When Adam Fox returned to the Rangers’ lineup post-Olympic break, a buzz surrounded him as he was asked about potentially waiving his no-move clause amidst the team's roster "retool." The Rangers’ star defenseman left fans curious when he didn’t outright dismiss the idea.
Fast forward a month, and Fox is keen to clear the air. “I love being a Ranger,” said the hometown hero from Jericho, expressing his pride in wearing the Blueshirts. The retool letter from GM Chris Drury was a unique moment, and Fox wanted to focus on the present, having missed a significant chunk of the season due to injury.
When pressed again about waiving his no-move clause, Fox remained non-committal. “That hasn’t even been discussed,” he clarified, emphasizing his focus on the current season.
Fox’s main goal? Winning.
“You just want to be part of a winning team,” he stated, reflecting on the ups and downs of the season. Despite a strong start with 26 points in 27 games, injuries derailed his momentum.
Missing out on the Olympics and seeing the Rangers trade Artemi Panarin added to the challenges.
With 39 points in 45 games, Fox is unlikely to hit the 50-point mark, a first since the shortened 2021 season. However, he's found his rhythm again, tallying 10 points in his last 10 games. “Foxy’s gotten better with every game,” noted coach Mike Sullivan.
As the Rangers face the final stretch, officially out of playoff contention, Fox aims to finish strong. “We want to build something we can feel good about,” he said, focusing on maintaining positive momentum and avoiding bad habits.
In a fresh twist, rookie defenseman Drew Fortescue was set to make his NHL debut against Chicago, joining fellow newcomers Dylan Garand and Adam Sykora. With just two games of NHL experience among them, these young players are surrounded by seasoned veterans to help guide them.
The Rangers may be looking to the future, but with leaders like Fox committed to the cause, there's plenty of reason for optimism.