Pavel Dorofeyev playing up to blockbuster expectations in preseason

The arrival of Pavel Dorofeyev already included plenty of expectations.There were the first- and third-round picks this year that the Rangers sent back to the Golden Knights; the top 10 protected first-rounder in 2026; and the seven-year deal with an average annual value of $11 million. But Dorofeyev, the left-handed forward who said he was comfortable skating on both wings and has featured on the right side of J.T.

Miller in both of his preseason games, didn’t sound fazed about any of the stakes that’ll come into focus when the season begins Tuesday night in Boston.His potential was on display with a goal and three points in two preseason games.  Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mollie Walker about the inside buzz on the Rangers.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s big contract or small,” Dorofeyev told The Post following the Rangers’ morning skate Friday.“I’m not gonna change my game, or I’m not gonna change myself.

All I’ll do is just gonna work hard and enjoy the game and not try and focus on points and other stuff.” Dorofeyev added a pair of assists in Friday’s exhibition — a 6-1 Rangers victory, after flashing his trademark shot release Tuesday when he scored against the Islanders.While stuck in a cluster of traffic around the crease in the first period, Dorofeyev took possession and tried to maneuver around Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov before the puck slid to Oliver Bjorkstrand for the Blueshirts’ first goal.

In the third period, Dorofeyev kept the puck in at the blue line before the sequence eventually ended with Mika Zibanejad’s power-play goal. That, more than anything, was the space where the Rangers could potentially benefit most from the arrival of Dorofeyev.Their power play — already a strength — added Dorofeyev’s 20 goals with the man advantage from last season, which anchored his 37 total from 2025-26.

Over the last two seasons, the 25-year-o...