It appears that the New York Rangers are not interested in doing business with the Vancouver Canucks, as they have just rejected a trade for the second time.
There has been speculation about a possible trade between the New York Rangers and Vancouver Canucks, with two centers, Mika Zibanejad of the Rangers and J.T. Miller of the Canucks, dominating the trade buzz.
But in his latest “32 Thoughts” column, Elliotte Friedman gives reason to believe that there is something more interesting than that. The NHL insider said the chief target of Vancouver isn’t Zibanejad but D-man Braden Schneider.
“I also think it was actually a bigger deal, and one of the issues is that Vancouver adores Braden Schneider, who the Rangers do not want to trade. This would be the second time New York has rejected a Vancouver attempt for him.”
Schneider, 23, has been a steady presence on the Rangers’ blue line this season, his fourth in the NHL.
Although this year’s team is slogging through a frustrating campaign, 18-20-2, including the worst 23-game stretch in franchise history at 6-16-1, Schneider hasn’t let his game dip one bit and has maintained his value around the league.
His defensive reliability is evident, even while paired with less consistent teammates like rookie Victor Mancini (now in the AHL) and Zac Jones, a frequent healthy scratch.
Statistically, Schneider dazzles. Among Rangers, he tops blocked shots, 67, and the hits leaderboard for defensemen, 71. His average ice time has jumped from 15:54 to 17:09 per game.
And he’s tied for third on the team in plus-6, a number indicating composure amid the chaos. And all that costs a manageable $2.2 million cap hit through next season, at which time he becomes a restricted free agent with arbitration rights.
With Schneider’s value and upside, it’s not a surprise, as Friedman noted, that the Rangers intend to keep him. The Canucks might want him, but Schneider’s stability and upside make him a cornerstone for New York’s future.