Story perspectives

Rangers Trade Picks for Dorofeyev, Retain No. 5, Draft Šmits

6/28/2026

Summary

Rangers Acquire Dorofeyev

The New York Rangers acquired forward Pavel Dorofeyev from the Vegas Golden Knights on June 27, 2026.
The Rangers sent the 2026 No. 26 and No. 92 picks plus a top-10-protected 2028 first-rounder to Vegas.
Dorofeyev signed a seven-year, $77 million contract and posted 37 goals, 27 assists in 82 games with 12 playoff goals last season.
The trade allowed New York to retain its No. 5 overall pick, which it used to select defenseman Alberts Šmits.

Summary

Vegas Secures Picks

Vegas traded No. 26 pick from Rangers to Montreal for No. 28 pick and a 2027 third-rounder.
Vegas sent No. 28 pick to Anaheim for No. 29 pick and a 2026 fourth-round choice (No. 117).
Vegas used the No. 29 slot to select defenseman Juho Piiparinen.
After forfeiting its 2026 second-round pick for a media-policy violation, Vegas secured five picks: 2026 first-rounder (No. 26), 2028 top-10-protected first-rounder, 2026 third-rounder (No. 92), 2027 third-rounder, and 2026 fourth-rounder (No. 117).

History

Historical Context

After the NHL approved Las Vegas on June 22 2016, the league held the June 18-20 2017 expansion draft, selecting one player from each of the 30 franchises—30 players in total, 19 of whom played in Vegas’s inaugural season. Those assets fueled later deals, such as the New York Rangers’ June 2026 trade for Pavel Dorofeyev, illustrating how expansion-era concessions now shape multi-year roster building.

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Rangers Acquire Dorofeyev

The New York Rangers acquired forward Pavel Dorofeyev from the Vegas Golden Knights on June 27, 2026.
The Rangers sent the 2026 No. 26 and No. 92 picks plus a top-10-protected 2028 first-rounder to Vegas.
Dorofeyev signed a seven-year, $77 million contract and posted 37 goals, 27 assists in 82 games with 12 playoff goals last season.
The trade allowed New York to retain its No. 5 overall pick, which it used to select defenseman Alberts Šmits.

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