The Penguins could use another right-shot defenseman and have an option to consider in Rangers blueliner Braden Schneider.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have some areas on their roster that they should be looking to improve during the off-season. Among them is their blueline, as they could use another impactful right-shot defenseman.
When looking at trade candidates around the NHL, one player who the Penguins should strongly consider making a push for is New York Rangers defenseman Braden Schneider.
With the Rangers being in a retool, questions about Schneider's future came up often leading up to this year's trade deadline. If the Rangers make him available for trade this off-season, he is the kind of defenseman who the Penguins should look to target.
At 24 years old, Schneider would be a perfect fit on a Penguins club that is focused on the future. At a minimum, he would work well on their bottom pairing and penalty kill if acquired from New York. However, he also could be an option for the Penguins' top four if he took another step forward with his development.
Schneider is a pending restricted free agent, so the Penguins would need to sign him to a new deal if they acquired him. He currently has a $2.2 million AAV, and it is likely that he will be getting a bit of a raise from that on his next deal.
In 82 games this season with the Rangers, Schneider recorded two goals, 18 points, 141 blocks, and 163 hits. Overall, the 2020 first-round pick would give the Penguins a young, hard-nosed defenseman if they landed him, so there could be a good match here.