The clock is ticking for the New York Rangers to iron out a deal with Braden Schneider, as PuckPedia has just released a list of all the hearing dates for RFAs who elected salary arbitration. The hearings are scheduled to take place between July 20 and August 1, and the Blueshirts brain trust headed by Chris Drury now has a firm deadline to use as a negotiation tactic.
PuckPedia's calendar has Braden Schneider's date toward the end of arbitration cases
According to Puck Pedia, Schneider's arbitration date is set for Wednesday, July 29. That is the third to last day that cases will be heard, and the timing of this gives both sides ample time to work out a new deal. The Rangers get to set the term of his deal, should both sides make it to the arbitration room, but that appears very unlikely based on the team's history.
Schneider is coming off a season in which he posted a 46.28 GF%, 45.44 CF%, and a 44.61 xGF% per Evolving-Hockey. He's appeared in 368 games with the Rangers, and this most recent season saw him log a significant amount of top pair minutes. The recent trade acquisition of Sean Durzi says a lot about how they view Schneider at this point, and if he somehow remains in New York it is likely that the 2020 first round pick will be used in a third pair role.
Keeping Schneider could complicate things
Based on his struggles at the NHL level, Schneider and the Rangers would benefit from a clean break. New York drafted Alberts Smits fifth overall in the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft, and there's a good chance he could make the roster out of training camp. If that comes to fruition, the last thing the team would want is having Smits play with Schneider. The Rangers want to give their newest top defense prospect an environment where he can play to his strengths and show what he can do, and that ideal world should not include Schneider.
What comes next?
At this point the only thing we are waiting on is the official asks from each side. The Rangers will certainly come in with a lower number, and Schneider will shoot for something bigger. Per AFP Analytics, Schneider's expected cap hit for next season will be a one-year deal worth $4.09 million which would be a pretty big raise off the $2.2 million he was just making. Schneider's qualifying offer was $2.64 million, and my prediction is the Rangers will come in around $3.75 million whereas Schneider's will be at $5 million or higher.
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