Two types of people will tell you with certainty that they predicted that the Vegas Golden Knights’ leading scorer, after 20 games, would be Pavel Dorofeyev. Those who gravitate around the team or who have followed it very closely for several years. And those who lie to you.
Posted yesterday at 1:44 p.m.
In fact, even since the start of the campaign, Dorofeyev has not attracted much attention outside of Nevada. Russian winger drafted in the third round in 2019, he is nevertheless playing his fifth season in North America, having made the jump to the Henderson Silver Knights, in the American League, from the 2020-2021 season.
A prolific offensive producer in the minor ranks, he spent the entire last campaign in Vegas, however only playing 47 games, mainly due to injuries. He nevertheless found a way to score 13 goals and amass 24 points.
However, within an organization that is certainly not known for recruiting and developing its prospects, he was expected at last training camp as a rare young player likely to be entrusted with a more important role. And now he has already scored 10 goals in just 20 games, a club record. A surprise for many people… except for his teammates.
“Having seen him grow, it’s not a surprise,” said teammate Nicolas Roy on Saturday morning after Knights practice. They will face the Canadian at the Bell Center in the evening.
PHOTO LINDSEY WASSON, ARCHIVES ASSOCIATED PRESS
Nicolas Roy
We saw him play in the American League, he scored big goals. He really has quite a shot. Also, he has the chance to play on the first power play unit. He started on second, but when Victor Olofsson got injured, he took his chance. His playing time increases, his confidence too. Sometimes it doesn’t take much.
Nicolas Roy
That’s probably what best sums up Dorofyev’s season so far: seizing his chance. Olofsson, who scored 28 goals two years ago in Buffalo, was limited to four games with his new team. Mark Stone hasn’t played in more than two weeks. Someone had to take over, and number 16 stepped up.
“We all expected him to move to a higher level this season,” confirmed Brett Howden, who has played on his line for most of the campaign so far.
Howden also praised the quality of his throw, but especially highlighted his positioning.
“He’s always in the right place,” he said. And when you give him the puck, he shoots very quickly. He’s an intelligent player. »
“I love his game,” added Tomas Hertl. He works hard, he doesn’t give up, and that’s why he scores so many goals. »
“I know how to get out of it”
Head coach Bruce Cassidy stressed that the young man “doesn’t hesitate to get his nose dirty” while playing near the net. In fact, more than a quarter of his shots on target were taken at the bottom of the crease, what the NHL EDGE site describes as a “high danger” zone.
He is also well served by his speed. His goal against the Ottawa Senators last Thursday demonstrated this. Seeing William Karlsson grab the puck in the neutral zone, Dorofeyev stepped on the accelerator to create a surplus, leaving poor defenseman Tyler Kleven in his wake. He accepted a precise pass from Karlsson before easily beating goalkeeper Linus Ullmark.
See the sequence
“We didn’t think he would score this or that number of goals, but we saw it coming,” Cassidy also said. Now, we’re knocking on wood to keep him healthy. »
Not very talkative, the main person concerned mainly attributes his success to his summer preparation. Besides, he has “nothing special” to report, other than that he “really worked hard to [se] get to this point.”
Does he think he can maintain this pace? He produces, after all, at an annual rate of 40 goals…
“That’s a good question,” he replied, smiling. I will do my best. We’ll see! »
It is, in all cases, a very good start.
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