​A quick look at the stats and game highlights makes it clear why the New York Rangers were so eager to add Pavel Dorofeyev in the draft-day trade with the Vegas Golden Knights two weeks ago. The 25-year-old is exactly the in-prime goal scorer the Rangers needed after they ranked 23rd out of 32 teams in scoring last season, putting up 235 goals. Dorofeyev has tallied 72 goals over the past two seasons, leading Vegas with 37 in 2025-26 and 35 the season before. He also added 12 goals in the postseason, a major factor in the Golden Knights’ run to the Stanley Cup Final before their six-game setback against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Beyond simply finding the back of the net, Dorofeyev brings value on both special teams and at even strength, which is a significant upside. He finished last season tied for second in the league with 20 power-play goals. In 2024-25, 22 of his 35 goals came at even strength, with 13 more coming on the power play. “He’s the type of player you don’t bring in just to bolster your power play; you bring him in for the well-rounded offensive game he brings,” MSG Networks studio host Steve Valiquette explained on The Rangers Offseason Special. “He’s not a pure play-driver, but he’s a sniper and one of the league’s best.”
That seems to be the Rangers’ thinking as well. They traded two first-round picks, including this year’s No. 26 overall, and a third-rounder to obtain Dorofeyev, then signed him to a seven-year, $77 million contract.
So what makes him so well-rounded, according to Valiquette? “He’s a very varied shooter.” Dorofeyev has demonstrated a diverse scoring profile, with 10 goals off a snap shot, 10 off a wrist shot, four off a backhand, and five off a slap shot last season. He was one of just four players in the NHL to show that level of variability in his shot arsenal, a trait that has fueled his success over the past couple of years. He’s the kind of player who keeps opponents guessing, making him difficult to defend and a potent offensive asset.
With Artemi Panarin traded away in February, Dorofeyev steps into New York’s top six as their most dangerous goal scorer. He will also be a critical piece on the Rangers’ top power-play unit, especially after the departures of Panarin and Vincent Trocheck. “He’s definitely going to help the power play, and the power play was already elite. Last year, the Rangers finished fifth in power-play goal percentage,” Valiquette noted.
Though Valiquette emphasizes Dorofeyev’s versatility, there’s a clear tendency he highlighted. Dorofeyev tends to dominate on the right side, and he is especially dangerous with a one-timer off his left-handed shot. Last year, 26 of his goals came from the right side of the ice, underscoring his right-side acumen and elite one-timer capability.
This kind of detailed scouting report only adds to the anticipation surrounding Dorofeyev’s arrival in New York. He’s a dynamic, multi-faceted forward who can impact the game at both ends of the rink and immediately bolster the Rangers’ offense and power play as they head into the new season.