Prospect Info: 2020 NHL Draft 19th Overall Pick, Braden Schneider, D

[Chytilmania]

I think it’s a solid pick. I don’t think it’s a flashy pick, or one that’s going to set anyone’s heart ablaze, but I do think it was good value and they got the type of player you potentially win with.

I think they have options down the line for moves and Schneider does something that is very easy to overlook in a defenseman these days:

He plays actual, solid defense.

He’s not your power play QB, or the guy setting up plays. He has a very clear mission - get puck from opponent, get puck out of danger.

He’s a bastard to play against and not because he is sending guys flying all ice, because he is just relentless in how he hounds opponents. He doesn’t give them a moment to relax or get comfortable.

And isn't that what every single poster agrees the Rangers lack? We complain about actually playing defense then draft someone who plays defense and is a bastard to play against like you said, and most are up in arms. Whether he plays for the Rangers or gets moved for a roster player down the line he will be valuable to the Rangers.

 

[mas0764]

I know that as well. Grans is in their top 20.

But that still doesn’t mean they could find a willing partner last night that would give them that option. That’s a big part of the equation.

They also had Schneider 12th on their list. So faced with the landscape being what it is, that’s the opportunity they went with. But they are definitely still pursuing a second today.

Khusnutdinov today would go a long way in allaying my concerns.

Grans today might make me flip out.

 

[mas0764]

If you asked any of us before the draft would you trade a 3rd round pick to land the guy ranked ~15 across the board with our 2nd pick of the day it would have been a resounding yes.

Schneider isn't ~15 across the board though. Two very mainstream draft analysts in Kournianos and Pronman both had him in the 30s.

Which I think was too low, to be fair.

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

For the people who are mad they didn't draft a center, do you really think they don't have plans to address that via trade or FA?

 

[NYRFANMANI]

*Looks at draft picks, no 2nd rounder.

What are people talking about!?

Why would any team to us a favor and take Strome, if they could just wait for the QO deadline? He's our risk entirely.

I don't see them trading Buch or Georgie. All eyes on Strome and again, why should teams bail us out?

 

[SingnBluesOnBroadway]

I will be honest, the more I think about it, I actually think the team viewed Schneider as a need pick and not necessarily a BPA pick.

I think it might be a bit of both.

 

[Edge]

Schneider isn't ~15 across the board though. Two very mainstream draft analysts in Kournianos and Pronman both had him in the 30s.

Which I think was too low, to be fair.

I would probably say his average is around the 15/16 mark. Having him in the 30s tended to be more outlier opinions, and that was probably balanced by teams who considered him at the 10 spot. Most others probably had him in the 12-18 range.

As a board, we ourselves had voted on him going 15th.

 

[Chytilmania]

Also, the Trouba comparison isn't very good at all for Schneider, they don't play a very similar game at all.

I've always said Guhle is more like Trouba but Lefty.

 

[mas0764]

For the people who are mad they didn't draft a center, do you really think they don't have plans to address that via trade or FA?

My complaint about not addressing center revolves less around this individual selection of Schneider and more around this very sentiment: Oh we will just find a center in FA or trade for one.

I wish they'd apply that logic to D sometimes and go all-in on making sure their center depth is near endless.

But organizationally I believe that they believe the best way to build a winner is from the defense-out, which is why they continually stress it over similarly ranked players at forward or especially center.

I think they need a philosophical tweak.

 

[Fireonk]

Schneider isn't ~15 across the board though. Two very mainstream draft analysts in Kournianos and Pronman both had him in the 30s.

Which I think was too low, to be fair.

That's fair, probably should have said "mostly across the board." Once you get outside the top 10 you are probably going to find outliers somewhere for every player. And I have no problem with people not thinking he is that good of a prospect and liked others better.

My larger point was the ridiculousness of comparing this pick to someone like Mcilrath. They got a player that was generally valued as higher than where they picked him, which obviously they agreed with. This wasn't an instance of the Rangers going off the board and "thinking they are smarter than everyone else."

It also is the opposite of the complaints about Lias Andersson and Mcilrath where the optics of the picks make it look like they were trying to pick certain qualities to fit into their current team and not just taking BPA. Really can't make that argument on this one with our RD situation....

 

[mas0764]

I would probably say his average is around the 15/16 mark. Having him in the 30s tended to be more outlier opinions, and that was probably balanced by teams who considered him at the 10 spot. Most others probably had him in the 12-18 range.

As a board, we ourselves had voted on him going 15th.

Yeah, I think Schneider is good value there.

I think 12th which the Rangers had him was probably too high. Any later than we selected him was getting into steal territory.

I think he was probably solid value. Debating him or Lapierre - given the injury concerns - or Zary or Khusnutdinov is probably nitpicking in terms of value. I will tap the breaks on any first pair projections. He's probably a solid second pair if he pans out, solid third pair if he doesn't. Probably a small range of outcomes, which is good and safe.

 

[Chytilmania]

Trouba is not being traded. I also highly doubt that Gorton drafted Schneider with the idea that he is to be a trade chip, though naturally anyone can be. What happens with DeAangelo will be interesting, but I really do not see him being shipped out right now.

