It seems the sky's the limit for Pavel Dorofeyev these days. The Russian winger got the Vegas Golden Knights a point in Monday's 5-4 shootout loss to the St. Louis Blues. How? He scored a goal with 30 seconds left, salvaging a point in what would've been another disappointing regulation loss. Hey, one point is better than none, right?
But that goes back to another point: Dorofeyev has 20 goals this season, leading the Golden Knights. Players like Tomas Hertl have gotten hot in the past three games with four goals. But the 24-year-old has had a solid January, scoring seven goals and adding three assists. These players have been so hot that they've brought an early summer to Las Vegas.
Currently, Dorofeyev is projected to score 35 goals this season, nearly tripling his previous career-high of 13 set in 2023-24. It's no surprise that the winger is a talented goal-scorer. He has the handles and shiftiness to become an elite scoring threat. But is there room for him to go beyond 35? How far can Dorofeyev go in 2024-25?
What factors will affect Pavel Dorofeyev throughout the remainder of the 2024-25 season?
Obviously, injuries could become a contributing factor for Pavel Dorofeyev for the remainder of the 2024-25 season. Of course, it's obvious given the Vegas Golden Knights have had trouble staying healthy throughout the past three seasons. However, he could be an exception since he's had little to no prior complications.
Other than that, the biggest factor in how far he goes stems from his linemates. Surprisingly, Dorofeyev has done better without Tomas Hertl (16 goals, 20 assists). According to Natural Stat Trick, here's how the stats shake out.
Pairing | Corsi % | Shots For % | Goals For % | TOI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Hertl/Dorofeyev | 48.94 | 53.99 | 43.75 | 297:55 |
Dorofeyev | 52.05 | 54.02 | 48.15 | 352:01 |
Yes, the Russian winger has spent more time without Hertl on his line. However, that shows he's been adaptable without the two-time All-Star, playing well with players such as Jack Eichel. That adaptability comes into play regarding how far he goes throughout the season. Is he flexible enough to change his style? Will his linemates give him prime opportunities to thrive?
One other factor will come into play
Speaking of Hertl, the power play is another factor to consider. Surprisingly, it's been one of the best parts of the Golden Knights this season, ranking sixth in the NHL (27%). The unit is projected to post the highest percentage in franchise history. For all the jokes made about the power play in years prior, this would be a nice change of pace.
As for Dorofeyev, he has eight goals on the man advantage this season. He's projected to score 14 goals, which would also be a career-high. With excellent merchants such as Hertl, Shea Theodore, and Jack Eichel on the unit, he can bolster those numbers, specifically during the team's slump. No longer would the group be the "butt" of all jokes, for Dorofeyev and crew would lead the charge.
All these factors could merge into an excellent campaign for the Golden Knights forward. Fans were wondering who'd replace Jonathan Marchessault after he hopped on a bus with Carrie Underwood to sing at the Presidential Inauguration. Well, it could be the 24-year-old, who's continually improving and making strides in his game.