Pavel Dorofeyev’s near-complete game only needs minor tweaks...and also some time abroad if the B’s want him.

Analysis:

Pavel Dorofeyev’s only real issue is his skating.

That’s it. That’s all there is to it.

Otherwise, Dorofeyev’s year could not have been better for the kid, and his game could not look better for someone looking to boost their winger depth.

Pavel Dorofeyev’s humble roots out in the russian boondocks appears to have given him a good sense of hard work, able to put in some tough assignments in both forechecking and backchecking, never shying away from getting hit to make a play, and always able to get himself into position to get a quick wrist shot off or to create golden opportunity by sneaking into the weak spots of a defense and making his competitors look like chumps.

Dorofeyev’s sneaky best part of his game is his incredible puck control, where he can create plays simply by keeping the puck on his stick for exactly as long as it takes for a defender to get impatient and either try to block an oncoming shot, or take themselves out of position for him, allowing him to do what he does best: score goals.

Of course, I wasn’t really kidding about the skating thing. He’s an alright skater. Decent speed, alright lateral movement, but his issue is a unique one; he’s far more content letting the dictated game pace work around him rather than dictating it himself. He does have some speed, it’s just that he barely uses it to his advantage unless it’s a breakaway. He’s far more interested in getting the defense to move first, which given his puck security is not only a thing he can do, but is something that has worked for him, but if he wants to come to the NHL, there’s a good chance he’ll have to start working on trying to advance play through actually using his own wheels. Another is size, which he’s fine in the height department, it’s his slight frame that he used exactly as much as he needed to in the Russian AHL that might get some people concerned. The strength coach will likely find somewhere to put 20-30 lbs. onto this kid.

There’s also those fun Russian contracts that you’ll have to put up with, as he will likely spend a couple of years at most in Magnitogorsk before making the move. Is it fair? Not really. But he seems like a fun-loving kid, and he’s pretty good at keeping himself out of trouble, so the whole “Russian Factor” thing I’m sure you’re rushing to the comments to point out doesn’t seem to be much of a problem for this young man.

Dorofeyev’s projection is all over the place. Most see him going long before Boston ever gets a chance to see him, and some don’t see him being a first rounder at all. If the Bruins wanna take a chance and bring a pure winger into the fold who can play a 200 foot game with only one really glaring flaw? I think you could turn this project into something special.

Rankings:

• #36th by The Athletic
• #27th by HockeyProspect.com
• #26th by Future Considerations
• #41st by ISS Hockey
• #31st by McKeen’s Hockey
• #12th by NHL Central Scouting among Europeans
• #16th by EliteProspects.com
• #82th by TSN/McKenzie