SUMMERLIN (KTNV) — The NHL Draft began Friday in Buffalo, with the Golden Knights wasting no time making moves.
One of the first dominoes to fall this offseason happened early on during the draft, as forward Pavel Dorofeyev, who was set to be a restricted free agent, was traded to the New York Rangers, according to the organization.
WATCH | Golden Knights GM and director of scouting holds post-draft press conference:
Vegas received a first-round and a third-round pick in this year's draft, which they used to select defenseman Juho Piiparinen and center Benjamin Wilmott. They also received a 2028 first-round pick.
Other 2026 draft picks by Vegas:
- 3rd round: Sean Burick (defenseman)
- 4th round: Jonah Sivertson (right wing)
- 5th round: Will McLaughlin (defenseman)
- 6th round: Matthew Minchak (goalie)
- 7th round: Noel Pakarinen (left wing)
WATCH | Taylor Rocha breaks down the Dorofeyev trade:
The Golden Knights traded away a first-round pick in the deal that brought defenseman Noah Hanifin to Las Vegas. Their second-round selection was forfeited by the NHL for what the league called "flagrant violations" of its playoff media regulations during the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The organization appealed the decision, but the forfeiture remains in place.
General manager Kelly McCrimmon declined to discuss the status of that process at a pre-draft press conference.
"That's business between the National Hockey League and ourselves," McCrimmon said. "We're not going to be able to comment on that."
Free agency opens Wednesday, and the Golden Knights have several key roster decisions ahead.
Rasmus Andersson, who was acquired during the season, is also expected to become an unrestricted free agent.
"The big thing will be to make our decisions on UFAs, work towards retaining the players that we want to retain," McCrimmon said. "Pavel Dorofeyev is an RFA ... clearly he's a player that's really blossomed."
McCrimmon said determining which players return will shape every other move the organization makes.
"Clarity on all of those players then dictates what possibilities or what opportunities you may or may not have as you move forward," he said.
While the Golden Knights reached the Stanley Cup Final, McCrimmon acknowledged that change is inevitable in the NHL.
"I really liked our team," he said. "It's going to look different. It just does every year. That's our business."
Vegas could also be active on the trade market as it works through salary cap decisions and finalizes its roster before training camp.
Around the league, the spotlight Friday was on the Toronto Maple Leafs, who selected Penn State forward Gavin McKenna with the No. 1 overall pick.
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The Ontario native has spent his entire coaching career with the Golden Knights organization, serving as an assistant coach for VGK from 2023-26 and with the Silver Knights from 2020-23.
