The Bruins should consider taking a flier on this Rangers defenseman.
One of the Boston Bruins' goals ahead of the 2026 NHL trade deadline should be to boost the right side of their defense. They already tried to acquire Rasmus Andersson before the Calgary Flames traded him to the Vegas Golden Knights, but ultimately backed out after the star blueliner would not sign a contract extension with them.
While Andersson is now off the board, there are other right-shot defensemen who could make sense for the Bruins to consider pursuing. One who stands out is New York Rangers defender Braden Schneider.
Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury recently wrote a letter to fans sharing that the team is starting a retool. Since then, Schneider has been among the Rangers being discussed as potential trade candidates.
With the Bruins focused on not only the present but the future, a former first-round pick like Schneider could be worth taking a flier on. At just 24 years old, he still has the potential to emerge as a legitimate top-four defenseman. Perhaps getting a change of scenery on a team like the Bruins could help him take that next step.
Schneider has appeared in 49 games this season with the Rangers, where he has recorded two goals, nine assists, 77 blocks, and 110 hits. This is after he set career highs with six goals, 15 assists, and 21 points in 80 games with the Blueshirts this past season, He also finished the 2024-25 season with 145 blocks and 146 hits, so the 6-foot-3 blueliner plays a physical game.
Schneider is in the final season of his current deal, but it is important to note that he is a pending restricted free agent (RFA), not a pending unrestricted free agent (UFA). With this, he would remain under team control if the Bruins sent him a qualifying offer.