 30-35 goal scorer."David Pagnotta
Dorofeyev is set to be a restricted free agent this summer, coming with arbitration rights. That has led to speculation about his Golden Knights future and whether he'll be dealt or not. Is it worth dealing a 25-year-old winger that suddenly emerged on the scene as a solid goal-scoring option for Vegas?
As for Larkin, he's posted incredible numbers with the Detroit Red Wings. That has included five straight seasons of 30+ goals and 30+ assists, making him a consistent staple within the Red Wings' offense. Add some defensive value to the mix and you have a viable two-way veteran to add to the Golden Knights' mix.
Adding Pavel Dorofeyev to the Golden Knights' trade for Dylan Larkin has short-term benefits—but also long-term consequences
As mentioned, Larkin has been a consistent goal-scorer for the Red Wings. He's great at picking the right shots and creating scoring chances for his teammates. Of course, this is among the other things that Larkin can do well for the Red Wings, making him a solid pickup.
But let me ask you a question, dear reader. Is it worth going with an older player (Larkin is 29) when you can keep that Stanley Cup window open a little longer? Remember that Dorofeyev is 25 and led the Golden Knights in goals scored (37).
That's the big question that Kelly McCrimmon must ask himself heading down the road. Dorofeyev would be a bigger gamble over a proven commodity like Larkin for a few reasons. One, the Olympic gold medalist has become a consistent figure beyond scoring 30+ goals and 30+ assists in the past five seasons. He also has more than 10 power play goals and 10 or more power play assists in his past four seasons.
Not only that, but Vegas is also a veteran-savvy team. Even with a younger head coach on board, the Golden Knights were the league's second-oldest team this past season (average age of 30.04). Larkin would be the ideal pickup for a Golden Knights team looking to remain competitive.
If the Golden Knights are serious about keeping the competitive window open, they'd be wise to take this trade idea with a grain of salt. If they want to go all in, take the trade. Regardless, a Dylan Larkin trade would drastically alter the Golden Knights' future, making it controversial. Of course, Vegas is no stranger to such moves, so why not go all in?
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