3 Golden Knights stars that should play in Battle For Vegas next year
The Battle For Vegas has become a community staple in the city of Las Vegas. Here are three names that should play in next year's iteration.
The Battle For Vegas is a time-honored tradition that pits Las Vegas's two premier teams (sorry, Athletics. You're not there yet or even at all). It's a battle between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Las Vegas Raiders. One team had all sorts of success in the NHL, winning the Stanley Cup. The other... not so much. They've had Jimmy Garoppolo under center at one point, so... yeah.
Still, the event unites the community, raising money for local charities. It's become an incredible event for a good cause, giving back to the city that elevated both franchises. Hosted originally by Reilly Smith, the event has been passed down to Jack Eichel, who hosted this year's event. Hopefully, Smith will come back for an encore for a future iteration.
The event also has the potential to add three more names to the mix. Some of these names are rising through the ranks of the Golden Knights organization. That includes Pavel Dorofeyev, who had a spectacular season in 2023-24. The winger scored 13 goals in 47 games, making him a rising superstar. Imagine him hitting a pitch from Maxx Crosby... or trying to.
Let's have some fun with the event and look at these three players deserving of a Battle For Vegas nod. This segment will have some fun and see which players would look interesting swinging a bat. After all, that's what the event's all about. It's a great game between the Vegas Golden Knights and Las Vegas Raiders, all in the name of charity. Who are these mysterious three Golden Knights superstars that should grace Las Vegas Ballpark next year?
Ivan Barbashev
It's not known whether Russian hockey players have a natural knack for hitting softballs, let alone, baseballs. It's a universal mystery that's confounded sports fans for decades. Perhaps Ivan Barbashev can test that theory by participating in next year's contest.
The Russian forward has a good skating stride that constantly make him a breakaway threat. It shouldn't be an issue getting to first base with that stride, for it should translate well to the diamond. That's something that he'll have going for him when playing in the contest.
But there will be times when the Raiders act out of line. Daniel Carlson might taunt the bench and talk smack to the Golden Knights. That's where Ivan Barbashev comes in, for he can lay out a check on the kicker. After all, nobody messes with the forward on the ice, so why should the ballpark be any different?
Pavel Dorofeyev
Ivan Barbashev isn't the only Russian that should participate in this fun contest. Pavel Dorofeyev should also test his batting skills and represent the Vegas Golden Knights. It would be a funny sight seeing the winger try to swing the bat. However, it'd be eye-popping to see him hit a home run.
Like his fellow Russian, Dorofeyev has solid speed and stride to his game, which should translate well on the diamond. He'd be more than capable of hitting an inside-the-park home run, running around the bases easily. That alone should make him a worthy pick for Vegas in this contest.
Plus, he's probably a good pitcher. Nobody knows how well Pavel Dorofeyev can throw a softball pitch. He probably has the best eephus pitch in the world, practicing his craft in Russia. The forward would be Vegas's secret weapon against their NFL opponents here.
Alexander Holtz
I'd imagine Alexander Holtz will be with the Golden Knights for a while. The 22-year-old was recently acquired from the New Jersey Devils with Akira Schmid for Paul Cotter and a 2025 third-round pick. He might need some time to become acclimated to Las Vegas. However, Holtz would be a great fit for the event regardless.
Why? There's already a Swede who participated in the event before. He's a guy known as William Karlsson, who was in the 2019 and 2022 Battle For Vegas events. He could help Holtz with some pointers on playing the game, making him a well-rounded player.
That includes throwing the perfect softball pitch, which would confound the other team. Fans would love to familiarize themselves with Alexander Holtz more, for he's a young, exciting forward. That's especially true with the 22-year-old scoring 16 goals last season. Why not get acquainted with him during this popular spectacle, where fans can see what kind of person he is?