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Reviewing the Rangers. Today: F-O-X. https://t.co/gsmRE5Ylld via @nypostsports
— Larry Brooks (@NYP_Brooksie) March 28, 2020
How much more needs to be said after typing, “Adam Fox, the 22-year-old rookie out of Harvard, was the best Rangers defenseman this year?”
We can tell you about the Jericho, L.I., native’s uncanny poise and vision on the ice; about his ability to elude hits and move the puck out of trouble, about how he adapted and adjusted in different stages throughout the year as the league adjusted to him.
General manager Jeff Gorton acted decisively in acquiring Fox from the Hurricanes last April in exchange for a 2019 second-rounder and a 2020 third, which became a second rounder after he played 30 games this season, though the defenseman was on track to become a free agent this coming summer and all but assuredly would have signed with the Rangers
Fox was selected 66th overall in 2016 by Calgary in the draft in which the Blueshirts did not have a selection until 81st overall after having traded their first (for Keith Yandle) and second (for Eric Staal). The team used that third-round pick on defenseman Sean Day, who remains in the organization, but isn’t likely to make it to the Garden.
Nevertheless, the Rangers could have three defensemen from that 2016 draft in the lineup next season: Fox; Ryan Lindgren, selected 49th overall by the Bruins and acquired in the 2018 deadline deal for Rick Nash; and Libor Hajek, selected 37th overall by the Lightning and acquired that same day in the trade for Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller.
Not too bad.
Fox and Lindgren played together for the Team USA Under-18’s in 2016, they were intact as a pair for the Yanks in the both the 2017 and 2018 World Juniors, and they were essentially inseparable this season, logging 674:34 after Lindgren was summoned from the AHL Wolf Pack in late October.
Fox makes plays out of nothing. He turns it around quickly and precisely on transition. He’s got an active stick and he improved on his reads and coverage as the season progressed. He was on for 63 Rangers goals at five-on-five, second on the team to only Artemi Panarin, who was on for 75. And the Jericho native rang up his impressive offensive numbers despite being on the second power-play unit much of the season behind DeAngelo.
MSG coming through for its employees. https://t.co/7YeHr8vuXs via @nypostsports
— Larry Brooks (@NYP_Brooksie) March 28, 2020
The Madison Square Garden Company Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jim Dolan has tested positive for coronavirus. He has been in self-isolation and is experiencing little to no symptoms. He continues to oversee business operations.
— NY_KnicksPR (@NY_KnicksPR) March 29, 2020