According to Vince Mercogliano of lohud.com, it appears general manager Chris Drury and restricted free agent Braden Schneider are on the verge of signing a bridge deal with the team.
«Word is that they're making progress with Schneider on a bridge deal (likely two or three years) for an average annual value in the range of $2.5 million, according to one person with knowledge of the situation who spoke to lohud.com, part of the USA TODAY Network, under the condition of anonymity,» Mercogliano reported.
Drury feels that a bridge deal would be appropriate for the 22-year-old defenseman as he has just completed a three-year entry level contract worth $2.78 million and held a cap hit of $925,000 and would like his game to continue to develop and mature before handing over big dollars.
Schneider was drafted in 2020, in the first-round 19th pick overall. His play has been steady for a young defenseman having played all 82 games, scoring five goals and 14 assists for 19 points along with 16 penalty minutes.
Only 22 years old, holding a right hand shot and standing at six foot three 209 lbs, Schneider is a commodity that the Rangers cannot afford to lose. Locking him to a two year or three-year deal at a $2.5 million AAV extension is a great deal for him and the Rangers.
