Pavel Dorofeyev Game-Time Decision for Golden Knights Season Opener

Las Vegas, NV – Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy provided an update on forward Pavel Dorofeyev‘s status on Tuesday ahead of the team’s home opener against the Los Angeles Kings. Cassidy stated that he expects Dorofeyev to play in Wednesday’s game but noted that the player’s injury is not fully healed, making him a game-time decision.

Dorofeyev has missed the majority of the preseason after suffering an injury that limited him to just four shifts and 4:07 of ice time in a 3-1 loss to the Kings on September 23rd. His condition has been evaluated daily since then, raising doubts about his availability for the season opener.

In his only preseason appearance, Dorofeyev did not tally any points. Coach Cassidy faces uncertainty regarding the third line’s configuration, as the players who previously filled in, Braeden Bowman and Raphael Lavoie, did not make the roster. Alexander Holtz, who also skated with the team during the preseason, is currently on a professional tryout contract.

Dorofeyev, coming off a breakout 2024-25 season, led the Golden Knights with 35 goals and added 17 assists for a total of 52 points in 82 games. His defensive play was also commendable, ranking second among Golden Knights forwards with a -0.151 5v5 regularized adjusted plus-minus expected goals against per 60 minutes.

Although Dorofeyev played a role in the Golden Knights’ playoff journey last season, where he recorded one goal and one assist in eight games, the team was eliminated in the second round. He is entering the final year of a two-year contract with a cap hit of $1.835 million and is projected to become a restricted free agent next summer, with estimates suggesting a new deal around $7.25 million per year over five years.

The Golden Knights’ season opener against the Kings is set to commence at 7 p.m. PST on Wednesday.