Rangers prospect Braden Schneider intends to make the team out of training camp

New York Rangers defensive prospect Braden Schneider may have his work cut out for him during training camp, but the soon-to-be 20-year-old made his intentions known on Sunday, declaring that he believes he has the tools to "play at the highest level".

After being drafted 19th-overall by the Rangers last year, Schneider was selected to represent Team Canada at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championships this past January, capturing the silver medal at the tournament.

Following his strong showing at the WJC's, Schneider went back to the Brandon Wheat Kings, his WHL club, and proceeded to score over a point-per-game with 27 points in just 22 games played. Now his sights are set on showing well at his first ever NHL training camp and grabbing hold of a spot on the Rangers' roster.

"It's my first camp, so it's a bit of a learning experience," Schneider said on Sunday. "But I want to prove myself here and I want to show what I got and feel that I can play with the big boys."

The 6-foot-2, 210 lb right-shot defender certainly has the size to make the jump and has some bite to his game, so if he can put forth a strong effort in camp and challenge for a spot in the lineup, perhaps a new Rangers management group and coaching staff will give him at least a 9-game tryout to show what he can do before they make the tough decision on whether to burn a year of his ELC or send him down to Hartford in the AHL to round out his game before getting a longer look next season.

"I think I proved everything that I needed to prove at the junior level and I'm ready to be a pro. I want to take the next jump and I'll do anything I can to get to that level.»

If Schneider is on the cusp, appearing ready but likely to slot in as the 7th defenseman, it is likely that we see him sent down to play big minutes in all situations with the Wolf Pack. If the Rangers brass deem him ready, we'll likely see Schneider take up mantle on the right side of the 3rd pairing, perhaps pushing 21-year-old prospect Nils Lundqvist to that #7 spot or down to Hartford for his first season in North America.

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