Asset or Afterthought? Where the 24-Year-Old Defenseman Fits in the Rangers Retool
The New York Rangers' retool officially kicked off with the trade of Carson Soucy to the New York Islanders. While it looks like it's just the beginning of a series of moves, there are key pieces to look into now for this team's future. While the future looks promising for rookies like Noah Laba and Gabe Perreault, a few young players could play key roles. Many may be focused on Artemi Panarin as the next move, but there's a certain defenseman whose contract is up this year that many don't seem to consider. Being a defenseman that's a bit heavier, Braden Schneider should no doubt be on the minds of quite a few teams. As he soon becomes a restricted free agent this Summer, are the Rangers comfortable with moving on from Braden Schneider?
Having played for New York for the past five seasons, Braden Schneider has been given quite the opportunity this season. From the Rangers' perspective, Schneider stands as one of their better players on defense, though only remaining on the third pair. Since Adam Fox's injury, Schneider has been given the chance on the top pair with Vladislav Gavrikov. Though his offense is nowhere near Fox's level, New York hoped he would make the most of this opportunity to become a defender capable of shutting down. Sadly, it seems Schneider has struggled to meet that goal this year, which may prompt the Rangers to move on from the 24-year-old. Even with Fox healthy, Schneider's time on the third pair made it unlikely for him to break out anytime soon. If the conclusion is reached, the next question is whether any team is willing to give something of value in exchange for him.
Again, as a defenseman who's a bit heavier, several teams would surely be interested in that kind of player. Apart from his size, Schneider has shown at times that he's physical, plays big minutes, and blocks shots when needed. With just two years to unrestricted free agency, Schneider, of course, needs a new contract this Summer. Given how long it will take for the Blueshirts to be a contending team again, it's quite hard to believe Schneider would fit into any of it. It would very much make sense to move on from him. Fans should expect something quite similar to last year's trade that sent K'Andre Miller to the Carolina Hurricanes. Perhaps his size and play can interest quite a few in giving New York something of value. The road to the trade deadline is still quite far, and while New York has time to conclude, fans may well agree it's time to bid farewell to their 24-year-old defenseman.
