How Is Pavel Dorofeyev Living Up to the Rangers' Trade Cost?

Pavel Dorofeyev has a goal and three points in two preseason games for the New York Rangers, an early return on one of the most expensive trades of the offseason, according to the New York Post.

What did the Rangers give up to get Dorofeyev?

The Rangers sent the Vegas Golden Knights a first-round pick and a third-round pick from this year's draft, plus a top-10 protected first-rounder in 2026, the Post reports. New York then signed the left-handed forward to a seven-year contract worth an average of $11 million a season.

How has Dorofeyev performed in preseason games?

Dorofeyev has skated on the right side of J.T. Miller in both exhibition games. He scored against the Islanders on Sept. 22 at Madison Square Garden, according to the Post, showing what the outlet called his "trademark shot release." In the Rangers' 6-1 win Friday, he added two assists. On the Islanders goal by Oliver Bjorkstrand, Dorofeyev worked out of a crease scramble, tried to get around goaltender Semyon Varlamov, and slid the puck to Bjorkstrand for the finish. In the third period of that game he kept the puck in at the blue line on a sequence that ended with a Mika Zibanejad power-play goal.

Why does he project as a power-play weapon?

The Rangers' power play was already a strength, the Post notes, and Dorofeyev adds scoring pedigree to it. He scored 20 power-play goals last season, anchoring 37 total goals in 2025-26. Over the past two seasons, the 25-year-old has 72 goals combined, per the Post.

What does Dorofeyev say about the pressure of the contract?

Dorofeyev, speaking to the Post after Friday's morning skate, said the size of the deal will not change his approach.

"It doesn't matter if it's big contract or small. I'm not gonna change my game, or I'm not gonna change myself. All I'll do is just gonna work hard and enjoy the game and not try and focus on points and other stuff."

He has also said he is comfortable playing either wing, a detail the Post cites as part of his fit alongside Miller.

What should Rangers fans watch for once the season starts?

• Whether Dorofeyev stays on Miller's right side once regular-season lines are set.
• His power-play deployment, given his 20 man-advantage goals last season.
• Preseason production translating to games that count, starting Tuesday in Boston.
• How the Rangers' 2026 first-round pick obligation to Vegas is affected by the team's standing as the season progresses.

The Rangers open the regular season Tuesday night in Boston, per the Post.