Rangers coach believes moving defenseman around ‘hasn’t seemed to bother him’

It was a calculated risk, but a decision with some risk nonetheless, when the New York Rangers moved Braden Schneider from the right side to his off side on defense to start the season.

After three games, though, coach Peter Laviolette is very happy with how Schneider has handled the move.

“I think he and [Jacob] Trouba played a heckuva game last game (4-1 win against Detroit Red Wings). I think they’ve been really good for us,” Laviolette explained after practice Wednesday . “Moving to the off side hasn’t seemed to bother him.”

Though there’ve been some hiccups for Schneider, a right-hand shot now playing the left side, there’s been much more good than bad. The 23-year-old took the move in stride after Laviolette broached the idea late in the preseason. He’s played the left side some in the past and was willing to do so at the NHL level for the first time because the Rangers started the season without veteran left-hand shot Ryan Lindgren in the lineup.

Lindgren is out with an upper-body injury sustained in a preseason fight with Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield. In order to move K’Andre Miller into a top-pair role alongside Adam Fox, and also insert rookie right-hand shot Victor Mancini into the lineup, the Rangers needed Schneider to move to the left side.

He then went out and was a plus-4 in just over 20 minutes of ice time in New York’s 6-0 win on opening night against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The second game against the Utah Hockey Club started poorly for Schneider and Trouba, but the fourth-year pro settled in and rebounded by scoring a big goal late in the second period.

“I think ‘Schneids’ was a really good defenseman for us last year,” Laviolette noted. “We count on him for a lot of things to win a game. He plays against other team’s top lines. Now, he’s playing the off side.”

Related: Rangers face tough Victor Mancini decision when Ryan Lindgren returns

Braden Schneider’s versatility key for Rangers

Schneider, or “Baby Trouba” as he’s been nicknamed, missed one game the previous two seasons and has grown quickly into a reliable defender. He played mostly with Erik Gustafsson on the third pair last season, but did open eyes when given the chance to pair with Miller late in the regular season and often in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

He scored five goals each of the past two seasons, and his 19 points last season were one more than in 2022-23. But Laviolette believes there’s upside in Schneider’s offensive game too.

“He had some nice goals last year off the rush and in offensive zone play,” Laviolette explained. “But he’s definitely had some ones that sit on your mind where he pulled it from his off side, he beat somebody 1-on-1, he brought it back to the middle and it was a heckuva goal. So, there’s definitely contributions that he can look for to continue to push offensively.”

Lindgren took part in practice Wednesday, wearing a full face shield. But the no-contact jersey is gone, and it appears Lindgren will return to the Rangers lineup sooner rather than later.

Likely when that happens, Schneider shifts back to the right side. But Laviolette will know he’s got options moving forward.

“I think it’s always great to have lefty-righty (combinations on defense) but it doesn’t have to be that way,” he said. “But guys that do move back and forth do give you more versatility on your back end.”

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