Pavel Dorofeyev is making fans forget about a particular "Misfit"

The 2024 summer was an unforgiving time for Vegas Golden Knights fans. They saw their beloved "Original Misfit" pick up a guitar and line dance with Steven Stamkos in Tennessee. The winger left Las Vegas without a new deal and became a Nashville Predator for five years and $27.5 million. Fans were initially outraged by the "Misfit" leaving town.

That is until the aftermath unfolded. Marchessault ripped Kelly McCrimmon for not negotiating in good faith, not offering him a lengthy deal, and deferring payments (among other things). The general manager responded that a four-year deal was offered, leaving a "He said, he said" vibe.

Pavel Dorofeyev is making fans forget about the former Conn Smythe winner. So far, the Russian forward has scored seven goals and three assists in 13 games. Marchessault? Two goals and five assists. The Nashville Predators also reside in the Central Division basement with nine points, while the Golden Knights are first entering Thursday with 19.

Suddenly, fans don't feel so bad about the "Misfit" leaving. They're seeing a potential replacement enter the mix and pick up the scoring. In fact, Dorofeyev is on pace to score 44 goals for 2024-25, which would shatter William Karlsson's record set in 2017-18 (43). That would certainly have fans forgetting about Marchessault in a heartbeat, especially after he came close to breaking that record last season.

What Pavel Dorofeyev offers that Jonathan Marchessault doesn't

Jonathan Marchessault made his living as a shooting winger. He could shoot from the point and never miss, making him valuable in a niche role with the Vegas Golden Knights. He wasn't the biggest guy on the ice, though. Therefore, he was seen more as a liability as he grew older.

It made sense why Kelly McCrimmon was reluctant to hand Marchessault a bigger deal. Why sign a 33-year-old player who's 5'9" to a long-term deal? Eventually, that niche disappears and the Golden Knights are left with an albatross.

So what about Dorofeyev? He's more than a simple shooting winger. He's also a great transition player who constantly threatens to score on the breakaway. The Russian forward skates well and has incredible handles, making him a tough matchup for opposing defenders.

Plus, he's 6'1" and weighs 194 lbs. That gives Bruce Cassidy more flexibility in his game plan, for he can deploy Dorofeyev in multiple situations. That means not being handicapped to sniping shots on even strength and the power play, which the Golden Knights got with Marchessault. Given that the left winger is also 24, he doesn't have the mileage the "Original Misfit" carries.

Kelly McCrimmon talks about players outperforming their contracts, pointing at those going above the call. One example is Shea Theodore, who recently got a contract extension. The defenseman has nine assists in 12 games (five on the power play), making him useful in many situations. That utility made McCrimmon not offer Marchessault a lengthy deal, for his niche would've simply eroded. As for Dorofeyev? He could stick around with the Golden Knights for a long time, making fans forget about a certain player from Quebec.