Blackhawks Should Offer Sheet Pavel Dorofeyev

Pairing Bedard’s passing ability with Dorofeyev’s lethal shot should be a good pairing for both of those guys. Although they were tough to watch defensively, I loved watching Bedard and Nazar play on the same line. They were explosive on the offensive side of the puck, and it causes so many headaches for the defensemen on the other team with how dynamic they are.

I think having Dorofeyev can have a similar effect if he’s on a line with Bedard, although they are different players. Nazar is a much better skater than Dorofeyev, but the lethal shot should make up for that.

If teams have to game plan to take away space for Dorofeyev, then you have to worry about opening up the ice for Bedard, where he will torch you.

I also really like the idea of playing Tyler Bertuzzi on the left wing with Bedard up the middle and Dorofeyev on the right wing. Bertuzzi would complement that line well, getting into the dirty areas to get the puck for his two linemates and also being a fantastic presence in front of the net.

Dorofeyev would also slide in well on the power play with his shot being such a threat off the wing. Twenty of his 37 goals were on the power play this season, which shows he is a weapon on a Cup contender’s power-play unit.

Some may also say it’s a red flag that he scored just over half his goals on the power play, but Vegas isn’t one of the highest scoring teams in the league. They ranked 14th in goals scored, and their individual players oddly don’t post big individual statistical years.

The highest single-season point total by a Golden Knight in their short history was Jack Eichel during the 2024-25 season with 94. Their highest single-season goal total is 43 from William Karlsson’s 2017-18 season, just six more than Dorofeyev’s this season.

The Contract

With it being an offer sheet, the Blackhawks will have to give up their own picks, and they have tons of draft capital in 2027. They have three first-round picks (unless the Edmonton Oilers finish with a top 12 pick), two second-round picks and two third-round picks. They would have to give up their own picks per the NHL rules, but having the other picks gives them flexibility.

Another reason why I think this could be a very interesting option is because of the Golden Knights’ cap situation. They’re projected to have just over $4.6 million in cap space, which is why it could leave them vulnerable to an offer sheet.

I’d assume the Blackhawks would have to offer Dorofeyev around $9 million on a long-term deal, which would land them in a slot where they have to give up a first, second and third-round pick. While it may seem rich, they have so many picks and prospects already, and Dorofeyev will be just 26 when the 2026-27 season starts.

If he signs that $9 million deal, Vegas would need to clear out $5 million in cap space in just a week.

Not only do I think this is a fair deal with the cap going up, but Dorofeyev fits the Blackhawks timeline, gets them just shy of the cap floor before they even sign Bedard and is a great fit on the roster. I don’t see a downside for the Blackhawks in this deal.