Adam Fox is demonstrating his significant value to the New York Rangers this season, particularly with his expanded duties on special teams. In a recent 3-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues that ended a four-game losing streak, Fox contributed two points, bringing his season total to 19 points in 16 games, ranking him third among NHL defensemen.
During the game against the Blues, with the Rangers' power-play units in flux and a player sidelined due to injury, Fox played extensively on both the power play and the penalty kill. He was on the ice for 5 minutes and 26 seconds of the Rangers' six minutes of power-play time.
"I'll never complain about it," Fox said of his increased ice time on the power play. "But, you know, I think it’s easier when you’re in there and you have zone time and you’re not breaking the puck out four times."
At his current pace, Fox is projected to finish the 84-game season with 99 points, which would surpass his previous career high of 74 points. This performance places him back in contention for the Norris Trophy. His current point total also positions him favorably against other top defensemen such as Evan Bouchard of the Edmonton Oilers, Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks, and Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche.
This strong performance comes as Fox becomes eligible for an extension after the upcoming season. A career year could significantly influence the terms of his next contract.
Earlier in the week, the Rangers adjusted their power-play units, leading to discussions between head coach Mike Sullivan and assistant coach David Quinn about utilizing Fox with both units. While Vladislav Gavrikov was practicing with the second unit, Fox remained on the ice for its first opportunity against St. Louis, only leaving for one shift at the end of the second power play.
Sullivan commented on Fox's willingness to stay on the ice, noting, "I’m sure he likes to stay out there." However, he acknowledged that this strategy depends on the opponent's ability to clear the puck and Fox's need to skate back to retrieve it. It remains to be seen if this approach will continue once Sean Durzi, who typically quarterbacks the second unit, returns from his injury.
Sullivan explained that Fox's ice time on the power play is situational: "If the power play stays in the zone…then that’s when you see him stay on the ice — where he has the ability to stay longer because the workload inside of the time on the ice isn’t as significant. If he’s gotta go back to break the puck out a couple of times, then that’s when you’ll see him change and we’ll use other people there."
Fox scored the game's opening goal in the second period, and later assisted on an empty-net goal, contributing to the Rangers' victory. These contributions underscore the impact of a healthy Fox, who was limited to 55 games in the previous season due to injuries. The Rangers had a 8-16-3 record in games without Fox in 2025-26, compared to an 8-4-0 record when he recorded at least one point this season.
Fox's consistent performance solidifies his status as a crucial player for the Rangers in all game situations.