Pavel Dorofeyev comes to New York fresh off a run to the Stanley Cup Final, having scored the second-most goals (12) in the postseason — and after signing a seven-year, $77 million deal with the Rangers, who gave up three draft picks (two first-rounders) for the rights to a rising star who won’t turn 26 until next month.
Dorofeyev has gone from Las Vegas, one of the league’s smallest media markets, to Broadway, essentially to replace the perennial leading scorer (Artemi Panarin) of a spotlight franchise that has missed the playoffs in back-to-back years and finished 23rd in the league in scoring last season.
No pressure, kid.
“I think he understands what the expectations are,” Rangers coach Mike Sullivan said following Friday’s practice. “In the short time I’ve gotten to know him, in the conversations I’ve had with him, just observing how he carries himself around his teammates, he’s a confident kid. He’s got a quiet confidence about him. I think he’ll handle it fine.”
The Russian wing — one of 12 players to score 35-plus goals in each of the past two seasons — has had nearly three months to prepare for the change brought by the draft-day trade. He has had all summer to embrace the opportunity ahead.
“As soon as I [learned] I was traded, I felt a lot of different feelings, but in the end I’m grateful for the opportunity that I have to be in an organization like the Rangers,” Dorofeyev said. “It was a short summer, busy, a lot of changes, but at the same time it’s a great experience. I’m just having fun, and I’m happy to be here.
“I’m just looking forward to starting the season.”
Just two practices into his first training camp with the Rangers, Dorofeyev’s new teammates already have a newfound appreciation for the sniper who might first be approaching his prime.
“Lethal shooter,” Mika Zibanejad said of Dorofeyev. “You can tell he’s strong on the puck and he puts himself in positions to shoot. … The way he’s been finding guys, too, and the way he can finish, he’ll add to the goal-scoring for us, which is going to be huge.
“I think also it adds another threat that maybe teams haven’t seen in the same way from our power play in the past.”
Last season, Dorofeyev finished with 20 goals — plus 10 assists — on power plays, ranking behind only Dallas’ Wyatt Johnston.
“If it is him and Mika on those flanks, that’s two shooting threats to kind of pick your poison there,” defenseman Adam Fox said Thursday. “Having a goal-scorer on the power play, I think that’s one of the biggest threats you can have, and he’s obviously one of the best at it. It’s definitely a nice addition for us.”
Dorofeyev has opened camp on the second line, alongside J.T. Miller and Oliver Bjorkstrand, though Sullivan said he plans on playing Dorofeyev at both wings until deciding where he fits best.
The future has just begun.
“It feels better each day, getting comfortable,” Dorofeyev said. “We have a lot of skill guys, a lot of talented guys that can make great plays. I just have to be ready for the opportunity.”
