Newest Ranger Pavel Dorofeyev on high expectations: 'I've been dealing with pressure all of my life'

Like so many others, Pavel Dorofeyev was enraptured by the allure of New York.

Becoming a member of a historically significant NHL franchise appealed to him. Envisioning himself on the same stage where Henrik Lundqvist, Wayne Gretzky, Brian Leetch, Mark Messier and countless other stars plied their trade seized his imagination.

The images were unrelenting. Those thoughts would not go away. When it came to signing a long-term contract with the Rangers, the images and thoughts made his decision for him.

“There [are] so many reasons to want to play here,” Dorofeyev said during his introductory Zoom call with reporters on Friday morning. “Original Six team. First-class organization. Playing at MSG. This list can go all the way down to the floor, so I just couldn’t say no [to signing an extension with his new team].’’

The Rangers couldn’t say no either — not to the opportunity to add a high-scoring 25-year-old to a roster that struggled to score in 2025-26.

Dorofeyev has recorded 92 goals and 57 assists in his 231-game NHL career, all with Vegas. He led the Golden Knights with 37 goals in the 2025-26 regular season, and his 12 goals in the Stanley Cup playoffs ranked second on the team behind former Ranger Brett Howden’s 14.

Which is why Rangers general manager Chris Drury was willing to part with the Nos. 26 and 92 picks in the draft along with a conditional 2028 first-round pick that is top 10-protected to acquire Dorofeyev during the first day of the NHL Draft — and why he subsequently signed him to a seven-year, $77 million contract.

During a Zoom call Thursday, Drury acknowledged that his decision to acquire Dorofeyev was based upon adding the elements of youth, speed and skill as part of the “retool” he announced in his Jan. 16 statement.

“His unique skill set and production — specifically in goals — is something we were in need of,” Drury said.

The Rangers scored 235 goals this past season, 2.87 per game, which ranked 23rd in the NHL. Vegas was 14th with 264 goals, 3.22 per game.

What makes Drury confident that Dorofeyev will continue to produce at the same rate with the Rangers that he did with the Golden Knights, considering that neither Mitch Marner nor Tomas Hertl — his linemates with Vegas — are in the Blueshirts’ lineup?

“His overall talent, and I also think we got some pretty talented players that can get him the puck as well, whether it’s five-on-five or power play,” Drury said. “[We’re] excited to add him to our mix and think he’s going to do extremely well here for us.”

So does Dorofeyev, even as he noted that his contract and his track record are likely to create outsized external expectations.

“Pressure, it’s kind of a privilege. I’ve been dealing with pressure all of my life,” he said. “I’m just looking forward to [joining] the team and do my best helping any way I can.”

And how does he plan to do that? By continuing to improve and evolve as a player. “I don’t plan to stop. I know I still have time to get better at certain points of my game,” he said. “Usually, I’m just focused on the game and not trying to beat myself.”

Essentially, Dorofeyev echoed Vegas general manager Kelly McCrimmon, who emphasized that the decision to trade Dorofeyev was not an indictment of the right wing’s performance.

“It’s the last two years where he’s really blossomed with more opportunity. He was a 37-goal scorer this past year. Twelve more in the playoffs. Thirty-five goals the year previous,” McCrimmon told reporters who cover the team after the draft. “I think he’s going to do great with his new opportunity in New York, and I guess from a team standpoint, this is the business of hockey. Pav was making, I think, $1.9 million with us last year and he’s now going to make $11 million a season for seven more years. It’s well-earned, but it just puts us in a situation where it can’t be accommodated here.

“We love the player. He was really, really important for us, but we needed to take the opportunity to work on getting our [salary] cap compliant, and he was part of how we did that.”

Dorofeyev returned the compliment. “I grew up there not just as a player but as a person as well,” he said. “I wish them all the best and now I’m enjoying being a Ranger.”