The New York Rangers have made a significant move during the NHL draft, acquiring high-scoring winger Pavel Dorofeyev from the Vegas Golden Knights. The Rangers sent their Nos. 26 and 92 picks in this year's draft, along with a top-10 protected first-round pick in 2028, to Vegas in exchange for the 25-year-old forward. Dorofeyev, a restricted free agent, subsequently agreed to a seven-year contract averaging $11 million annually.
Dorofeyev emerges as one of the league’s most prolific goal scorers, having recorded at least 35 goals in each of the past two seasons. Last season, he netted a career-high 37 goals and totaled 64 points during the regular campaign. He also played a crucial role in Vegas’s run to the Stanley Cup Final, contributing 12 goals in 22 playoff games—second only to Brett Howden on the team. His 20 power-play goals last season were the second most in the NHL.
This acquisition follows the Rangers’ unsuccessful bid to secure Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish, who was ultimately traded to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for two first-round picks. With the Dorofeyev deal, Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury continues his effort to infuse youth and scoring talent into the roster as part of his broader retooling strategy.
In a related move, the Rangers traded forward Brett Berard to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for defenseman William Trudeau. Berard, a 23-year-old forward and pending restricted free agent, posted six goals and ten points over 35 games in the 2024-25 season but struggled to find consistent form this year. Trudeau, also 23, is a 2021 fourth-round pick who has spent the past four seasons in the AHL and has yet to make his NHL debut.
These roster adjustments come ahead of the Rangers’ selection of defenseman Alberts Šmits with the fifth overall pick in the draft, allowing them to bolster both their present lineup and future prospects without sacrificing key draft opportunities.
The NHL draft on Friday also featured other notable trades, including the Colorado Avalanche re-signing veterans Brent Burns and Brett Kulak, and the Boston Bruins acquiring winger JJ Peterka from the Utah Mammoth. Peterka, 24, is moving to play under Marco Sturm, the league’s only German head coach.
Meanwhile, the St. Louis Blues secured center Mason McTavish, 23, with a long-term contract through 2031 carrying a $7 million cap hit. Buffalo made moves on the blue line, including acquiring defenseman Olen Zellweger in a trade with Philadelphia aimed at managing salary cap constraints.
Overall, the draft's opening day highlighted several teams’ aggressive efforts to reshape rosters through trades and signings, balancing immediate competitiveness with future development.