Rangers Trade Kesselring to San Jose

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On June 18th, the Rangers just made a move, sending defenseman Ben Kesselring to San Jose. Kesselring's been putting up solid numbers, especially in puck possession and scoring chances when he's on the ice. He's a big guy, 6'5, 215, and a right shot defenseman, which San Jose seems to be prioritizing for their blue line. This trade essentially upgrades San Jose's defense. Kesselring stats from last season and the year before show he's been performing better than the player they're getting back. Matt Schneider Schneider's numbers were a bit down and his game was mostly about physicality. For San Jose, Kesselring might even fill a role similar to Mario Ferraro, who is a free agent and likely not returning.
Bringing in Schneider now would feel a little like having too many players with similar skill sets, especially if they want to focus on adding more finesse to their defense. Meanwhile, the Rangers are in a bit of a race against time to move Schneider. With other veteran defensemen, like John Carlson and Jacob Truba hitting free agency, teams looking for defensive help might just sign those guys instead of making a trade for Schneider. So the Rangers need to act fast if they want to get something for Schneider. It's a strategic move for San Jose, bringing in a player who fits their needs, while the Rangers are left trying to clear some roster space and potentially get a return before other options become more attractive to potential buyers. Team coverage powered by AI.
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