When the Vegas Golden Knights signed Pavel Dorofeyev, the expectation was that he'd come in with his booming shot and score plenty of goals. After all, you can't go full-bore into being a Stanley Cup contender without some young guys.
Lo and behold, the Russian winger scored 35 goals this season, tops on the Golden Knights. 13 of those came on the best power play in franchise history, reinventing the once-beleaguered unit. It's almost like he replaced a departing Misfit without much effort.
Suddenly, the NHL is on notice. They've never seen a winger with the shiftiness and offensive prowess that Dorofeyev carried. Now they were on the lookout for a budding superstar who could score at will. What will they do now?
Well, you know how Kelly McCrimmon works. Nobody knows what he'll do next. He's essentially the front office equivalent of a roulette table, coming up with the usual banger. But he's probably resting his laurels during the summertime, right?
The Vegas Golden Knights are eyeing Maxim Shabanov
If you thought Kelly McCrimmon was done here, I've got some bad news for you. The Golden Knights aren't done in the wingers department. Why? They have their eyes on another superstar.
According to RG, the Golden Knights and the Pittsburgh Penguins are eyeing Maxim Shabanov for forward help. The Philadelphia Flyers are also rumored to be heavily involved in the Shabanov sweepstakes.
The Russian winger scored 23 goals and 44 assists (65 games) with the KHL club, Traktor Chelyabinsk. Like Dorofeyev, he built off his previous season (25 goals and 25 assists) and created a name for himself. He also has a left-handed shot like his Russian counterpart and is a versatile forward.
Now? He might reap the rewards with an NHL contract. It shouldn't be surprising to see a conga line of teams lining up for his offensive talents. What benefits will he bring to a team like Vegas?
Meeting Maxim Shabanov
The first thing that stands out about Shabanov is his size. Well, he doesn't have much to his name, that is. It was mentioned on the fellow FanSided website, A Winning Habit, but it bears repeating. Shabanov is only 5'8" and weighs 157 lbs.
You're probably thinking, "Why would a smaller guy like him be a necessity for a team like the Golden Knights?" Well, Connor Bedard isn't the biggest guy in the world, nor is Kirill Kaprizov (5'10"). Yet these players are seen as some of the most viable forwards in the NHL. That's where Shabanov could be headed if jumps to North American shores.
Like Dorofeyev, he also has a solid shot and is shifty as a skater. Such skating ability and quickness make him a matchup nightmare, for he can simply skate around you for a goal. Just look at his highlight reel as a perfect example.
Throughout the highlight reel, you'll see a player who effortlessly flies up and down the ice and in any situation. Do you want a solid transition player? Shabanov is your man. Maybe you want a guy who handles one-on-one situations with ease. Look no further.
Add in his playing experience at a professional level (four seasons in the KHL) and you have a potential star in the making. McCrimmon has a chance to do the funniest thing ever: Get another young, solid offensive star. You might think of him as a smaller Pavel Dorofeyev. However, other NHL fans would think of him as a total nightmare.