In case you missed it, the Adam Fox contract extension with the Rangers comes in at seven years and $9.5 million. The only blurb we got that this was close was on TSN Insider Trading for about 30 seconds. Aside from that, nothing. That’s some magic on both sides, to keep something like this under wraps. As per usual, I have some thoughts on the Adam Fox contract.
1. What a win for the Rangers. As soon as that “contract beginning with a 9” rumor hit, we said that Chris Drury should be sprinting to Fox’s camp with a contract. This could easily have been over $10 million annually and still have been worth it. Now the Rangers get their Norris winning defenseman, who shows no signs of letting up, for somewhat of a discount. The Adam Fox contract is the same deal that Charlie McAvoy got, with one less year. Fox is far better than McAvoy.
2. I remember the Fox trade vividly, when giving up a pair of second round picks was viewed as an overpay. The logic used to defend the trade, and rightly so even without hindsight, was that the likelihood of either of those second round picks becoming Fox was slim. And that was at the time of the trade. What was the likelihood of drafting the best defenseman in the NHL at age 23 with either of those picks? This was a steal of a trade, followed by a steal of a contract.
3. Given how everything has played out thus far, I would not be surprised if Fox gets the ‘C’ at some point this season or next. From a public standpoint, the Rangers need a captain that is A) Locked into a deal, B) Live up to the contract, and C) Actually survive the full contract duration. Now whether or not he is actually good behind closed doors remains to be seen. We’ve been talking about Chris Kreider or Mika Zibanejad as captain, but the Adam Fox contract locks him up and he’s the best bet to hit all three points.
4. Let’s take a second to look at Fox’s impacts.
You didn’t need these to show that he isn’t just smoke and mirrors. Fox is not only an elite defenseman in his own right, he makes every single player on his team better when out there with him. There are very few players in the NHL that can do that. All you have to do is find open space, and Fox will find you for a goal. Even Dale Purinton would excel here.
5. Remember when Adam Fox wasn’t one of the “first three” named to Team USA, but Seth Jones was?
Jones being bad aside, how do you not name the reining Norris Trophy winner as one of the first three? That’s flat out bad team management and bad PR.
6. One last thought on the Adam Fox contract: This is more than just locking up a Norris winner. The Rangers of years past have lacked true elite talent outside of their goalie. They needed a true game breaker, someone that could take control of the game and give you the best opportunity to get a tying or winning goal. Fox does just that, perhaps even more than Artemiy Panarin. Panarin can certainly do it, don’t get me wrong, but Fox just seems to take it to another level. We’ve seen the wizardry in his passes and his ability to make defenders look silly. He’s the guy you can count on to take the puck up the ice and find the open guy cutting to the net when they need it the most.
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