Video: Rangers' Schneider Scores First NHL Goal

New York Rangers defenseman Braden Schneider scored his first NHL goal on Thursday night against the San Jose Sharks. The 20-year-old ripped a hard wrist shot from the slot past goaltender Adin Hill.

This goal was even more impressive when remembering that this was Schneider's NHL debut. It's safe to say that he has left a very good first impression with the Blueshirts.

Schneider is viewed as one of the Rangers' best prospects. The team selected him with the 19th overall pick of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft and he is expected to have a bright future ahead of him. Last season with the Brandon Wheat Kings, he was named the WHL's Best Defenseman of the Year after recording 27 points in 22 games. In 24 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack this year, he has nine assists.

Schneider is also praised for his high degree of physicality. As the 6-foot-2 defenseman matures, he should be a very solid shutdown right-handed defenseman who also can chip in offensively. On Thursday, the Rangers received their first taste of just that.

The Rangers went on to beat the Sharks by a 3-0 final score. With this, they now have a 24-10-4 record, while San Jose has fallen to 20-17-1.