MTPS: Who Stays and Who Goes? Looking at the New York Rangers Free Agents
Forget Trocheck for a second—the Rangers have a full slate of free agent decisions to make this summer. Predictions on every pending RFA and UFA, from the obvious to the surprising.
The New York Rangers have multiple questions to answer about their future and the direction of the organization in the near- and long-term. And, while much time has been dedicated to where Vincent Trocheck may land or who the team should select with the fifth overall pick later this month, there are also questions that must be answered about which pending free agents should be retained, which should be allowed to walk, and whose rights should be traded.
The free agent pool may be shallow, but we're going to dive in anyway.
Restricted Free Agents
Braden Schneider
At 24, Braden Schneider is kind of an enigma. On the one hand, he's exceptionally reliable, having missed only three games in four seasons. On the other hand, his play on the ice has been a mixed bag. His possession numbers aren't eye-popping, but do paint the picture of a guy who could be a good second-pair, right-handed defenseman who can handle 20-plus hard minutes a game. Those don't come around often. With his next contract expected to land somewhere between $4 million and $6 million annually, the Rangers have a significant decision to make.
The real question isn't whether Schneider has value, he does. If the Rangers made him available, teams would line up to acquire and sign him. The question is whether Chris Drury views him as part of the long-term core. The Rangers keep talking about Schneider as if he's a key part of the future, but their actions seldom match up with those words.
Prediction: Traded to the Montreal Canadiens
Brett Berard
Everyone likes Brett Berard. The 23-year-old looked poised to capitalize on a fairly strong 2024-25 season where he recorded ten points (six goals) in 35 games, while showing that despite his diminutive stature, he was willing to be a physical presence and mix it up on the ice. Alas, this year did not go nearly as well. He lost out on a playing spot to veteran Conor Sheary and played only 13 games for the Rangers, recorded zero points, and was passed on the depth chart by guys like Jaroslav Chmelar, Adam Sykora, and waiver pickup Tye Kartye.
The Rangers will also add more competition at the forward spot in 2026 with Brody Lamb, Nathan Aspinall, and Liam Greentree arriving in camp. That makes the path for Berard harder to see. Already reports are circulating that the team expects to trade his rights rather than re-sign him.
Prediction: Traded for a mid round pick or center depth prospect
