(Photo Credit: Wendell Cruz / Imagn Images)

By: Jake Ferraro | Follow me on Twitter/X @18Jxxx18

The Boston Bruins will need to upgrade their defense when the National Hockey League’s Olympic break concludes. The NHL Trade Deadline is at 3 p.m. ET on March 6. Even during the Olympic break, the Bruins have been rumored to go after a right-handed defenseman. Recently, it was Justin Faulk of the St. Louis Blues.

Now, another right-handed defenseman has been named for a landing spot in Boston, and this time it’s Braden Schneider of the New York Rangers. Earlier today, Bleacher Report’s Lyle Richardson wrote an article titled “6 Landing Spots for the Rangers’ Braden Schneider Amid NHL Trade Rumors.” Richardson named the Bruins as one of the six landing spots for Schneider.

Richardson noted in his article that Bruins general manager Don Sweeney attempted to trade for Rasmus Andersson of the Calgary Flames, but he was instead traded to the Vegas Golden Knights. Richardson also mentioned that Sweeney wants to add depth on the right side of his blue line next to Charlie McAvoy, and that Schneider could be a viable second option.

Schneider has struggled this season, recording 11 points with a -15 rating in 57 games. However, in fairness to Schneider, the Rangers have struggled deeply as a whole this entire season. The Rangers have arguably been the biggest disappointment in the NHL, currently sitting in last place in the Eastern Conference with 50 points.

Like with Artemi Panarin being traded from the Rangers to the Los Angeles Kings, a fresh start out of New York may be needed for Schneider, and the potential is still there at 24 years. Schneider is more of a defensive defenseman, and the Bruins can use that. Since the 2022-23 season, Schneider has recorded at least 130 blocked shots and 140 hits in each season. This season, Schneider’s 91 blocked shots lead the Rangers, and his 123 hits are third on the team.

Schneider is on an expiring restricted contract at $2.2 million. Because of his age, Schneider may be a better long-term option for a right-handed defenseman over Faulk. However, the Bruins can’t overpay for Schneider, but the Panarin trade may show that the Bruins may not have to overpay to get the defenseman.

While the Rangers did trade away Panarin, the team received Liam Greentree and a 2026 third-round pick back from the Kings. Greentree was one of the Kings’ top prospects, but only a third-round draft pick is what shocked many people. With that in mind, maybe the Bruins don’t have to give up one of their four first-round draft picks in the next two years to get Schneider.

Defenseman Andrew Peeke leads the Bruins with 101 blocked shots this season, but no other Bruin on the roster has 90 blocked shots. Nikita Zadorov is the only Bruins defenseman with 100 hits this season. When considering what the Bruins are lacking defensively with the ability to block shots and deliver hits, that is where Schneider can be a valid option for the team to trade for. When NHL play resumes for the Bruins on Feb. 26 against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Sweeney will have to be busy to retool the Bruins’ defense.