The New York Rangers’ roster is expected to undergo a significant overhaul this offseason, with new personnel bringing a fresh dynamic to the team.
However, one major change could come from within, from a player already in the lineup.
That player is defenseman, whose April 17 shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum caught many by surprise during break-up day last week. The surgery may also mark a step forward in Schneider’s development into the physical, dominant presence the Rangers had always hoped he would become.
He revealed that the shoulder issue had been bothering him since the 2022-23 season and had worsened over time. Known for his quiet demeanor and the hockey culture of toughing through injuries, it’s likely that the problem had been more limiting than Schneider had let on.
“It was sore in the first season,” he said, sitting in front of his locker with his left arm in a sling. “Last year, I knew there was a tear in it. And then this year, they said it was pretty bad.”
Reasons for stall in Braden Schneider’s development finally seem clear
At first glance, the news about Schneider’s shoulder surgery might not seem as exciting as a big trade or a high-profile free-agent acquisition. However, his recovery could prove just as significant. The Rangers moved up in the 2020 draft from the 22nd to the 19th pick to select Schneider, largely due to his physical style of play, preventing the New Jersey Devils, who held the 20th pick, from taking him.
Then-president John Davidson celebrated the move when former general manager Jeff Gorton finalized the deal, sending a third-round pick to the Calgary Flames on draft night.
While Schneider has shown flashes of living up to the expectations of being a tough, top-six shutdown defenseman, his development had stalled over the past two seasons. Now, it seems we might understand why.
This should be a promising sign for the Rangers. While Schneider had his best offensive season in 2024-25, setting career highs with six goals, 15 assists, and 21 points, the physical play that the Rangers had hoped for five years ago was noticeably absent.
“It’s something I was able to play through,” Schneider explained. “There were times it hurt more than others, but given how this year went and the time off I have now, I wanted to fix it to help extend my career and play at a level where I can bring more physicality to the team.”
“It’s really about making sure I’m better for next year and for the rest of my career.”
A healthy Braden Schneider might amount to Rangers ‘adding’ new defenseman
It’s clear now that in his effort to manage the pain and stay available for every game — Schneider played 80 games in 2024-25, his third consecutive season with that many appearances — he had to sacrifice his physicality, which in turn impacted his effectiveness.
Schneider finished this season with 146 hits, 21 fewer than in 2023-24, and it was noticeable. Known as “Baby Trouba” for his similar style to former Rangers captain Jacob Trouba, Schneider didn’t look like the player who was a physical force with the Brandon Wheat Kings and earned his promotion to the Rangers after just 24 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack in 2021-22.
The idea of a fully healthy and confident Schneider using his 6-foot-4, 213-pound frame to its full potential is an exciting one for the Rangers. It could be like adding a new player who brings the same toughness as the one he replaced, but in a much more demanding way for opponents.
This is exactly what the Rangers thought they were getting on October 6, 2020, when Gorton strategically maneuvered past the Devils to secure a player they were determined not to lose.
The Rangers face a long summer after missing the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in four years, but it could turn out to be a blessing for Schneider’s recovery. If so, it could leave the club with a much-improved version of a key player for the 2025-26 season and beyond.