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Pavel Dorofeyev is already the biggest winner of NHL's July 1 free agent frenzy

Talk about securing the bag. Why a weak open market and a massive $13 million signing bonus check on day one officially make the Rangers' new top-six winger the absolute envy of the league.
ByTom Urtz Jr.|
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May 26, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights right wing Pavel Dorofeyev (16) prepares for a face off during the first period against the Colorado Avalanche in game four of the Western Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
May 26, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights right wing Pavel Dorofeyev (16) prepares for a face off during the first period against the Colorado Avalanche in game four of the Western Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Today is July 1, and not only is it the start of a new month, but it marks the start of a new league year for the NHL. This is also the first day of NHL free agency, and while the market hasn't officially opened for UFAs, it is fair to say that Pavel Dorofeyev is far and away the biggest winner already. The New York Rangers officially announced his contract on Tuesday, and today the team's new top forward woke up a very happy man.

Dorofeyev's contract structure makes today a very amazing day

Up until this point, Dorofeyev had made $7.27 million during his career as an NHL player, and as part of his new contract he has a signing bonus for each year of the deal. Today's signing bonus paid him $13 million which represents nearly double everything he'd made in the league up until this point.

He will make $1 million in base salary during the season, and that will be the only time during his time with the Rangers he'll be paid that little in salary. Next year his signing bonus is $6 million with a base salary of $7 million, and the year after that he has a signing bonus of $5 million. The number drops down to $4 million for two seasons, and then takes one last dip to $1.5 million for the remaining two years.

The Rangers are one of the few teams in the league that utilizes signing bonuses as a way of courting players to the team, and they built Igor Shesterkin's contract extension around them. Igor also cashes in each July 1, and today's prize is a $15 million signing bonus. He will earn $11,850,000 next summer, $8,700,000 the year after, and then $8,600,000 for the last four July 1sts of his contract.

Rangers also rewarded Dorofeyev with security

The Blueshirts not only are paying their new star forward an amazing salary, but they've added some clauses to his contract which will take effect once it is legal to do so. Players who are not yet eligible for free agency can't have a NMC or NTC in their contract, and for that reason his NMC doesn't kick in until July 1, 2028. He will hold that NMC for the length of his deal, and will also have a modified no-trade clause beginning June 30, 2031. On June 30, 2032 that changes to 10 teams.

If you wanted to get cynical about Dorofeyev's new deal, you'd point out that the Rangers have him for two years guaranteed, but if things were to go horribly wrong... at that point they'd have a great trade asset locked in on a bargain of a contract that could be moved before his NMC kicks in. The hope is that the Rangers don't ever have to consider that, but it is still something worth pointing out.

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