A salary cap crunch has once again forced the Vegas Golden Knights to part ways with an important lineup piece. This time it was winger Pavel Dorofeyev, who was traded to the New York Rangers while Vegas used its limited cap space to extend defenseman Rasmus Andersson.
Dorofeyev blossomed over the last two seasons, culminating in a top-line role during the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs as Vegas addressed injuries throughout their lineup. After moving Dorofeyev, the Golden Knights will need to find another under-the-radar forward who can provide a boost when they need it most.