Rangers, Braden Schneider avoid arbitration with one-year contract extension

Rangers, Braden Schneider avoid arbitration with one-year contract extension

Rangers defenseman Braden Schneider has filed for arbitration, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

Schneider was one of five RFA's New York extended the qualifying offer to last week.

By opting in to arbitration, the blueliner can no longer be offer-sheeted by other clubs and he'll head to a hearing with the Rangers to sort out his salary for this season.

The two sides, of course, could also come to terms on an extension before the hearing.

Schneider's name has been floated in trade talks over the past few months, but for now he remains a key piece for the Blueshirts' revamped blueline heading into next season.

The 24-year-old saw the most ice time of his career last year, averaging 20:27 a night while appearing in all 82 games.

He produced only 18 points, but finished just shy of his career-high in hits (163) and blocks (141).