Rangers Roundup: Adam Fox wins Norris Trophy and 1st Team All-Star, K’Andre Miller makes All-Rookie team, and more
It was a special night for two New York Rangers defenseman yesterday. Adam Fox took home the Norris Trophy and First Team All-Star Honors. Meanwhile, fellow defenseman K’Andre Miller was named to the All-Rookie team.
Adam Fox wins Norris Trophy
New York Rangers sophomore defenseman Adam Fox was announced as the winner of the Norris Trophy. He beat out the Lightning’s Victor Hedman and Avalanche’s Cale Makar. “It’s definitely special to have my friends and family come see me play,” Fox told Brian Leetch who gave him the award. “It’s definitely a privilege to play for the Rangers have you present me the award.”
He is only the second sophomore in NHL history to win the award, the first being Bobby Orr. Fox is also the first defenseman to win the honor without his team making the playoffs (or qualifying round).
Fox ranked first among defensemen in assists (42) and second in both points (47) and power-play assists (21) during his second NHL season. The 23-year-old was the Rangers’ first Norris Trophy finalist since 1996-97, when Hall of Famer Brian Leetch won the award for the second time.
The Jericho, L.I. native is the fourth Rangers defenseman to be win it joining Leetch, Doug Harvey, and Harry Howell.
K’Andre Miller named to All-Rookie Team
What a season for K’Andre Miller. The young rookie impressed the Rangers brass last summer leading up to Return-To-Play action. He then won a starting job out of camp and within weeks became a top four defenseman. Miller’s efforts were recognized by the NHL last night.
K’Andre Miller, New York Rangers
Miller, the 22nd overall selection in the 2018 NHL Draft, ranked second among rookie defensemen in both average time on ice (21:07) and total time on ice (1,118:49) while registering a +9 rating – tied for second among first-year blueliners. Miller, who played in 53 of New York’s 56 games, also led rookie defensemen in goals (5) and blocked shots (77) and placed third in overall scoring (5-7—12). He topped rookie blueliners and finished sixth among all NHL defensemen with 33 takeaways while receiving only 20 penalty minutes, the second-fewest among rookies who averaged at least 20 minutes per game in 2020-21 (minimum: 10 GP). The 21-year-old St. Paul, Minn., native is the fourth defenseman in Rangers history who has been voted to the All-Rookie Team, joining Brady Skjei (2016-17), Michael Del Zotto (2009-10) and Brian Leetch (1988-89).
Rangers have new ECHL affiliate
The New York Rangers have a new affiliate in the ECHL with Florida’s Jacksonville Iceman.
“We are excited to partner with one of the NHL’s most iconic franchises as we continue to move forward to bringing the Kelly Cup to Jacksonville,” said Icemen CEO Andy Kaufmann. “We are confident the New York Rangers and the Hartford Wolf Pack will be great partners.”
This is another item off Chris Drury’s offseason To-Do checklist.
“The New York Rangers are excited to begin our partnership with the Jacksonville Icemen,” Drury said in the Jacksonville press release.. “We are eager to begin this next chapter of professional hockey in our organization, and we look forward to developing future Rangers players in Jacksonville.
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