Rangers GM ‘energized’ by executing significant makeover, may not be done
It’s been quite the whirlwind past week for the New York Rangers and their general manager Chris Drury.
There’ve been seven significant trades, nine players selected into the organization at the NHL Draft, five free agents signed, and one massive financial commitment made to a star RFA.
Along the way, Drury helped restock a barren prospect pipeline and oversaw a significant makeover of a Rangers team in the midst of a stated “retool” after missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs two straight years and finishing last in the Eastern Conference this past season.
“We know that we have a lot of work to do, but we’re energized with what has transpired in the recent days and the potential of what is front of us next season,” Drury told reporters Thursday.
The Rangers acquired Pavel Dorofeyev in a stunning draft-day trade with the Vegas Golden Knights, and subsequently signed the high-scoring 25-year-old forward to a seven-year, $77 million contract. They selected hulking Latvian defenseman Alberts Smits with the No. 5 overall pick in the draft, and added another former first-rounder, center Cole Beaudoin (No. 24 overall in 2024), as part of the return package for veteran center Vincent Trocheck.
And then they remade — and vastly improved — their second defense pairing by acquiring Marcus Pettersson and Sean Durzi, and also traded for veteran backup goalie Joonas Korpisalo.
That’s getting a lot of work done in a matter of six days. But don’t be surprised if Drury and the Rangers continue wheeling and dealing ahead of the 2026-27 season, which still is roughly three months away.
“Certainly not going to sit here and say the job’s done and complete and move on,” he said. “We’re still tinkering, still looking, and any which way we can help the team between now and Opening Night, we’re going to keep trying.”
When asked specifically about defenseman Braden Schneider’s future on Broadway, considering he’s frequently mentioned in trade rumors, Drury didn’t answer the question directly.
“We think Braden is a really good young talented defenseman. We drafted him, developed him, we like the skill set and what he does for us,” Drury stated. “I know he, along with us, are just trying to do everything we can to be better and help him be better, but he’s an exciting player and a terrific all-around high character person in our organization.”
The Rangers extended the restricted free agent a qualifying offer earlier in the week, and he remains eligible for salary arbitration should the sides not be able to agree on a contract. Schneider can become an unrestricted free agent in 2028.
Rangers GM Chris Drury explains flurry of recent moves, and philosophy behind making them
The centerpiece acquisition was Dorofeyev. The two-time 30-goal scorer cost the Rangers a pair of first-round draft picks, including the No. 26 overall selection this year, and a third-rounder. Drury explained that he’s willing to give up draft capital “for the right player or players, that are at the right age with the right contract that can help our lineup — not just in the year or two, but for a number of years down the road.”
Dorofeyev, who led the Golden Knights with 37 goals this past season and with 35 in 2024-25, fits that description perfectly. He’s a prolific goal scorer who’s prime seasons will now come in a Rangers sweater. Dorofeyev is a cornerstone player, acquired at the right age and at the right time, Drury weaponizing New York’s cap space and draft capital with Vegas up against the cap ceiling and unable to re-sign the young star.
“His unique skill set, and his production, specifically in goals is something that we were in need of, and [we] targeted him, and we’re thrilled to be able to pull off a trade with Vegas,” Drury explained.
Not as sexy, but just as important, the Rangers improved one of their greatest areas of need on the second defense pair. Pettersson, who played for parts of seven seasons under Mike Sullivan with the Pittsburgh Penguins, reunites with the coach on Broadway after the Rangers acquired him from the Vancouver Canucks on Monday for a 2030 first-round draft pick.
Pettersson will play on the left side of the second pair and is known for stout defensive play. He’s joined by Durzi, acquired in the Trocheck trade, who’s more offensive-minded and will help New York’s transition game immensely.
“It definitely was a priority. I think just the ability to move the puck, to get the puck out of our zone, to get it through the neutral zone, to get it to our forwards in all three zones was a priority,” Drury explained. “We looked at a lot of different options in a lot of different areas through this retool and identified that as one that we really wanted to address. Moved pieces around and did a number of different things to kind of reshape the D corps.”
Part of that reshaping was trading second-pair staple Will Borgen to the Boston Bruins for a pair of future draft picks.
Though Pettersson is 30 and free-agent pick-up Oliver Bjorkstrand is 31, Durzi is 27 and has two years remaining on his contract at $6 million per. Center Joe Veleno, 26, signed a one-year free-agent contract. As mentioned, Dorofeyev is 25. Beaudoin is 20. So, too, are Liam Greentree and Jacob Battaglia, top forward prospects acquired ahead of last season’s trade deadline.
Sensing a trend here?
Drury emphaszied that the Rangers are “targeting young players in their prime that enhance the skill and speed of the team.”
So far, so good. Some of this won’t translate immediately, with younger players, like Beaudoin, still developing. But after two miserable years, it feels the Rangers are building some positive momentum finally.
