The New York Rangers and San Jose Sharks talked about Braden Schneider prior to the trade deadline, and although a deal wasn't completed, it felt like it was a situation that could be revisited this offseason. Wednesday's trade that sent Michael Kesselring from Buffalo to San Jose likely changes everything, and will force the Rangers to go back to the drawing board. San Jose is a team that still needs help on defense, but it no longer feels like they will be shopping in the Braden Schneider aisle.
What San Jose's trade means for the Rangers
Kesselring has been a very good defenseman the last few years, and is a clear upgrade over Schneider. This past season he posted a 49.57 GF%, a 49.97 CF%, and a 53.37 xGF% per Evolving-Hockey, and those numbers the year before include a 56.54 GF%, a 53.87 CF%, and a 53.14 xGF% with Utah.
Schneider is coming off a year where he posted a 46.28 GF%, a 45.45 CF%, and a 44.61 xGF%. Kesselring is a right shot defender who stands 6'5" and weighs 215 pounds, and that profile heading to San Jose feels like their main pick to add some strength and size to the blue line. Strength and size is pretty much all that Schneider had going for him, and from this point onward, San Jose could turn their attention to other defenders who play with more skill and finesse.
In some respects, Kesselring feels like a direct replacement for Mario Ferraro who is a pending UFA that no longer made sense for the roster. While it is possible that the Sharks could still consider someone like Schneider, adding him at this point would feel a bit redundant.
Rangers will need to try and move quickly
If the Rangers want to move Schneider, they'd be wise to try and strike a deal with interested teams sooner rather than later. Not that they are direct competition, but the news that John Carlson and Jacob Trouba are heading to free agency gives teams other veteran established options that they can just sign for cash and cap space.
Schneider is a bit of a distressed asset, and also a player who is quickly approach UFA status, so it is possible that President and General Manager Chris Drury might have to get more realistic about what a fair return for Schneider would look like.
It is clear that Schneider isn't the best fit for the roster, or Mike Sullivan's system, and while San Jose's interest may have previously been overstated, Wednesday's news all but confirms how they truly felt about him.
