Braden Schneider has officially filed for salary arbitration, and this procedural decision will help move things along as both sides work toward a future that benefits both sides. Today was officially the deadline for players to decide whether or not they would file for arbitration, and like Jason Robertson, Schneider is now ineligible to sign an offer sheet.
What comes next for Schneider and the Rangers?
With Schneider electing arbitration, the Rangers will now have the option to set the term of the arbitration award should it get to that point, but the team would assuredly pick a one year award over two given his proximity to unrestricted free agency. Had the Rangers elected to bring Schneider to arbitration, he'd have been able to select two years as the term to walk himself to UFA status.
The Rangers and Schneider will each submit an offer to the arbitrator, and this essentially functions as a range in which both sides try to end up in the middle... although there's no guarantee of this happening. To that point, all of this only matters if both sides actually get to the arbitration hearing, which is set on a schedule depending on how many players file, but I am willing to bet that a deal is hammered out before either side steps into the room.
The case of Nikolai Zherdev and Ryan Strome
Nikolai Zherdev spent one season with the New York Rangers after he was traded by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2008. In 82 games with the Blueshirts he scored 23 goals and tallied 35 assists for 58 points. His contract was up after that season, as an RFA he went through the arbitration process and award awarded $3.9 million which was greater than his $3.25 million qualifying offer. The Rangers ultimately decided they didn't want to pay him, and because the award was high enough to meet the walkaway requirement they were able to grant Zherdev UFA status.
That was the last time the Rangers have gone to an arbitration hearing, and even though there have been some tough negotiations over the last 17 years, the team and player in question have always managed to figure things out.
Ryan Strome is the most recent player the Rangers almost had an arbitration scare with, as he came to an agreement on the day of his hearing. His original ask was $5.7 million per season, and the two sides settled at $4.5 million. There have been other examples like Strome's but he happens to be the most recent, and in some respects he is similar to Schneider in the respect that he's a player who likely values himself that much more than the organization ultimately does.
New contract could make things easier for potential trade
The lack of a contract to this point could suggest that the Rangers want to continue their defense makeover by moving on from Schneider, and it is possible teams considering trading for him would prefer doing so once his contract situation is settled.
Even though the arbitration hearing isn't guaranteed, it is still a potential roadblock that could scare opposing general managers. Given the Rangers history of taking care of things, it will be interesting to see if there's movement once he's got a new one year deal.
If such a scenario comes to be, the Rangers could then trade Schneider, and the team that acquires him could discuss a contract extension in January of 2027 should they be interested in locking up their new acquisition long term.
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