Could Rangers & Kraken Swing 1-For-1 Trade?
But according to The Athletic's Vincent Z. Mercogliano, the fit isn't really there.
Asked in his offseason mailbag whether a Schneider-for-Wright deal made sense, Mercogliano was skeptical.
"I don't think it's a crazy concept, but there are pretty clear hurdles," Mercogliano wrote. "The Seattle Kraken are believed to be seeking scoring forwards, not defensemen, so I'm not sure this deal would meet their needs. I haven't heard anything that suggests there's traction there."
Why Schneider Is In Play At All
Mercogliano confirmed that GM Chris Drury would like to leverage Schneider into a forward, particularly after a busy summer that saw New York add defensive depth through Marcus Pettersson, Vladislav Gavrikov, and fifth overall pick Alberts Smits.
Vincent Mercogliano: The Rangers recognize that they still need firepower up front and are actively seeking it. They’re open to both centers and wingers - The Athletic (7/21)
— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) July 25, 2026
With that kind of logjam building on the left side, moving Schneider to fill New York's more pressing need up front makes structural sense for the Rangers, regardless of who the trade partner ends up being.
Where Wright Actually Fits
Wright has been the subject of legit trade buzz this offseason after his agent confirmed the 22-year-old wanted out of Seattle, and the Kraken have been engaged in conversations about moving him.
The issue for the Rangers isn't Wright's availability. It's what Seattle wants back.
The Seattle Kraken intend to move Shane Wright this offseason pic.twitter.com/zAjI951pCZ
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) July 4, 2026
Per Mercogliano, the Kraken's stated preference is scoring forwards, not blueliners, which puts a straight Schneider-for-Wright framework at odds with what Seattle is actually looking for.
Who The Rangers Are Actually Eyeing
Mercogliano indicated the more realistic outcomes for Schneider point elsewhere.
He specifically named defense-needy teams like the Anaheim Ducks, Chicago Blackhawks, and San Jose Sharks as potential fits, along with change-of-scenery candidates such as Columbus' Kent Johnson and Calgary's Connor Zary as the kind of reclamation-project forwards New York might realistically pursue in return.
"The market hasn't yielded any sure-fire options to this point, so it may have to be a Wright-like reclamation project, if it happens at all," Mercogliano wrote.
Where Things Stand
Mercogliano suggested Drury may simply be content to open the season with Schneider on the roster if the right forward-return deal doesn't materialize, revisiting the situation at the trade deadline or next summer when Schneider's one-year, $5.5 million contract expires.
