The New York Rangers ' roster seems sure to undergo a significant makeover this offseason, with the addition of new personnel bringing a different look and feel to the dressing room and roster.
One substantial change, though, could come from a player already wearing a Blueshirt.
That's defenseman Braden Schneider , whose April 17 shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum came as a surprise to assembled media at break-up day last week and which might result in him resuming his growth into the physical back-end force the Rangers always expected him to become.
Schneider told reporters that the problem hindered him since the 2022-23 season, and had gotten worse since. Given the Saskatchewan native's understated nature and the ingrained hockey culture of de-emphasizing and not complaining about injuries, there's a good chance that the issue was significantly more limiting than Schneider let on.
"It was sore for the first season," he explained , wearing a sling on his left arm and sitting in front of his locker. "Last year, I knew there was a tear in it. And then this year, they said it was pretty bad."
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On its face, the development isn't nearly as interesting as a blockbuster trade or high-profile free-agent signing. Schneider getting healthy, however, might prove to be just as impactful. The Rangers traded up from the 22nd spot to No. 19 in the 2020 draft because of his robust physical play, keeping him away from the New Jersey Devils , who had the No. 20 pick, as well.
Then-team president John Davidson pumped his fist when former general manager Jeff Gorton consummated the deal by sending a third-round selection to the Calgary Flames on draft night.
Though Schneider has shown signs that he's on the way to fulfilling that potential, which is of a hard-minutes, top-six shutdown defenseman, his game languished the past two seasons. Perhaps now we know why.
That should be very encouraging for the Rangers. While Schneider enjoyed his best offensive season with NHL career highs of six goals, 15 assists and 21 points in 2024-25, the physical game the Blueshirts salivated over five years ago was missing.
"It's something that I obviously was able to play through," Schneider said. "There were times where it would hurt and it would be tougher than other days. It's something that, just given the circumstances of the way this year went and having the time we have now, it's something I wanted to get fixed to help prolong my career and play at a level that I know I can bring a bit more physicality for our team and things like that.
"It's more something that I wanted to get done to make sure that I'm better for next year and the rest of my time."
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There seems little doubt now that in attempting to manage the pain and be available every game — Schneider played 80 games in 2024-25, his third straight season of appearing in at least that many — he was forced to compromise his physicality and thus, his effectiveness.
Schneider finished this season with 146 hits, 21 fewer than in 2023-24, and it was noticeable. Nicknamed "Baby Trouba" for resembling the play style of the former Rangers captain, Schneider simply didn't look like the guy who banged opponents when with the Brandon Wheat Kings, then earned a permanent promotion to the Rangers after 24 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL in 2021-22.
The prospect of a healthy and confident Schneider throwing his 6-foot-4, 213-pound frame around again, just as the 23-year-old begins to approach what should be the prime of his career, is an exciting one for Rangers. It might end up being as if the front office added a new player that looks just like the one he replaced, only in a much more exhausting form for opponents.
That's exactly what the club thought it was getting Oct. 6, 2020 when Gorton deftly maneuvered past New York's Hudson River rivals to secure a player they felt they couldn't afford to lose.
The Rangers face a long summer after missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in four years, but it could be a blessing in disguise for Schneider's recovery – potentially leaving the club with a significantly upgraded version of a core player for 2025-26 and beyond.
