Do Rangers have Adam Fox problem moving forward in retool?
Maybe we’re reading too much into what Adam Fox said after he returned to the New York Rangers lineup in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday. But what he said when asked about his future with the retooling Rangers can’t be completely dismissed either.
“Do you want to be here through a retool?” was the direct question asked of the 28-year-old defenseman.
Fox chuckled a bit, then danced around giving a clear answer, before kicking that can down the road until the offseason.
“I think that’s a conversation for when we’re done playing games.”
Not exactly a resounding affirmative that he wishes to remain a Ranger. And far from a “get me the heck out of here” declaration either.
But it’s been widely assumed Fox, a Long Island native and Rangers fan growing up, was all-in on being a part of this core moving forward. He has a no-move clause in his contract through next season, and a 16-team no-trade clause the two seasons after that. Fox earns $9.5 million annually, second most on the Rangers.
General manager Chris Drury reportedly asked his veterans with such contract clauses if they wanted to stay during this re-set of the roster or were open to being moved. Mika Zibanejad and Jonathan Quick, for example, publicly stated their preference to remain with the Rangers.
Since Fox was on on LTIR with a lower-body injury in January when Drury went public with plans to enter a retool — not rebuild — phase, Thursday was the first time he spoke with reporters about any subject.
So, he certainly had enough time to come up with an answer for a question he should’ve expected, considering his standing in the organization.
“I’m just trying to focus on this year right now and play each game,” Fox said postgame. “I mean that’s all I really could do right now, could control. I was just trying to work to get back and help the team finish strong. I think that’s where my head’s at obviously.”
Then he finished the answer with his comment about having this conversation at season’s end.
Adam Fox says Rangers plan to retool ‘not fun to hear’
So, do the Rangers have an Adam Fox problem?
If he doesn’t want to be here, be part of the Rangers moving forward, yeah that’s an issue. He’s a letter-wearing star player, former Norris Trophy winner, and unquestionably one of the most irreplaceable players on the roster.
Of course, if Fox is open to a trade, he’s easily the biggest chip for Drury to use to overhaul the look of the team in the present and future. But that’s speculative right now. Don’t expect a massive surprise before the March 6 NHL Trade Deadline as it pertains to Fox.
But, yeah, it’s safe to say he’s likely frustrated and disenchanted with how things are going on Broadway. This is the second straight dismal season not making the playoffs for the Blueshirts, and those two runs in a three-year-span to the Eastern Conference Final feel like a distant memory.
“Yeah, it’s not fun to hear,” Fox said about Drury’s plan to shake up the roster, including trading Artemi Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings before the Olympic break.
“We’re competitive people in here and we want to win. You lose a guy like ‘Bread’ and you don’t know what else could happen, obviously. We put ourselves in this position and that’s what happens, so, it obviously sucks when something like that happens.”
Fox missed 27 games this season, first with an upper-body injury in December, and then a lower-body injury sustained Jan. 5. Without him and No. 1 goalie Igor Shesterkin (also due to a lower-body injury sustained in the same contest) for 13 games in January and early February, the Rangers cratered and lost 11 times.
The Rangers (22-29-7) are last in the Eastern Conference, despite picking up a point in the OT loss to the Flyers in their first game back after the three-week Olympic break. Though he’s played only 31 games, Fox leads Rangers defensemen with 28 points, and his 24 assists are fourth most on the team.
Fox had a glorious scoring chance on his first shift back Thursday, set up on a 4-on-1 odd-man rush following a Flyers turnover. But he was robbed by Flyers goalie Samuel Ersson.
Overall, Fox led the Rangers with 24:59 TOI in his return. No problem there. But perhaps a bigger issue looms for Fox and the Rangers ahead.
