Breaking Down NHL Draft Night Trades: Bruins Add Peterka, Rangers Get Dorofeyev
While Friday night is all about the 2026 NHL draft, there have been an abundance of trades.
The moves between the NHL's GMs didn't dry up during the first round of the draft.
In fact, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman had to announce back-to-back trades ahead of the Calgary Flames' sixth overall pick.
2026 NHL Draft Tracker: Round 1 Picks, Reports, Rankings And More
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New York Rangers Acquire Pavel Dorofeyev From Vegas
The Vegas Golden Knights have just $4.625 million in salary cap space, which forced them to trade their top goal-scorer and pending RFA, left winger Pavel Dorofeyev, to the New York Rangers.
The Rangers sent the No. 26 and No. 92 picks in the 2026 draft to the Golden Knights, as well as a top-10 protected 2028 first-round pick.
Dorofeyev also signed a seven-year contract at $11 million per season.
Dorofeyev, 25, scored a career-high 37 goals and 64 points for Vegas this past season. He also scored 12 goals and 16 points in 22 post-season appearances.
St. Louis Acquire Mason McTavish From Anaheim
Just ahead of the St. Louis Blues' 15th overall selection, they traded that No 15 pick, as well as the 29th pick in the 2026 draft in exchange for Mason McTavish from the Anaheim Ducks.
After that trade, the Ducks went on to select Nikita Klepov with the 15th pick.
McTavish, 23, signed a six-year extension ahead of last season and earns $7 million against the salary cap.
The center is moving away from a situation where he was being healthy scratched in Anaheim, and will likely earn much more playing time with St. Louis. He ended this past season with 17 goals and 41 points in 75 regular-season games. His career-high 52 points came the year before.
More to come.
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This story was originally published June 26, 2026 at 8:41 PM.