The New York Rangers’ decision to acquire Pavel Dorofeyev from the Vegas Golden Knights was based on far more than the winger’s recent scoring numbers. Long before Dorofeyev became a 72-goal scorer over two seasons and one of the most intriguing young forwards in the NHL, a respected veteran who had spent time with both Vegas and New York was already convinced that the Russian forward had something special.
That veteran was Reilly Smith, a 14-year NHL player and member of the Golden Knights’ 2023 Stanley Cup championship team. Smith’s previous experience alongside Dorofeyev gives the Rangers an intriguing endorsement of the player they have now committed to for the long term. According to Golden Knights broadcaster Dan D’Uva, Smith was so impressed with Dorofeyev during offseason workouts that he essentially wished he could invest in the young forward’s future.
Smith saw Dorofeyev’s potential early
Smith and Dorofeyev first crossed paths during offseason training sessions in Connecticut with respected hockey trainer Ben Prentiss. At the time, Dorofeyev was still trying to establish himself as a legitimate NHL player after spending much of his early professional career in the minor leagues.
D’Uva recalled that when Smith later returned to Vegas after his brief stint with the Rangers, the two discussed Dorofeyev. Smith reportedly said that if he could have “purchased stock” in a hockey player, Dorofeyev would have been the player he wanted to invest in.
That assessment came before Dorofeyev’s breakout, making it particularly interesting for Rangers fans today. Smith wasn’t simply reacting to the 25-year-old’s impressive recent statistics. He had seen the player up close before the goals and postseason performances made him a much more recognizable name around the NHL.
D’Uva also pointed out that Smith has a reputation for understanding the game and evaluating players, making his early belief in Dorofeyev especially noteworthy.
Dorofeyev’s development took time
The Rangers’ new forward did not become an NHL star overnight.
Drafted by Vegas in the third round of the 2019 NHL Draft, Dorofeyev spent most of his first three professional seasons in North America with Henderson of the American Hockey League. His NHL opportunity finally arrived during the 2022-23 season, when he appeared in 18 games for Vegas and scored seven goals.
That season became a memorable one for the Golden Knights because they went on to win the Stanley Cup.
However, Dorofeyev was not part of their playoff lineup. Although he had shown enough to make an impact during the regular season, then-Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy did not use him in any of the team’s 22 postseason games.
That experience appears to have become an important part of Dorofeyev’s development.
The White House moment that reportedly motivated him
One of the most fascinating details surrounding Dorofeyev’s career occurred after Vegas won the Stanley Cup in 2023.
The Golden Knights visited the White House to celebrate their championship, with members of the championship team standing alongside President Joe Biden. Dorofeyev was present at the event, but he was not among the players being honored on stage because he had not appeared in the postseason.
According to D’Uva, Dorofeyev sat nearby and watched his teammates receive the recognition.
That moment reportedly left an impression on him.
D’Uva believes Dorofeyev wanted to experience that feeling for himself—to be part of a championship team rather than watch others receive the ultimate recognition from the sidelines. The broadcaster suggested that the experience became a motivating factor for Dorofeyev as he continued working toward becoming an NHL star.
That motivation appears to have translated into production.
Dorofeyev eventually became a major offensive weapon
After officially becoming an NHL rookie in 2023-24, Dorofeyev gradually expanded his role with Vegas. His development accelerated, and over the past two seasons he established himself as one of the Golden Knights’ most dangerous offensive players.
He scored 72 goals across those two seasons, a production level that ultimately made him one of the most valuable young forwards available to the Rangers.
His 2025-26 postseason was particularly impressive.
Dorofeyev scored 12 playoff goals, second-most among all players during the postseason, as Vegas advanced to the Stanley Cup Final. The Golden Knights ultimately fell to the Carolina Hurricanes in six games, but Dorofeyev’s performance confirmed that he could produce when the stakes were highest.
For New York, that playoff performance is an important part of the reason the organization believes Dorofeyev can become a centerpiece of its next era.
Rangers made a major commitment
After acquiring Dorofeyev from Vegas, the Rangers quickly demonstrated that they were not viewing him as a short-term experiment.
New York signed him to a seven-year, $77 million contract, giving him an average annual value of $11 million and keeping him under contract through the 2032-33 season.
That is a significant financial commitment for a player who is still only 25 years old.
The Rangers clearly believe his best hockey may still be ahead of him, which makes Smith’s old assessment particularly interesting. If Smith was correct that Dorofeyev was still developing into something special, New York could ultimately be acquiring the player just as he reaches his prime.
Smith knows both sides of the Rangers-Golden Knights connection
Smith’s perspective carries additional weight because of his unusual connection to both organizations.
He spent years with Vegas and scored the Stanley Cup-clinching goal during the Golden Knights’ 2023 championship run. After leaving Vegas, he signed with Pittsburgh and was subsequently traded to the Rangers during the 2024 offseason.
Smith played 58 games for New York, recording 29 points on 10 goals and 19 assists. The Rangers later traded him back to Vegas during the 2025-26 season, allowing him to see Dorofeyev’s development firsthand.
That makes Smith one of the people uniquely positioned to understand what New York is getting.
He saw Dorofeyev when the winger was still trying to establish himself, then watched him become a major offensive contributor in Vegas.
Why the endorsement matters for the Rangers
The Rangers are entering a new phase under general manager Chris Drury, and the organization is attempting to become younger, faster and more dangerous offensively.
Dorofeyev fits that plan.
He is entering his prime, possesses significant scoring ability and has already demonstrated that he can perform under postseason pressure. The Rangers are betting that his offensive development will continue after the move from Vegas to New York.
The biggest question will be whether Dorofeyev can translate his Vegas production into consistent success on Broadway.
The pressure will also increase because of his contract. A seven-year, $77 million deal means expectations will be enormous from the moment he steps onto the ice in New York.
But that is exactly where Smith’s old comments become significant.
If a veteran with Smith’s experience was already convinced years ago that Dorofeyev possessed star potential, the Rangers may have acquired a player whose rise has been building for much longer than the casual NHL fan realizes.
Dorofeyev now has a new challenge
The move to New York represents the biggest challenge of Dorofeyev’s career.
In Vegas, he developed within a Stanley Cup-winning organization and eventually became an important offensive piece. In New York, he will be expected to help lead a retooling Rangers team back toward championship contention.
The Rangers will need him to produce, but they will also need him to become one of the faces of the franchise.
The organization has already shown its confidence by committing seven years and $77 million to him.
Now the responsibility shifts to Dorofeyev.
He has already shown that he can score. He has already shown that he can perform in the playoffs. And according to Smith’s early evaluation, the talent was visible long before the statistics caught up.
The next step is proving that he can become the player the Rangers believe he can be.
For Rangers fans, Smith’s old endorsement provides another reason to be excited about Dorofeyev. The former Vegas and New York forward apparently saw the potential years before the rest of the hockey world and now the Rangers are betting $77 million that his prediction was right.
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