The New York Rangers made a major draft-night swing Friday, acquiring winger Pavel Dorofeyev from the Vegas Golden Knights and moving quickly to secure him on a long-term contract that positions him as a central piece of New York’s retool.

The Rangers sent the No. 26 overall pick and No. 92 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft to Vegas, along with a conditional first-round pick in the 2028 NHL Draft. NHL.com reported the trade Friday night, and contract trackers and multiple reports said Dorofeyev agreed to a seven-year, $77 million deal with an $11 million average annual value after the move.

The deal gives New York a 25-year-old winger coming off the best season of his NHL career. Dorofeyev scored 37 goals and added 27 assists for 64 points in 82 regular-season games with the Golden Knights, then remained a significant postseason scorer with 12 goals and four assists in 22 playoff games. NHL.com listed his career totals at 149 points, including 92 goals and 57 assists, across 231 regular-season games.

For the Rangers, the acquisition is a clear attempt to accelerate their return to contention after a disappointing season. New York went 34-39-9 and missed the playoffs for a second consecutive year, according to NHL.com. Rather than use both of its first-round selections strictly on prospects, the club converted the later first-round pick into an established scorer who should immediately factor into the top six and the power play.

Dorofeyev’s profile fits an obvious organizational need. New York has been looking for more finishing talent and younger core forwards who can contribute immediately. His recent production in Vegas, particularly his 37-goal regular season and productive playoff run, gives the Rangers a player with demonstrated scoring at NHL pace rather than the uncertain development curve attached to a late first-round pick.

The contract is just as important as the trade itself. PuckPedia lists Dorofeyev’s new deal with the Rangers at seven years and $77 million, carrying an $11 million annual cap hit from 2026-27 through 2032-33. That size of commitment indicates New York did not view the move as a rental or a bridge arrangement. The Rangers are paying for Dorofeyev’s prime scoring years and taking on the corresponding cap risk that comes with a long-term, high-AAV winger contract.

That risk is part of the larger calculation. Dorofeyev had been a pending restricted free agent with Vegas, meaning the Golden Knights faced a major contract decision after his breakout. Instead of matching the kind of long-term number he could command, Vegas moved him for draft capital and flexibility. The return gives the Golden Knights two first-round assets, including the protected 2028 pick, plus a third-rounder in the 2026 draft.

Vegas also used the draft board aggressively after the trade. NHL.com reported that the Golden Knights later moved the No. 26 pick to Montreal for the No. 28 pick and a 2027 third-round selection, then traded down again from No. 28 to No. 29 in a deal with Anaheim that added a 2026 fourth-round pick. That sequence turned Dorofeyev into a wider package of draft assets and maneuverability for a franchise that has frequently prioritized roster flexibility.

The Golden Knights’ side of the deal reflects the reality of managing a contender’s cap sheet. Vegas reached the Stanley Cup Final before losing to Carolina in six games, and Dorofeyev had become one of its most productive forwards. Moving him is still a significant subtraction, especially given his age and scoring surge, but the trade prevents a large long-term commitment from crowding out other decisions across the roster.

For New York, the deal also changes the context of draft weekend. The Rangers kept their higher first-round pick and selected defenseman Alberts Smits at No. 5, while using the later first-rounder as part of the Dorofeyev package. That combination gave the club both a high-end defensive prospect and an immediate NHL scorer, a blend of future planning and near-term urgency.

Dorofeyev was selected by Vegas in the third round, No. 79 overall, in the 2019 NHL Draft. His rise from mid-round pick to $11 million-a-year winger underscores how much his value changed over the past two seasons. After establishing himself as a major scoring threat in Vegas, he now joins a larger media market and a Rangers roster that will put immediate expectations on his finishing ability.

The move should reshape New York’s offseason priorities. Adding Dorofeyev gives the Rangers a premium winger before free agency opens, but the cap commitment also reduces flexibility elsewhere. Management will now need to build around a forward group that includes another major long-term contract, while ensuring the club still has enough depth, defensive stability and goaltending support to climb back into the Eastern Conference playoff picture.

The trade also fits the broader pattern of a busy NHL Draft night, with established young players moving for significant pick packages. In this case, the Rangers chose certainty and scoring, while the Golden Knights chose flexibility and future assets. The ultimate evaluation will depend on whether Dorofeyev’s 37-goal season becomes his new baseline in New York or proves to be the peak that Vegas was unwilling to price into its cap structure.