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New York Rangers: Adam Fox signs entry level contract

By Steve Paulus

CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 06: Harvard Crimson defenseman Adam Fox (18) reacts during a NCAA National Semifinal College Hockey game between the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs and the Harvard Crimson on April 6, 2017, at the United Center in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 06: Harvard Crimson defenseman Adam Fox (18) reacts during a NCAA National Semifinal College Hockey game between the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs and the Harvard Crimson on April 6, 2017, at the United Center in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO, IL – APRIL 06: Adam Fox #18 of the Harvard Crimson takes a shot during the Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Semifinals held at the United Center on April 6, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Chase Agnello-Dean/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) /

In a bit of news that everyone expected, the New York Rangers signed  newly acquired Adam Fox to a three year entry level contract.

Acquired by the New York Rangers from Carolina on Tuesday, Adam Fox was signed, sealed and delivered on Thursday.  The deal was reportedly for three years and was for the maximum, $925,000 annually, plus bonuses.

With Fox signed, there are 11 defensemen in the Rangers system under contract with an additional five Restricted Free Agents.  Rob O’Gara and John Gilmour are Unrestricted Free Agents.

Of the the 16 RFA’s and contract defensemen, seven have at least one year NHL experience.  The eight other bluelineers include  Fox, Libor Hajek and Ryan Lindgren.  That trio is presumed to be NHL-ready.

Fox’s addition makes a crowded blue line even more congested.  Look for Jeff Gorton to be talking trade before the NHL Entry Draft at the end of June.

Adam Fox grew up in Jericho, New York and is a lifelong New York Rangers fan.  He talked about that in a tweet from the Rangers.

Expect at least two more signings to be announced in the next few days.  Forward Vitali Kravtsov and goalie Igor Shesterkin both are free to sign with the Rangers now that the KHL season has officially ended.  Word is that they have agreed to terms, but had to wait for the KHL season to conclude.  The Rangers are also negotiating to bring defenseman Yegor Rykov over from Russia as well.

If Rykov comes to North America, that will make the defense even more crowded.  The Rangers already have that problem in net with three goaltenders contending for two jobs.

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Fox has been added to Team USA at the World Championships and will be joining Brady Skjei and Chris Kreider for the tournament that  begins on May 10 in Slovakia.   He will be competing against presumed Rangers draft pick Kaapo Kakko (Finland), Henrik Lundqvist (Sweden), and Alexandar Georgiev (Russia).

It will be fun for Rangers fans to watch Lundqvist and Georgiev dueling in goal and now we will have the pleasure of seeing Fox trying to defend against Kappo.

Since the end of the season, Jeff Gorton has been very busy. Besides making the trade for Fox this week, since the beginning of March he has signed Fox, Jake Elmer, Patrick Newell and Joey Keane to ELC’s.  He still has restricted free agents to sign and more deals could be in the pipeline.  The highlight of the off-season will undoubtedly be Friday, June 21 when the NHL Entry Draft is held in Vancouver.

This is turning into the most eventful off-season for the Rangers in years.

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