Rangers' Young Defenseman Could Move To The Trade Block

The New York Rangers are in an interesting position where they should still be at the top of the standings with the talent on their team, but have once again struggled and are 5-5-2 on the season. An injury to Vincent Trocheck hasn't helped them, but this is a team that may need to go through a bit of a transformation to get back to the top of the mountain.

To this point, David Pagnotta said, "Braden Schneider is another guy that a lot of teams were poking around on. He's an RFA next summer, and he's got (arbitration) rights."

While Brennan Othmann was recalled, he is still on the trade block. Multiple younger players can be moved out, while other moves are made, to help fix the Rangers. Schneider is an interesting one because moving him does make sense.

Schneider is going to want more on his next deal than he's currently making ($2.2 million AAV) and he could cause some unnecessary hassle for the Rangers going to arbitration. That would settle in a short-term deal at a higher number than the Rangers would like, but a young player like him would be looking for term at a higher number as well.

The Rangers already have Adam Fox signed for three more years after this one and Will Borgen signed for four more. Plus, New York has Scott Morrow, who they acquired in the offseason, and EJ Emery for a little bit down the line. More cap space is going to be required to bolster the forward depth, not continue to pay more to a third pairing defenseman.

Schneider isn't a bad defenseman and the 24-year-old can hold his own in the NHL, but the Rangers made the decision to lock Borgen up for five years at $4.1 million AAV with Schneider an option on the right side. If both are kept, one is going to be overpaid for the role he plays. Schneider has a goal and four points in 12 games, plays 18:25 per game, is on the second power-play unit, and has the fourth-most ice time per game on the penalty kill among defensemen.

This isn't a decision the Rangers should take lightly as Schneider is a piece that should get better and would be a long-term fit, but tough decisions have to be made.