Braden Schneider’s name is starting to circulate more and more as the NHL trade deadline creeps closer-and for good reason. The 24-year-old right-shot defenseman is drawing interest from several teams, and one club that could be especially intrigued is the Pittsburgh Penguins, where GM Kyle Dubas is looking to reshape the future of the franchise.
And Schneider? He checks a lot of boxes.
Let’s start with the profile. Schneider is still early in his NHL development, but he’s already logging big minutes on the Rangers’ blue line, especially with Adam Fox sidelined long-term.
Through 53 games this season, Schneider has posted two goals and eight assists for 10 points, while averaging 19:31 of ice time per game. He’s been leaned on heavily in a shutdown role, and while his minus-15 rating might raise eyebrows, context matters.
He’s facing top competition nightly and still holding his own in a physically demanding role.
At 6-foot-4, Schneider brings the kind of size and physical presence that teams covet, especially come playoff time. He’s not flashy, but he’s reliable, physical, and positionally sound-traits that fit right into the mold Dubas seems to be targeting as he builds out the Penguins’ blue line.
With Jack St. Ivany sidelined for the next two months following hand surgery, there’s now a clear opening on Pittsburgh’s back end.
Pairing Schneider with someone like Ryan Shea could create a tough, stay-at-home duo that makes life miserable for opposing forwards below the dots.
Now, the contract situation adds another layer. Schneider is in the final year of a two-year deal that carries a $2.2 million AAV.
He’ll be a restricted free agent this summer, which gives any acquiring team some control over his next deal. That kind of cost certainty-at least in the short term-is valuable, especially for a team like Pittsburgh that’s trying to thread the needle between contending and retooling.
Of course, prying Schneider out of New York won’t be easy. He’s currently slotted as the Rangers’ top right defenseman, and trading him within the division adds another layer of complexity.
It’s not often you see intra-division deals, though they’ve become slightly more common in recent years. Still, Rangers GM Chris Drury would need a compelling reason to move a young, promising defenseman to a direct rival.
What would it take? The exact asking price isn’t public, but logic says it’ll be steep-likely a high draft pick, possibly multiple, and either a quality prospect or roster player. The Rangers are walking a fine line between staying competitive now and setting themselves up for the future, and if Drury wants to kick-start a retool, moving Schneider could be a bold first step-if the return is right.
For the Penguins, Schneider represents more than just a short-term fix. He’s the type of player who could become a foundational piece on the right side of the defense for years to come. And with Dubas reportedly exploring other big moves-perhaps even up front if a player like Jason Robertson becomes available-it’s clear Pittsburgh is looking to make meaningful changes.
So, the question becomes: Can Dubas put together an offer strong enough to convince the Rangers to send a rising young defenseman to a division rival? It’s a tough ask, but if the Penguins are serious about reshaping their blue line and adding youth with upside, Schneider might just be worth the gamble.