Rangers offseason targets: Knies, Dorofeyev and the No. 5 pick

Chris Drury holds the No. 5 pick and ample cap space but faces a narrow path to land Matthew Knies or an offer sheet on Pavel Dorofeyev.

The draft asset and one high-upside name

The Rangers own the fifth overall selection in the 2026 NHL Draft. That pick carries concrete trade value when paired with the team’s projected cap flexibility heading into July.

Matthew Knies recorded 66 points last season at age 23 while carrying a $7.75 million cap hit for five additional seasons. The Toronto Maple Leafs have not signaled he is available, yet Drury has joined a short list of GMs monitoring the situation.

A deal for Knies would require the Rangers to surrender the No. 5 pick plus at least one additional asset. The return would immediately upgrade the top-six forward group without adding long-term cap risk beyond the existing contract.

UFA and RFA options that fit positional holes

Alex Tuch remains the clearest unrestricted free-agent fit for a top-six role that supplies size and secondary scoring. At age 30, however, any multi-year commitment above market rate would lock the Rangers into a complementary piece rather than a driver.

Pavel Dorofeyev stands out among restricted free agents. An offer sheet from New York would first require the club to reclaim its 2027 second-round pick currently held by the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Golden Knights would likely need to shed salary, opening the door for the Rangers to absorb Tomas Hertl or William Karlsson in the same transaction.

Bowen Byram and Owen Power appear on internal lists as potential top-four defensemen if Buffalo seeks cap relief to retain Zach Benson and Peyton Krebs. Both carry manageable term and would address the Rangers’ left-shot depth without requiring the No. 5 pick.

Trade packages that test asset management

Vincent Trocheck could be moved for a package of futures, freeing approximately $5.4 million in cap space while replenishing draft capital. Any return would need to offset the loss of a reliable middle-six center who has posted consistent point totals in recent seasons.

Roope Hintz carries five years at $8.45 million and a no-movement clause. Dallas may explore moves around him only if Jason Robertson’s extension forces further maneuvering, yet the price for Hintz would almost certainly exceed what the Rangers can realistically offer without touching the No. 5 pick.

Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou remain under contract at $8.125 million through 2031. St. Louis has shown no inclination to move either player, and the Rangers lack the combination of young talent and draft assets that would interest the Blues.

Cap-space leverage and secondary targets

The Rangers’ projected room also positions them to absorb one of Vegas’s higher-cap forwards such as Hertl, Karlsson or Keegan Kolesar if the Golden Knights pursue an offer-sheet defense on Dorofeyev. Such a maneuver would simultaneously address forward depth and create future flexibility.

Brady Tkachuk remains a theoretical target only if Ottawa unexpectedly makes him available. No such indication exists, yet the Rangers’ interest in established top-six production keeps his name on the periphery of internal discussions.

The combination of the No. 5 pick, existing cap space and willingness to move Trocheck gives Drury multiple levers. Success hinges on whether those levers can be pulled without surrendering future flexibility or overpaying for complementary pieces.