Rangers' Braden Schneider develops into impact player
Braden Schneider of the Rangers skates during the first period against the Lightning during Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final at Madison Square Garden on June 3, 2022. Credit: Jim McIsaac
It’s just past the midway point of the regular season and we’re starting to see some things with the Rangers.
For example, with the Blueshirts down a goal late in Thursday’s game against the Dallas Stars, Gerard Gallant had defenseman K’Andre Miller on the ice with Adam Fox as his partner, looking for more offense. And down a goal late in the second period Tuesday against the Minnesota Wild, Gallant sent Braden Schneider out with Miller in a four-on-four situation.
Miller and Fox both have scored in each of the last two games. Miller, who is in the final year of his contract, is surging right now.
But there also are exciting things happening with Schneider, 21, who was the Rangers’ second first-round pick in the 2020 draft. He’s quietly putting together a fine sophomore season while playing on the third defense pair.
Schneider has played in all 43 games this season and has five goals and five assists with a plus-9 rating (tied with Filip Chytil for fifth-best on the team behind Fox, Ryan Lindgren, Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider).
He has been more than solid. But it’s the goals — he is tied with Miller for second on the team among defensemen — that have impressed Rangers radio analyst Dave Maloney the most.
“Personally, I don’t think he gets enough credit for the offensive prowess he does have,’’ said Maloney, a former defenseman. “He can pass it. He can shoot it. And he’s not at all undaring to create things.
“And it’s funny, because I remember when he got drafted, JD [then-Rangers president John Davidson] was telling me, ‘This kid’s going to be a good one. He’s physical, he’s going to be big and strong.’ And I remember watching at the World Juniors going, ‘You know what, there’s more offense to his game than any scouting report I’ve ever seen.’ ’’
Although the 6-3, 208-pound righthander is often compared to Rangers captain Jacob Trouba (his nickname around the team is “Baby Trouba’’), Maloney says Schneider is a better skater than Trouba and plays a different style. The youngster’s potential, Maloney said, “is untapped.’’
At this point, Schneider is looking more like an impact player than forward Alexis Lafrenière is, and the latter was chosen first overall in 2020.
Since coming up from the minor leagues last January (and scoring a goal in his first NHL game), Schneider has grown up before our eyes. He has seven goals and 21 points in 86 games, and he said last week that he’s probably exceeded whatever expectations he may have had coming in.
“I never really expected a whole crazy lot,’’ he said. “I feel like I’ve always wanted to grow in my game each day and try to get better. And I think I’ve done that. I think I’ve been able to grow my confidence. I think I’ve been able to grow my game, and I think I’m building it each day. So I’d say I’m probably doing a bit better than I was expecting, for sure.’’
Not that it’s been easy for him, he said. He has put in a lot of work and has had to compete and beat people out to get where he is.
Nils Lundkvist, the 2018 first-round pick who was the Defenseman of the Year in Sweden before coming to the Rangers last season, got the first crack at the third-pair right-side defense job last season before being sent to AHL Hartford a year ago when Schneider was called up. The Rangers traded Lundkvist to Dallas in the fall, just before training camp.
Schneider also has seen Zac Jones, who started the season as his partner on the left side, sent to the minor leagues last month, when Ben Harpur was called up.
“I feel like the main thing that I’ve learned about playing so far is that you’ve got to know how to deal with the ups and downs,’’ Schneider said.
“You’re not going to come out with every game a plus, with an apple [assist] or whatever. You’re going to play against good players and they’re going to get the best of you sometimes, and sometimes you’re going to get the best of them. So I think it’s just making sure that you don’t get down on yourself and just keep sticking to what you’re doing.’’
After playing the first 30 games back-and-forth with Jones or Libor Hajek as his partner, Schneider has had the 6-6, 231-pound Harpur as his steady partner for the last 13 games. Playing with Harpur, a pure stay-at-home defenseman, Schneider has the freedom to skate up ice and join the attack when he sees the opportunity, knowing that Harpur will stay behind and cover his back. In his last 13 games, Schneider has a goal and two assists and is a plus-3.
“I would say it definitely helps,’’ Schneider said of having a steady partner in Harpur. “Obviously, it’s not our decision [who plays with whom], and you’ve got to make the best of what you can. But definitely, it’s a bit more of a calm feeling knowing who you’re going to be playing with most nights.’’
Colin Stephenson covers the Rangers for Newsday. He has spent more than two decades covering the NHL and just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.