I agree with you I don't think Trouba is traded or Schneider is flipped, but the flexibility is there. Plenty of great D options for the Rangers to move for a center.

 

[Captain Monglobster]

This kid is 2-3 years away minimum right? By that time we will have a much clearer picture of who drives the team, alot of these guys will have settled into their roles (hopefully). He seems like the kind of player that could solidify the top six and balance it out at that time.

 

[True Blue]

I agree with you I don't think Trouba is traded or Schneider is flipped, but the flexibility is there. Plenty of great D options for the Rangers to move for a center.

It's all about having the assets.

And again, as of right now (providing that Strome returns) there simply is no desperate need to find a center. Resigning Strome allows for time and flexibility.

 

[mas0764]

It is gonna be hella funny if Strome is flipped for picks today.

 

[Chytilmania]

My complaint about not addressing center revolves less around this individual selection of Schneider and more around this very sentiment: Oh we will just find a center in FA or trade for one.

I wish they'd apply that logic to D sometimes and go all-in on making sure their center depth is near endless.

But organizationally I believe that they believe the best way to build a winner is from the defense-out, which is why they continually stress it over similarly ranked players at forward or especially center.

I think they need a philosophical tweak.

Over the past 2-3 years our issue has been playing defense and play in our own zone and overall as a franchise high end scoring talent. We have Zib, Panarin, Kakko, Laf, Kravtsov all high end scoring talent now. The reason for losing in the playoffs wasn't because we didn't have a 2C. It was our high end talent not showing up, poor defense and soft overall. We are adding defense and toughness to play against to go along with high end talent and potentially elite goal tending. I can't see having Strome or Chytil at 2C being the reason we miss the playoffs next year, if anything it would be a young/inexperienced defense.
I'd love to now move ADA for high end center depth or roster player that we wouldn't find at 22. We can also look into Strome or Georgiev to get back into the 2nd for a center. We have options I'm not worried.

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

My complaint about not addressing center revolves less around this individual selection of Schneider and more around this very sentiment: Oh we will just find a center in FA or trade for one.

I wish they'd apply that logic to D sometimes and go all-in on making sure their center depth is near endless.

But organizationally I believe that they believe the best way to build a winner is from the defense-out, which is why they continually stress it over similarly ranked players at forward or especially center.

I think they need a philosophical tweak.

I'm sure they're approaching their need at center with more intensity than, "Oh we'll just find one..." For all we know, they've already targeted a few guys and have spoken with teams. I feel like the fact that they moved up to grab Schneider means they're further along with acquiring a center than we think (not qualifying Strome is at the very least interesting). There's a ton of moving parts right now and I have confidence they'll address whatever weaknesses they perceive the roster to have.

And it's not like they're bereft of top 6/9 talent.

 

[Chytilmania]

It is gonna be hella funny if Strome is flipped for picks today.

90% of the board would be happier Chytil/Howden/Barron this year if it means we draft Marat.

 

[nyr2k2]

Ranked #29 by ELITEPROSPECTS.COM
Ranked #21 by FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS
Ranked #13 by ISS HOCKEY
Ranked #24 by TSN/CRAIG BUTTON
Ranked #15 by MCKEEN'S HOCKEY
Ranked #9 by NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING (NA Skaters)
Ranked #22 by DOBBERPROSPECTS/ROBINSON
Ranked #19 by CONSOLIDATED RANKING
Ranked #17 by TSN/McKenzie

I'd say his spot was very appropriate. You have ISS, McKeen's, NHL CSS (presumably), and McKenzie all ranking him ahead of where he was picked. EP's consolidated ranking had him 19 exactly. Everyone else other than EP who is still kind of "ehh" when it comes to real scouting, had him in that range. Of course there are other not listed here who may have had him lower or higher, but I think this is a pretty good cross-section of his rankings.

This was from his EP player page, by the way.

 

[Filthy Dangles]

I am cool with the pick the poster not so much. lol

inb4 useschneiderrightmartin

 

[True Blue]

It is gonna be hella funny if Strome is flipped for picks today.

Just as funny as DeAngelo or Buchnevich being traded for a first round pick.

 

[Ghost of jas]

I just dont know how i feel about taking a RHD there.

I like this kid. Think he is going to be a solid player. But there were still centers on the board there. We have 0 depth at center. Zero. We at least have Fox and Lundkvist if we do trade DeAngelo.

Of course this can all change if they trade for a center

You don’t draft for need. RDs are high value assets in this league.

 

[duhmetreE]

Expendable, no.

Does he potentially cushion a move if Lundkvist has to be included? Yes.

Does he potentially offer an alternative prospect for another team to request? Yes.

There's so many variables that will come into play over the next several years. We really just need to sit back and let things play out for a little bit.

What have you heard?

 

[Mikos87]

Catching up with a couple of messages- most interesting tidbit: Perfetti to WPG changed up the draft. Thought Schneider was a lock for WPG at 10 as a need pick.

 

[NYSPORTS]

For the people who are mad they didn't draft a center, do you really think they don't have plans to address that via trade or FA?

Not sure why some are bent on center when the kid wouldn’t be ready for years. They post like the kid would fill that 2nd line center position AND be productive immediately.