It hasn’t been smooth sailing for the New York Rangers and Adam Fox during 2025-26, but one thing is for certain: the 2021 Norris Trophy winner’s value can never be taken for granted.
Related: Rangers Will Be Better off Winning Some Games to Finish the Season
Maybe it was at one point understated what losing Fox due to injury in January would mean for the team going forward. The result was uncompetitive hockey for weeks in his absence, and the case could have been made that the Rangers looked like the worst team in the NHL.
Numbers Speak for Themselves This Season
It’s not a coincidence that when Fox first came back after the Olympic break, the Rangers looked like a professional hockey team again.
There’s a clear difference in how the team performs with Fox in the lineup. His off-the-charts hockey IQ allows him to move the puck seamlessly up the ice and clear the defensive zone, leading to sustained offensive pressure. The American defenseman can also quarterback a power play as well as anyone in the NHL.
This resulted in the Rangers snagging points in eight of the first nine games after the Olympic break. While Igor Shesterkin’s return also helped, Fox recorded six points during that stretch. Also, from March 4 to April 4, Fox ranks fourth in the league in assists and tied for first among defensemen, according to NHL data.
Fox’s Legacy
We also can’t forget what Fox has done overall as a Blueshirt since making his debut in the 2019-20 season. It started with the 2016 third-round pick winning the Norris Trophy in just his second season, a year after getting snubbed off the Calder Trophy finalist list.
No question, Fox has been the Rangers’ best defenseman since Brian Leetch. In fact, at just 28 years old in just 481 games, Fox has posted 416 points as a Ranger, ranking him fourth all-time in scoring in franchise history. The production also outpaces other blue line legends, including Brad Park, Harry Howell and Dave Maloney.
Although Fox’s 2025-26 season has been shortened by injuries, he is still making an impact, with 50 points in 51 games. When his career finally ends, Fox is on track to go down as one of the greatest Rangers to ever put on a red, white and blue sweater.
Cooling Down the Tensions
This all makes it equally important for the front office to calm down the obvious tensions between them and the player, which started the losing early on during the regular season and likely worsened after Fox was left off the US Men’s Olympic roster, which Rangers executive Chris Drury oversaw as an assistant general manager.
Adam Fox was asked about his future with the Rangers
“I’m just trying to focus on this year right now. That’s a conversation when we’re done playing games. We’re just trying to win games, we didn’t do that tonight. That’s where my focus is right now” pic.twitter.com/XHCEBRQofK
— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) February 27, 2026
Fox notably declined to comment on his future after returning to the lineup in February when given a chance by the media. Clearly, a conversation needs to be had, and the Rangers need to make it clear to the franchise defender how important he is to the club’s success and the future of the franchise.
Nobody can replace what Fox can do – not even the player that the Rangers potentially select inside the top five at the upcoming draft.
If this is truly a retool, the Rangers need to convince Fox to stick around. One thing is for certain: his talent can never be taken for granted again, because when he was gone in January and February, the Rangers didn’t even look like a professional hockey team.
