The solution to rearranging the Rangers defensive pairs in Ryan Lindgren’s absence could lie with playing Braden Schneider on his off side.
That’s how the Blueshirts defensive corps finished Friday’s preseason finale against the Islanders and how they lined up in practice at MSG Training Center in Tarrytown on Sunday.
Schneider skated on the left of captain Jacob Trouba, while K’Andre Miller moved up alongside Adam Fox and Zac Jones teamed up with Victor Mancini.
“Probably the same, I think,” head coach Peter Laviolette said of the right-to-left switch compared to the inverse. “The game opens up when it’s on your forehand, you have to open it up and do things a little bit differently. Some guys don’t have any problems adjusting. He’s a guy that’s played both in the past.
“When you have players out of the lineup, players sometimes do different roles. We looked at it last game and we’re just looking at it today in practice.”
Schneider has primarily played on the right side over his three seasons with the Rangers, but the 23-year-old has shown an uncanny ability to adapt.
No one has played with more defensive partners than Schneider has since he earned his first recall during the 2021-22 season.
The fact that he played on the left in juniors should help him in his latest adaptation.
Defenseman Matthew Robertson was placed on waivers Sunday after practicing with the Rangers earlier in the day.
Once he clears, the 23-year-old will presumably be assigned to AHL Hartford.
Fellow blueliner Connor Mackey cleared waivers and was subsequently assigned to the Wolf Pack.
Ryder Korczak and Brennan Othmann were also sent to Hartford.
Star forward Artemi Panarin (lower body) and defenseman Lindgren (upper body) both skated on their own Sunday, while left wing Jimmy Vesey (lower body) has yet to resume skating.
Without Panarin, Brett Berard skated in Panarin’s place alongside Alexis Lafreniere and Vincent Trocheck.
Lafreniere continues to skate in Panarin’s spot on the first power-play unit with Trocheck, Fox, Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad.
The second power-play unit featured Miller, Jonny Brodzinski, Filip Chytil, Kaapo Kakko and Reilly Smith on Sunday.
Additionally, Chad Ruhwedel practiced in a regular jersey after skating in a red non-contact uniform on Thursday.