NY Rangers Will Have to Consider Pairing Two Top Offensive Players Together

Which two offensive players should the New York Rangers consider pairing together?

Apr 4, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad (93) talks to left wing Alexis Lafreniere (13) and defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov (44) during the second period against the Detroit Red Wings at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-Imagn Images / IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The New York Rangers have had a very busy summer, and as the team prepares for next season, they will have some important lineup decisions to make. 

This summer, there was no shortage of moves made by the Rangers in an attempt to improve a team that came in last place in the Eastern Conference last season. 

Fortunately, despite some uncertainty about what the plan for the franchise was going to be, New York was able to make some impressive upgrades. The Rangers were not only able to improve for this coming campaign, but the long-term outlook of the team looks better as well. 

This balance is a hard one to find, but it is one that Drury was seemingly able to execute. Of the moves that he made, one of the most notable was the addition of Pavel Dorofeyev from the Vegas Golden Knights. 

While the price to acquire him and then sign him long-term wasn’t cheap, the 25-year-old could be the top goal scorer for the team for years to come. Now, Mike Sullivan will be tasked with where to put him in the lineup, and that could be a tricky situation. 

Zibanejad and Dorofeyev Could Be Fantastic Duo 

Jun 4, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Vegas Golden Knights right wing Pavel Dorofeyev (16) battles for the puck against Carolina Hurricanes center Logan Stankoven (22) during the second period in game two of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images / IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The talent is certainly there for Dorofeyev to be a first-line player for the Rangers for many years to come, but the team did find some continuity and success with a trio at the end of last year. 

Following the trade that sent Artemi Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings, New York went with a first line that featured Mika Zibanejad, Gabe Perreault, and Alexis Lafreniere. While Zibanejad went down as the best offensive player for the team last year, both Perreault and Lafreniere played really well alongside him. 

Zibanejad clearly helped bring out the best in these two wingers, with Lafreniere especially playing some of the best hockey of his career. Now, as the team starts to prepare for next season, who will be on the top line with Zibanejad will be key. 

While the team certainly could simply run back a line that worked well, the prospect of having Zibanejad with Dorofeyev will be tempting. The new winger is expected to be the best scorer for the Rangers, and it will be important to have players around him that can put him in a position to succeed. 

These two will see a lot of time together on their first power play unit, but perhaps being together on five-on-five could also be what’s best for the team.