The Rangers aren’t entertaining Adam Fox trade chatter, and they made that crystal clear.
Elliotte Friedman reported on yesterday’s 32 Thoughts Podcast that other teams reached out to New York about the star defenseman’s availability, only to get a blunt response from GM Chris Drury. Friedman said Drury “told them to get lost.” Whatever speculation existed about Fox holding a grudge after being left off the United States’ roster for the Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina appears to have been off base, especially with Mike Sullivan and Drury both involved in USA hockey’s decision-making.
Fox, 28, is still right at the center of everything New York does. He’s either the Rangers’ best player or right there with Igor Shesterkin, and he’s clearly their most valuable skater.
The 2021 Norris Trophy winner put up 53 points last season, though he was limited to 55 games because of injury. He’s signed through the 2028-29 season at a $9.5MM cap hit, and given his path to the Rangers through Harvard and his Jericho, New York roots, it would be a shock if he were looking to leave his hometown team.
The Islanders also drew outside interest, with Friedman saying teams checked in on both Mathew Barzal and Bo Horvat. That didn’t move GM Mathieu Darche, who had no interest in dealing either center.
The fit is too good, and the value is too obvious. Barzal and Horvat give New York a strong top-six center tandem, and with Brayden Schenn under contract, the Islanders even have the option of sliding Barzal to the wing.
With the cap continuing to rise, their $9.15MM and $8.5MM hits look like assets, not burdens.
In New Jersey, the Devils are still waiting on Utah Mammoth’s decision on Barrett Hayton’s offer sheet, and the outcome remains unclear. What isn’t unclear is how neatly Hayton would fit with the Devils if he becomes available.
Shayna Goldman of The Athletic called him the “3C this team has been missing” over the past few years. Right now, Cody Glass is projected as New Jersey’s No. 3 center, but Goldman noted his “durability concerns,” something Hayton doesn’t bring with him.
The No. 5 overall pick in the 2018 draft has appeared in 149 of 164 possible games over the last two seasons, while adding 30 goals and 71 points in that stretch.
In Other News...
Islanders Face A Defining Cole Eiserman Decision This Season
Cole Eiserman already has the kind of resume that keeps Islanders fans watching the development track closely. The 2024 first-round pick split last season between Boston University and Bridgeport, and now the question is how quickly he can turn that pedigree into real NHL value. For a team that has been searching for more skill and finish, the appeal is obvious, but so is the caution: young scorers can only grow if they actually get to play.
Eisermans path this season may depend less on a grand plan than on opportunity. If the Islanders trim veteran ice time, or if the lineup gets shaken by injuries, there should be openings for him to get a longer look. The real test is whether the club is willing to give him enough responsibility to matter, because a brief cameo on the margins would do far less for his future than a steady role that lets him show what he can do. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Forwards Carry One Massive Burden Into Next Season
The Islanders late-season fade last year was about more than just a cold stretch, and the forward group is now carrying most of the weight for what comes next. With the club projected to sit above $101 million against the cap, a huge chunk of that money is tied up in the forwards, and the pressure lands squarely on the biggest names in the room, from Mathew Barzal to Bo Horvat to Ondrej Palat.
That makes the composition of the top nine especially important as training camp approaches. Horvat, Emil Heineman, Kyle Palmieri, Barzal and Matias Maccelli are all expected to factor into the lineup in meaningful ways, with some coming off injuries and others fighting to carve out larger roles, so the Islanders are not just trying to score more - they are trying to make sure the expensive parts of the roster actually fit together. [Read more 🡒]