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The New York Rangers' most pressing concern heading into the new season is the lack of established center depth in their prospect pool. This issue was exacerbated when the team dealt Vincent Trocheck to the Utah Mammoth, leaving a substantial void in the middle of the ice.
In return, the Rangers acquired Cole Beaudoin, a 2024 first-round pick, along with defenseman Sean Durzi and a 2027 third-round pick. While Beaudoin is projected to become a middle-six center, he may require additional development time before making an impact at the NHL level.
Currently, the team plans to slot Noah Laba and free-agent signing Joe Veleno into the third and fourth center roles, respectively. However, this leaves a noticeable gap behind Mika Zibanejad and J.T. Miller. Although much attention has been given to finding another right winger, center depth remains a top priority for the Rangers.
Trade Potential
To address this need, the Rangers could leverage defenseman Braden Schneider as the centerpiece of a trade. According to Vincent Z. Mercogliano of The Athletic, the Rangers are open to moving Schneider for forward help, especially given their improved defensive depth. Schneider has shown promise but struggled when given a larger role last season, leading to speculation that a trade could be mutually beneficial.
Potential targets include Columbus Blue Jackets' Kent Johnson and Calgary Flames' Connor Zary, both of whom are considered change-of-scenery candidates. Johnson, the fifth overall pick in 2021, had a breakout 2024-25 season with 24 goals and 33 assists for 57 points in 68 games, but saw his production dip to just 22 points in 76 games last season. Zary, a 2020 first-round pick, has also seen his numbers decline, from 34 points as a rookie to 27 and then 25 in subsequent seasons, with reduced ice time.
While trading a right-handed defenseman like Schneider might seem short-sighted, acquiring a long-term solution at center could justify the move. The Rangers have bolstered their defensive depth with five left-handed defensemen drafted this year, including Alberts Smits at No. 5 overall, making Schneider expendable.