Braden Schneider could be on his way out of New York, and the Toronto Maple Leafs make sense as the landing spot. The 24-year-old right-shot defenseman, drafted 19th overall in 2020, is a pending RFA whose future with the Rangers looks uncertain.
With reports suggesting New York could move him rather than re-sign him, a Toronto team desperate for right-handed defense and younger legs on the back end, Schneider is exactly the kind of low-cost reclamation project worth pursuing.
New York Rangers defenseman Braden Schneider could soon exit the organization as questions swirl regarding the 24-year-old's future in the Big Apple looks unsure.
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On an expiring contract, Schneider is a pending RFA who isn't certain to remain in New York, with reports suggesting the Rangers could deal the defenseman rather than re-sign him.
Braden Schneider has the potential of being a bottom-four defenseman, but could use a different environment to succeed
Braden Schneider has value as an NHL-caliber right-handed defenseman who is both a young player and can play responsibly in the defensive end, but hasn't worked out in New York.
The problem for Schneider is that he isn't playing enough, but perhaps playing too much. Schneider played all 82 games for the struggling Rangers, and playing heavy minutes, overworked as a top-pairing defender and not succeeding in the role.
Schneider had a respectable 18 points on the season, but his overall game hasn't progressed to where he's earned his high workload further beyond the Rangers' injury situation.
On a team that can play Schneider in more reasonable minutes, that suit his game more, being a bottom-four shutdown defenseman than a highly used minutes eater, this could unlock a far more productive defender.
Some defenders succeed more with sheltered minutes, and it's not a massive indictment, and Schneider looks he could be like one of those players that needs the type of setting to not rely on him to be more than what he is.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are one team where Braden Schneider can get things back on track
The Toronto Maple Leafs are one team needing help on their right hand side, but would give Braden Schneider the lighter workload that he's succeeded with as opposed to consistent 20+ minute games per night.
Offensively, Schneider may never be more than a 25-30 point player, which was always his projection as a prospect not to be a high scorer, but would provide reliability in the Leafs bottom-four defensive group.
Schneider was a player linked to the Leafs in the 2020 draft as a fit, the team needing a RHD, ultimately taking the late Rodion Amirov. Six years later, defense is still a need, and Schneider is one player on the block who not just has the defensive presence Toronto needs, but an equally necessary injection of youth on the back end.
Toronto needs perhaps more than one RHD depending on the health of Chris Tanev. It's no guarantee that Troy Stecher returns either. If such, Schneider could be a cheap bridge deal sign-and-trade, letting Toronto add a bigger right-hander on the free agent market such as Darren Raddysh or Rasmus Andersson.
With uncertainty over the Toronto Maple Leafs blueline, and the need for upgrade, Braden Schneider could be a worthwhile low-cost upgrade, if they know how to use him correctly.
Does Braden Schneider make sense for Toronto?
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