New York Rangers Retool Takes Shape, but Work Far From Done

On an exciting 2026 NHL Entry Draft night, the New York Rangers added two impactful players in a matter of minutes to join the lineup for the 2026-27 season. After the letter that general manager Chris Drury sent out to fans in January of this year, it seemed clear that Drury and staff were set on getting the team back to the playoffs within a couple of years, rather than committing to a full rebuild. However, after the departure of Artemi Panarin and the return only being a 20-year-old prospect, Rangers fans were left wondering whether the retool Drury promised was anything more than a rebuild dressed up in nicer language. 

September 30, 2009: New York Rangers at the ‘Late Show with David Letterman’ in New York City. Credit: Roger Wong/INFphoto.com Ref.: infusny-146

After the weekend in Western New York, Buffalo, the picture is clearer. The draft officially gave Rangers fans reason for hope in the near future.

New York Rangers Retool Adds Two Impactful Pieces For Next Season

By acquiring Pavel Dorofeyev from the Vegas Golden Knights just minutes before the draft began and selecting defenceman Alberts Smits with the fifth-overall pick, Drury added two impactful players to a roster that desperately needed them.

Dorofeyev is the kind of player who typically is not available at 25 years old. A proven goal scorer who posted 37 goals and 64 points last season, including 20 power play goals, which ranked second in the entire NHL. Dorofeyev is a proven top-six winger who will add a lot of talent to the Rangers’ forwards.

The cost was a 26th-overall pick, the 92nd-overall pick, and a top-10 protected, 2028 first-round pick, plus a seven-year extension at $11 million average annual value. According to AFP Analytics, Dorofeyev had a projected evaluation of $9 million a year, but to get a player of Dorofeyev’s type at 25 years old, who retained the fifth-overall pick, Rangers fans have a lot to be happy about with Drury’s draft night. 

Just minutes after the Dorofeyev deal, the Rangers added a young talent to the lineup in Alberts Smits. The 6’3″ Latvian defenceman spent last season playing professional hockey against men in Finland’s Liiga. He represented Latvia at the Olympics, the World Junior Championship, and the World Championship all in the same season, proving his talent and NHL readiness across many different competitions.

It was clear with top-rated defencemen Chase Reid being on the board for Drury and the Rangers that the team is fully committed to a retool instead of a rebuild. Analysts suggested that Smits was the most NHL-ready player on the board, meaning Drury and staff are aiming to put a roster on the ice in October that can compete for a playoff spot next season. Smits is expected to sign his entry-level contract this summer and join the Rangers roster this year. 

The Forward Group Has an Identity

Rangers fans are now starting to see a forward core that will be the centre of the New York Rangers for years to come. As discussed in a previous piece on the Rangers’ emerging top line, Mika Zibanejad, Alexis Lafreniere, and Gabe Perreault finished the season as the most productive line combination on the roster. They posted the highest xGF of any Rangers line at 7.23 across their 22 games together while outperforming their expected numbers with 14 goals. Adding Dorofeyev to this mix of Alexis Lafreniere and Gabe Perreault now solidifies three forwards, all 25 or younger, who bring complementary offensive abilities.

Dorofeyev is a sharpshooter who has already shown what he is capable of at the NHL level. Perreault is an ascending playmaker with elite hockey sense. Lafreniere finished last season showing signs that he may finally be growing into the player the Rangers drafted him to be. This is a core of forwards to build around and for Rangers fans to be excited about.

But There Is Still a Lot of Work to Do

While the night of June 26th should make Rangers fans optimistic for a winning future, it should be made clear that Chris Drury still has a lot of work to do if they want to be competitive in the near future. 

The centre position was at least acknowledged on Saturday. The Rangers selected Tomas Chrenko in the third round, who is a Slovak centre who posted 31 points in 44 games in Slovakia’s top professional league and turned heads at the World Juniors with eight points in five games. However, analysts still have questions about his NHL ceiling and defensive game, and size at just 5’11”. A third-round centre is not a pipeline solution. Drury still needs to find a top-six centre capable of contributing in the near future, especially with Mika Zibanejad growing older.

The Vincent Trocheck situation also needs to be resolved. Vincent Trocheck is a veteran on the wrong side of his prime, occupying cap space and a roster spot that the Rangers’ young players need. Moving him for younger talent similar to Dorofeyev or even picks for next year’s draft is what needs to happen to keep this retool on track. Drury shipped away 20 draft picks between 2021 and the 2024 deadline in the pursuit of chasing short-term gains that never delivered a championship. Holding on to Trocheck would be a step backwards at a time when the franchise cannot afford it.

With Dorofeyev’s new $11 million AAV contract on the Rangers’ budget, moving Trocheck’s salary creates room to pursue the next move. Without that flexibility, Drury’s options narrow significantly. He should avoid any long-term commitments unless the player is young, impactful, and fits the retool. Any player that does not fit this type creates risks of repeating the same mistakes that put this franchise in the basement of the Eastern Conference.

Friday night proved Drury knows how to make a bold move when the situation demands it. But this should now just be the start of a busy offseason for Chris Drury. Furthermore, the Rangers now need more of those moves. Not reckless ones, not overpays for aging veterans, but smart and aggressive pursuit of NHL-ready talent that fits the timeline and accelerates what this team is building. Draft night was a step in the right direction for this retool. The weeks and months ahead will determine whether it has a destination.

Main Photo Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports