Pavel Dorofeyev is ready for the next step

Sure, the Vegas Golden Knights might've been on the losing edge of preseason hockey on Saturday. Allowing three straight unanswered goals will do that to a team. However, there were a couple of shining stars from the affair. First, Alexander Holtz scored a goal and assist, gelling well with his linemates. However, another Golden Knights winger made an impressive impact.

His name is Pavel Dorofeyev and he scored a hat trick in that preseason game (the third in the team's preseason history). The Russian winger also added an assist, leading the Golden Knights in scoring for the match. Fans have lauded how good he was last season, boasting tremendous offensive skills.

Last season, he scored 13 goals in 47 games, which raised eyebrows among the fanbase. Dorofeyev has plenty of exciting moves in his arsenal, ranging from toe drags to Datsyuk-like dekes. Las Vegas will see more exciting moves as the former third-round pick is ready for the next step.

What can fans expect from the Russian phenom as he heads for a potential breakout season? Will Golden Knights fans be blessed with more memorable games like he had on Saturday? Will his presence ease the pain of losing another noteworthy winger? Let's dive into what the winger can do to take that next step for the upcoming season.

What can Pavel Dorofeyev provide the Vegas Golden Knights fans with this season?

One thing that stands out with Pavel Dorofeyev is his offensive capabilities. That includes an unparalleled offensive instinct away from the puck. Take this power play goal against the Edmonton Oilers on March 25, 2023.

A deflected puck that would've been cleared out of the zone was pounced on by the Russian winger. He puts it top-shelf to give Vegas the lead (where they eventually won the game in overtime, 4-3). Such assets could help the Golden Knights kickstart their offense, especially on the power play.

He's also smooth with his puck control, displaying terrific handles on the attack. He can outdeke you, leave on the ice with a toe drag, or even spin his way past opponents, leaving only him and the goaltender. Add an excellent skating ability and it's easy to see why Dorofeyev can score 20 or more goals this season.

Could Alexander Holtz and Dorofeyev ease the loss of Jonathan Marchessault?

Everyone knows that Jonathan Marchessault is off to Nashville, where he's probably sending a goalpost down the river after Vanderbilt upset Alabama. Losing a 42-goal scorer from last season is tough to replace, especially if he's tenured with the team since day one. So how do you get that production back?

Bruce Cassidy seemed to have an answer for that on Saturday, pairing Alexander Holtz with Pavel Dorofeyev. The duo combined for four goals and two assists, including this beauty from Holtz.

Deploying Holtz in front of the net and receiving the pass from Tomas Hertl created an excellent goal. The former New Jersey Devils winger blasted it past Mackenzie Blackwood, which was started by Dorofeyev finding Hertl behind the net. Simple plays like this make the line look smooth and seamless, giving the Golden Knights a strong potential second group.

Having two young wingers in the top six (or even third line) should ease the pain of losing a franchise player. That's especially true with both wingers carrying tremendous offensive upside, displaying excellent awareness and shooting capabilities. If the Golden Knights can get more production from Dorofeyev, they might have their own version of the legendary Datsyuk.