Rangers coach praises Braden Schneider: ‘playing extremely well right now’

It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster ride for Braden Schneider , but New York Rangers coach Mike Sullivan believes the young defenseman is in a good spot heading into the final three games of the 2025-26 season. “I think he is playing extremely well right now,” Sullivan said Friday , before the Rangers departed for Dallas, where they’ll skate against the Stars on Saturday. And why does Sullivan believe the 24-year-old defenseman is so good these days?

“When he’s simple with his puck possession, the decisions he’s making with the puck are good. He’s executing when he has the opportunity to go tape to tape. When he’s not, he’s recognizing when to make a simple play.

And I just think that’s an important element of being a good defenseman in today’s game,” Sullivan explained. “He’s not a guy that’s forcing plays and giving our opponents an opportunity off turnovers, feeding a transition game. … I think ‘Schneids’ has done a good job most recently with his puck possession and recognizing the difference.

He’s also making plays when they’re there. ” Schneider admitted that being back on the second or third defense pair helped the overall improvement in his game. Earlier this season, he stepped into a top-pair role alongside Vladislav Gavrikov, when Adam Fox missed 27 games during two extended injury absences through December and January.