What Is Braden Schneider, Really?
Bridge deal or trade chip? Schneider's murky reputation, a long-hidden injury, and the Rangers' need for scoring all collide as his contract situation comes to a head.
If you ask ten different New York Rangers fans what they think of Braden Schneider, you may very well get fifteen different answers.
Believe it or not, Schneider is currently one of the longest-tenured Rangers and their second-longest-tenured defenseman behind Adam Fox. Drafted 19th overall in 2020, Schneider made the jump to the NHL just over a calendar year following his selection. Appearing in 43 games in his 2021-22 rookie season, Schneider has been a staple to the Rangers blueline ever since, playing a pivotal role on the teams that went to two Eastern Conference Finals in a span of three years.
But now, what does the future hold for the 24-year-old defenseman from Saskatchewan? That’s a difficult question to answer.
Before we can try and identify what the plan may be for the current restricted free agent, we need to talk about the different perceptions surrounding this player because, frankly, Schneider is held in varying regard by a number of people.
Let’s first talk about the facts. Schneider is 6-3, 206 pounds, and is a right-shot defenseman who can play either side. Take every other aspect of his game out of the equation, and that alone is enough to make him a valuable player in the National Hockey League. Add to that the fact that he is only 24, turning 25 in September, has 368 career games—43 playoff games—under his belt with 87 career points, and comes with the former first-round draft pick tag? It only validates his value in this league.
Now, let’s talk about the perceptions people have about him.
