This is a brand new season for Braden Schneider in more ways than one. 

Not only is he entering his fifth NHL season with a newly repaired shoulder, but the 24-year-old defenseman is suddenly the second-longest-tenured member of the Rangers blue line after the departures of staples Jacob Trouba, Ryan Lindgren and K’Andre Miller since December. 

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And with his contract set to expire at the conclusion of the 2025-26 campaign, the timing could not be better. 

“It’s crazy when you say it like that,” Schneider told The Post after wrapping up the third day of training camp Saturday at MSG Training Center. “I think of it as an opportunity. I think you want to put yourself in a position where you can really contribute in every area of the game. And I think coming into this year, especially fully healthy and [with] no excuses, the opportunity that I have in front of me with just those guys taking a step out and taking on that role, it’s exciting.