Is San Jose the Best 2026 Landing Spot for the Rangers 24-Year-Old Free Agent Defenseman?
As the Stanley Cup Finals begin this coming Tuesday, we head into the month of the 2026 NHL Draft. Finishing the previous season dead last in the Eastern Conference, the New York Rangers were sadly not lucky as they hold the fifth overall pick. While this offseason's draft may be loaded, the Blueshirts stand in a position where anything below top-three is disappointing, though there still may be time to fix this. While the San Jose Sharks currently hold the second overall pick and a few talented youngsters, reports indicate they are open to offers, giving the Rangers a small chance to move up from fifth overall. A move like that won't come cheap, but that's where one of the Rangers' free agent defensemen may come in.
Selected 19th overall in the 2020 NHL Draft, Braden Schneider has been a regular on the Blueshirts' defense for some time. As one of New York's most tradeable figures going into this offseason, it’s likely the 24-year-old departs. Since moving the free-agent former defensive partner K’Andre Miller to the Carolina Hurricanes one year prior, fans would do well to expect a deal, but where? If traded, it does leave a potential open spot on the third pair for defensemen like Drew Fortescue or Scott Morrow. This brings us back to the San Jose Sharks, a team that may be the perfect landing spot to benefit both Schneider and the Rangers' future.
Currently in possession of their third top-three pick in the last five years, the San Jose Sharks are on the doorstep of domination. However, there is still room for improvement, including the defense. San Jose currently skates with four veteran defensemen heading into free agency this offseason, one of whom New York may pursue. A defensive upgrade is urgently needed, whether that involves resigning or an overhaul, which may relate to their interest in the Rangers' free-agent defenseman. With the team already interested in the 24-year-old, it makes the odds of a potential trade quite likely, so what makes San Jose the perfect landing spot?
Just missing a spot in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Sharks go into next season with loads of young talent. Skating on the ice in San Jose are players like Macklin Celebrini, Sam Dickinson, and Will Smith, so one can only imagine the next step they can potentially take next season. What stands out about these young players is that most are young, talented forwards, something the New York Rangers could very well use. Now, although San Jose’s got some young talent the Blueshirts could absolutely use, there’s also another way this could go down.
Again, coming off such a disappointing season, being pushed back to fifth overall was the absolute worst-case scenario for the Rangers, but the Canadian free agent may just help them out. An asset like Schneider could be a key part in a potential trade to move New York up to second overall, improving their odds of landing a player like Ivan Stenberg or Caleb Malhotra. Any player looking to be picked in the top three would do wonders for the Rangers, whether it's an offensive or defensive weapon. Whether it’s to swap in the draft or to deal with assets, how exactly do both teams benefit from it in the end?
For the Sharks, they’d either remain with a top-five pick and fill a few gaps on defense or fill in one gap on defense while keeping their second overall pick. For the Rangers to trade up in the draft, or to make a trade involving a pretty talented San Jose youngster, both of which ensure the Rangers a player who could very well turn into a key piece in their retool. Either option sounds like a huge benefit for the future of these two teams. With 26 days remaining until the 2026 NHL Draft, can these two teams work out a deal neither one can refuse?
