Pavel Dorofeyev Is a Ranger, But Chris Drury's Draft Week Had New York Fuming

Holy moly, the 2026 NHL Draft was an absolute whirlwind, and even though our Kraken weren't making these specific moves, you gotta pay attention to the chaos unfolding in the league! The New York Rangers were straight up wilding out. They snagged Latvian defenseman Alberts Smits with the fifth overall pick, which is a solid building block, no doubt. But listen, that was just the appetizer. GM Chris Drury went full blockbuster mode, pulling off a gigantic trade to bring Vegas Golden Knights forward Pavel Dorofeyev to the Big Apple! Talk about a statement!

Drury's Wild Ride: Trades and Draft Shocks

So, Smits, a Latvian defenseman, gets picked at number five. That's a big deal for their blue line, a key building block in Drury's retool, right? But the real fireworks? That Dorofeyev trade! The Rangers pulled off a gigantic move, snatching the Vegas Golden Knights forward to provide some much-needed scoring help. They weren't messing around! If that wasn't enough to shake things up, they also dealt winger Brett Berard to the Montreal Canadiens for defenseman William Trudeau in a sudden draft-week swap. This wasn't just a minor tweak; we're talking about roster and depth chart implications here, aiming to bolster that defensive depth for the long haul. You gotta wonder how fast these new faces will gel.

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The Heat Is On: GM Chris Drury Under Fire

But even with all those moves, it ain't all sunshine and rainbows for Rangers GM Chris Drury. TSN NHL insider Pierre LeBrun straight up criticized Drury for dropping the ball and not dealing center Vincent Trocheck way back at the trade deadline last March. That's a serious public jab! And it gets messier when you look at who they *didn't* get. Remember the talk about Chase Reid falling to number five? The Athletic's Peter Baugh and Vince Mercogliano said it wasn't even a guarantee the Rangers would consider drafting him. Plus, the Rangers reportedly missed out on some big names. Alex Tuch ended up signing a deal with Washington after Buffalo traded him, taking a premier top-six target right off the market. And don't forget Bowen Byram, traded from Buffalo to Chicago, who the Rangers were reportedly in the running for too. Those were crucial opportunities gone! Rangers fans were even hoping for winger prospect Ivar Stenberg to fall to them, but those hopes imploded days before the draft thanks to an active Tuesday of trades around the league. It makes you wonder how the entire league views the talent available at that No. 5 spot when several NHL teams moved top-10 draft picks for proven young defensemen. Even with all the drama, reports indicate they are expected to keep Alexis Lafreniere heading into next season, despite listening to trade offers. Talk about a chaotic trade market for Rangers fans!

So, what's next for the Rangers after all this chaos? They made some bold moves, but the pressure is definitely on Chris Drury. The regular season is just around the corner, and all these draft picks and trade acquisitions are supposed to be the building blocks for a successful year. New York is going to be watching every single shift, every single shot. Let's see if these big swings and controversial decisions actually pay off for the Emerald City's East Coast rivals once the puck drops!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.