Why 5-forward power play is best path for Rangers after Adam Fox injury
Losing star defenseman Adam Fox is the last thing the New York Rangers’ power play needed.
New York placed Fox on long-term injured reserve (LTIR) after he sustained an upper-body injury during a 4-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday. That means the 2020-21 Norris Trophy winner must miss at least 10 games or 24 days before he can return to the ice.
“‘Foxy’ is not an easy guy to replace for so many reasons,” Rangers coach Mike Sullivan acknowledged after practice Monday. “I’m sure I’m stating the obvious when I say that.”
Fox’s 26 points through 27 games are tied with Artemi Panarin for the team lead, and are second-most among all NHL defensemen, trailing only Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche (32).
His impact is felt particularly on the power play, where he quarterbacks New York’s top unit.
Despite a slow start this season, New York’s power play ranks 12th in the League with a success rate of 21.3 percent. Fox recorded points on eight of New York’s 13 power-play goals, including assists on five of their past six.
“Foxy is an elite power-play defenseman with how he distributes the puck up there, the way he sees the game,” Sullivan lauded. “He’s got really good instincts.”
Replacing Fox is no easy task. The Rangers don’t have another defenseman on par with Fox’s playmaking skills nor ability to drive offense — few teams across the League do.
That’s why Sullivan is opting to roll with five forwards on the top power-play unit, when the Rangers host the Dallas Stars on Tuesday. The coach decided to bypass defensemen Vladislav Gavrikov, Braden Schneider, and Scott Morrow on PP1 for a simple reason.
“We don’t think that’s the strength of their games to this point,” Sullivan explained. “We’re trying to put a power play together that we think gives us the best opportunity to have success.”
For now, that’s the unit they rolled out against the Lightning after Fox’s injury in the third period. It features Will Cuylle joining fellow forwards Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, Vincent Trocheck, and J.T. Miller.
Rangers coach keeps open mind on 5-forward power-play unit
Though Cuylle won’t replace Fox positionally at the point, it’s wise to pivot to a player who’s already had success on that unit this season.
Cuylle got a six-game stint earlier this season with PP1, manning the net front and scoring twice — including a goal on his first shift with the top group. In that stretch, the Rangers’ No. 1 unit scored power-play goals in all but one game.
It’s a formula that’s worked before, and it’s worth revisiting. Plus, with Cuylle in front of the net, players like Zibanejad and Miller have more freedom to hunt scoring chances on the wing.
As for who replaces Fox at the point, Sullivan mentioned Panarin and Zibanejad as the top options, although it was Panarin who played quarterback at practice Monday.
“I think ‘Bread’ sees it really well,” noted Sullivan. “His ability to get pucks down to the net — into the areas of the rink where we want to get them — I think is a particular attribute that he’s good at.”
If the Rangers seek a player who can best mimic Fox’s playmaking on the power play, Panarin’s skillset provides the closest match. Much like Fox, Panarin has the vision and patience necessary to be an elite distributor, and it shouldn’t limit him from being a scoring threat.
While there’s nothing that indicates this unit will suddenly ascend to an elite level in Fox’s wake, there’s enough talent remaining to keep it competitive. Bigger issues lie on the defensive side.
The main concern with an all-forward power play is the increased risk of short-handed chances going back the other way. And though the Rangers are more reliable defensively this season, they’re far from immune to surrendering odd-man rushes.
“We’re going to see how it plays out,” the coach said. “Obviously, we need to have some conscience when we’re on the power play with five forwards — without a doubt — and that’s a conversation that we’ll have.”
For the time being, it’s a risk New York should accept. The Rangers struggled to put together a successful second power-play unit in past years, and this season is no different.
Thus, the onus falls on the top unit to find the back of the net. And for now, a five-forward group is the most potent look New York can piece together.
Rangers can pivot to defensemen if top power-play unit falters
Sullivan isn’t locked into a five-forward power play if results disappoint, or if the defensive risk is too much.
Gavrikov ranks second among Rangers defensemen with 11 points. Schneider is third with six points. Each would be defensively responsible substitutes, albeit a bit lacking as power-play distributors — something Sullivan indicated. Schneider will take Fox’s spot on the top pairing at even strength alongside Gavrikov, however.
Of course, the most intriguing option is Morrow, who profiles as a puck-moving defenseman and, in theory, a natural fit on the power play.
Morrow was an offensive standout at the University of Massachusetts and displayed similar ability in the American Hockey League last season with the Chicago Wolves, tallying 39 points in 52 games en-route to an AHL All-Star nod.
But he’s been less impressive thus far with the Rangers, who acquired him over the summer from the Carolina Hurricanes in the K’Andre Miller trade. Inconsistent play on the back end led to sheltered minutes through four NHL games with New York, and he didn’t stand out with the Hartford Wolf Pack either. Morrow was minus-6 with one goal and three points in 12 games to begin the 2025-26 AHL season.
With stronger competition and a faster game in the NHL, it’s quite the leap to thrust Morrow — who’s logged under a minute on the man-advantage with the Rangers — into the top power-play unit after limited production and playing time.
Asked what Morrow needs to do to earn trust, Sullivan responded, “Assertive play, making decisions with conviction, and not being in between — eliminating hesitation from his game.”
It’s likely Morrow will have the chance to showcase that ability since he practiced with the second power-play unit on Monday. Should he impress, it’s not unreasonable to think the 23-year-old could get bumped up to the top group at some point.
As it currently stands, though, New York is better off banking on their star forwards to keep an inconsistent power play afloat.
