Welcome to your New York Rangers offseason grades! It ultimately did not end the way the organization wanted it to, but there was a lot of jog and excitement. It is summertime for the Rangers, but that does not mean we cannot reminisce on the season. Today we will look at Braden Schneider offseason grade.
New York Rangers Offseason Grades
Report Card: Braden Schneider
The next New York Rangers offseason grade is one of the young guys on the roster. Schneider was one of the players taken in the 2020 NHL Draft. He was taken towards the end of the round. Schneider may not garner the attention that guys like Kaapo Kakko, Alexis Lafreniere, and K’Andre Miller get, but he has been a steady presence on the third pair. The roster is not littered with youth but has a foundation for it. It is a place he has spent his time since being part of the big club. In addition, it is a role he has done well and a player that should be in the fold for the foreseeable future.
The Season
This is where the New York Rangers off-season grade begins. For a player that primarily played on the third pair, Schneider was productive on the back end. Schneider went on to finish the season with five goals, 13 assists, and 18 points. In fact, that tied him with first-pair defensemen Ryan Lindgren for fourth among defensemen. Not bad for a player primarily playing with Mikkola and fewer minutes. Like many of the other defensemen on the roster, Schneider brought that physical edge. In finished with 147 hits, and blocked 130 shots. Following in his captain’s footsteps, physicality was a huge part of the Rangers game.
MASSIVE hit by Braden Schneider leads to another tilt
pic.twitter.com/lR8ydTDDy8
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 6, 2023
Schneider has shown flashes of offence. His ability to help transition forward and push the play is there. However, over the course of the year, he generated just 46.28 expected goals. The bigger concern after shot attempts were much against him was his expected goals against. Schneider went on to finish with 63.38 expected goals against (9th on the team). It isn’t the worst for a third-pair defenseman, but not great either. One area where he did not thrive in was the high-danger area. Schneider got outplayed in this area of the game and it showed here. With him on the ice, chances in the area were 211-292. Not ideal, but he is more of a penalty-kill specialist than an offensive threat.
The Playoffs
This is where like most on the team the New York Rangers offseason grade gets ugly. The playoffs were not kind to the team and some of the players. Schneider was one of three on the team that failed to record a single point. In addition, his sustained level of play was not ideal. With him on the ice, shot attempts were 88-133. New Jersey continued their level of dominance in generating chances. Schneider finished in the xGoals department with 3.45 for and 7.09 against. Scoring chances was even worse with it being 71-39 in favour of New Jersey. It is safe to say that a young Braden Schneider would love to learn from this experience and come back stronger next season.
This absolutely beauty Braden Schneider goal was called back due to offsides
pic.twitter.com/VCJoxv1Sj4
— Rangers on MSG (@RangersMSGN) April 14, 2023
The Verdict
This New York Rangers offseason grade is more realistic not so much critical. Growing pains will happen, but there was a reason why he was drafted where he was. Schneider may be a third-pair defenseman and nothing more. But for a team in need of a youth movement, he is not a bad piece to have on the back end. In addition, Schneider has one more season before his entry-level contract expires. Then that turns into another important decision for Chris Drury.
Grade: C-
Main Photo: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
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