2 examples how Rangers trading Braden Schneider to Sharks makes sense
There’s little doubt that whether or not to trade Braden Schneider this offseason is a hot topic in the New York Rangers front office, with a healthy dose of opinion pouring in from the coaching staff as well.
Deciding the fate of a young defensemen, who’s a former first-round pick and been a lineup regular for several seasons is nothing new, of course, for Chris Drury and Co. Just last summer, Rangers brass opted to trade K’Andre Miller to the Carolina Hurricanes for defenseman Scott Morrow, and a first- and second-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
Schneider is 24, one year younger than Miller was this time last year. He’s also two years removed from becoming an unrestricted free agent, where Miller was one year away from UFA status last summer. Each enters the offseason as an RFA with arbitration rights, and likely seeking a significant raise, despite uneven results in recent years.
Miller got his long-term commitment, just from the Hurricanes, not the Rangers. Schneider could get a second bridge deal from the Rangers, coming off a two-year, $4.4 million contract, or a longer-term agreement that certainly wouldn’t be in the same range as Miller’s with Carolina (eight years, $60 million).
Or, as one of New York’s most tradeable assets, Schneider could be traded this summer as part of the Rangers retool. And interestingly, a Schneider trade could open up a full-time spot for Morrow on the third pair in New York.
In any case, that brings us to the San Jose Sharks, because there are two ways a Schneider trade to Northern California makes sense for each team.
Let’s take a closer look.
2 ways Rangers trade with Sharks involving Braden Schneider makes sense
Let’s start here: the Sharks need good NHL defensemen in the worst way. They have four veteran d-men that can be UFAs on July 1. That includes Mario Ferraro, who could be an intriguing second-pair option for the Rangers if his price doesn’t go through the roof.
The Sharks must upgrade their defense corps after an unsightly minus-41 goal differential this season, when they nearly qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. So, they must either re-sign some of their veteran defensemen or completely overhaul the unit. Hence their interest in Schneider, who has 368 games of NHL experience, and could slot in nicely on the right side of San Jose’s second pairing, maybe alongside 19-year-old Sam Dickinson who’s coming off an effective rookie season.
Dickinson is the anomaly in San Jose, being a talented young defenseman. The Sharks have plenty of exciting young players and prospects, but nearly all of them are forwards. Just reference Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, Michael Misa, etc.
Guess which team desperately needs an infusion of young skilled players up front? You guessed it, the Rangers.
So, with that in mind, let’s look at two options which could work for each team.
Rangers trade Braden Schneider, No. 5 pick in 2026 draft to Sharks for No. 2 pick in draft
You can argue the Rangers should get another lower-level player or prospect or draft pick in this proposed deal, or that the Sharks might want the same added to their return haul. But let’s keep it simple and use these assets as the key parts of this possible trade.
The Rangers would do this because with the No. 2 overall pick they could land the player they absolutely love the most, and it very likely could be a forward like Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg, or center Caleb Malhotra. Arguably, any one of these three is not only a long-term answer in the Rangers top-six forward group, but could begin his NHL journey right away next season.
The Sharks would do it because they could fill two long-term holes on defense with one trade. Schneider, of course, steps into a top-four role immediately, and at No. 5 overall, the Sharks would be able to land a cornerstone defenseman out of a group likely including Carson Carels, Keaton Verhoeff, Daxon Rudolph, Alberts Smits, or even possibly Chase Reid.
Rangers trade Braden Schneider to Sharks for young forward prospect
Again, there could be other elements included on either side — of both sides — in this proposed trade. But the basic assets are simple. Schneider, for the reasons explained above, fills an immediate need on the Sharks defense corps.
In return, the Rangers will land a player that fits perfectly with Drury’s stated retool plan of bringing back talented youngsters with some NHL experience, or those who are just about NHL ready. And the Sharks have plenty of forwards that fit either category. And since they’re working with a surplus, this trade wouldn’t be too painful for the Sharks.
Drury should try and hold out for Igor Chernyshov, San Jose’s second-round pick (No. 33 overall in 2024). The 20-year-old just completed his first pro season and had 19 points (nine goals, 10 assists) in 28 games with the Sharks, averaging 15:03 TOI and holding a plus-2 rating, which is solid for both such a young player, and one skating with a team where defesnse appears to be optional. He also had 33 points (13 goals, 20 assists) in 41 AHL games, a year after posting 55 points in 23 games in the OHL.
The Rangers desperately need a dynamic young offensive stud. Chernyshov could be that. But it likely costs them more than Schneider. The Sharks could counter with 2023 first-rounder Quentin Musty, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound 20-year-old who scored 21 goals as a rookie pro in the AHL this season. Or there’s center Filip Bystedt, who has two years of AHL experience and totaled 60 points (22 goals, 38 assists) in 65 games in the minors this season.
The popular name in trade rumors is William Eklund, San Jose’s first-round pick in 2021 (seventh overall) who has 163 points (50 goals, 113 assists) in 252 NHL games, and is just 23 years old. He was fourth on the Sharks with 53 points (18 goals, 35 assists) this season, but was also an unsightly minus-31, worst on the team despite a decent expected goal share of 48.57 percent 5v5, according to Natural Stat Trick.
