Rangers agree to $5.5 million contract with key defenseman

The New York Rangers have been one of the most active teams this offseason. The Rangers made multiple major moves, including trading for Pavel Dorofeyev and Marcus Pettersson.

Now, the Rangers have made another move, agreeing to a deal with a key defender who was a restricted free agent and avoiding arbitration, per hockey insider Elliotte Friedman.

“Braden Schneider and the NYR have a settlement…one year at $5.5M,” Friedman posted on X, formerly Twitter.

Schneider was the 19th overall selection of the 2020 NHL Draft by the Rangers. He joined the NHL squad in the 2021-22 campaign, playing in 43 games. Since then, he has been a mainstay for the team. In the last four seasons, he has missed just three games, scoring 18 goals and adding 58 assists.

Schneider had just completed a two year del he signed with the Rangers ahead of the 2024-25 campaign. That deal paid him an AAV of $2.2 million, meaning this deal is giving the blueliner a substantial raise. Meanwhile, he will once again become a restricted free agent following the 2026-27 season, leaving his future with the Rangers still in flux.

Schneider was scheduled to have an arbitration hearing with the Rangers on July 29, but now that will not be happening. The Rangers now have everyone expected to play on their opening night roster under contract. Meanwhile, the Rangers will have just over $2 million left in cap space following the signing of Schneider to a new contract.

Next offseason will be a busy one for the Rangers. Currently, 12 players on the roster are scheduled to either be restricted or unrestricted free agents next summer.

The post Rangers agree to $5.5 million contract with key defenseman appeared first on ClutchPoints.