Braden Schneider was closed by the Rangers for the final two games of the 2024-25 campaign due to an upper body injury the 23-year-old defender appears to be dealing with this season.
The organization hoped Schneider would begin the recovery process last weekend when the Bluesshirt in Carolina was officially removed from playoff competition.
He is expected to be ready by the start of next season, according to sources.
“That was good, he’s a warrior,” coach Peter LaViolet said of Schneider’s season. “We always play hard for us. When the season is over, we learn more about it, but he did a good job for us.”
In his fourth season with the Rangers, Schneider scored a career-high 80 games from goals (6), assists (15) and points (21).
He skated with six different defensive partners throughout the season. This is not common for Schneider, who has played with many players since his debut on January 13, 2022.
Schneider opened the season with former captain Jacob Truba in a top four role in his first seven games, with Ryan Lindgren in an injured reserve. However, he bouncing off most of the season, but spent the most time on the Rangers bottom pairing.
He also saw K’Andre Miller, Will Borgen, Urho Vaakanainen, and the winner of the first time since then, Mancini.
As one of five defenders and one of two regulars (Adam Fox) signed this season, Schneider should be lined up for a legal shot with an increase in roles.
He puts together the two-year, $4.4 million extension that he signed with the Rangers on July 13, 2024.
The final two games of the season will always be in format after the Rangers were knocked out of playoff contest in Saturday’s 7-3 loss to the Hurricanes.
When asked what they had to play for in the final game, Vincent Trokek is dull.
“Pride,” he said to Stoicar.
It began Monday night in Florida, ending the Rangers season on the way to win last year’s Stanley Cup, beating the Panthers team 5-3.
It was the first opportunity for the Rangers to experiment and give certain rookies a real look in preparation for next season.
Without Schneider, Matthew Robertson could have made his NHL debut six years after the Rangers drafted him 49th. Brennan Othmann and Gabe Perreault were reinserted into the lineup and top six, as restricted free agent Jones was on hold in place of Vaakanainen.
The only rookie on the roster that was not in the lineup was Brett Bellard, who was his fourth healthy scratch in the previous 11 games.
Matt Rempe was a standout after a two-point effort in Monday’s victory.
“It’s a big, big growth for Remp,” Laviolette said. “He’s attacking the ice with the puck now. From our end, he’s getting it at a bit faster in front of our blue line. He’s attacking the neutral zone.
“I’ve seen growth not just for me, but for everyone, but everyone is watching him play.”
It will be interesting to see if the Rangers will go with all five rookies in the season finale in the Thursday Garden.
For Ottoman, who was a healthy scratch for two games before playing Monday in Florida, there’s one thing at the top of the list he wants to get out of it.
“First goal,” he said with a laugh. He referenced the fact that he has not yet scored through the first 21 NHL games. “We could leave one game to do that and wait three or four months. That’s a personal goal, but like Trock said the other day, we’re just proud of our last game. Personally, I think there’s a pretty good locker room.
“Obviously we want to win Tampa Bay on Thursday. For me, I’d love to see if we can get that in the final game.”
