Everyone give a big “Happy Birthday” to Vegas Golden Knights magic man, Pavel Dorofeyev! He turns 25 years old on Sunday, pushing him one step closer to his prime.
Last season, Dorofeyev experienced an uprising of sorts, scoring a team-high 35 goals. The Russian winger is picking up where he left off from 2024-25, scoring a team-high seven goals. That includes four goals coming off the power play (30%, fifth in the NHL), which is also having an excellent season.
The 25-year-old has been directly responsible for Vegas’s hot start, with the team standing at 5-1-2 entering Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. He’s displayed immaculate handles throughout the season, putting up incredible moves and wreaking havoc on the goaltender’s weak side. The result? An underrated winger garnering more attention from the masses.
Back-to-back goals from the SAME SPOT completes the hat trick for Pavel Dorofeyev! 🎩 #NHLFaceOff
📺: @NHL_On_TNT & @StreamOnMax ➡️ https://t.co/4TuyIATi3T pic.twitter.com/LDLKJzdiEK
— NHL (@NHL) October 9, 2025
Fans can expect more of this as the season progresses, giving the Golden Knights more firepower. After all, Dorofeyev led the team in shots on goal last season (253), signaling an emergence onto the NHL scene.
As for Pavel, numerous things make the winger special. For example, he’s evolved as a hockey player. He’s developed his defensive game to become a better threat, adding bulk and easily reading attackers. He’s also better at forechecking, turning him into a well-rounded player.
That’s not even mentioning how great he’s been offensively. Armed with a hard shot, the Russian winger looks to continue shocking the NHL universe with his breathtaking goals. With that, here’s a hearty “Happy Birthday!” to one of the most exciting hockey players in the league right now.
