New York Rangers: A detailed Adam Fox scouting report

The New York Rangers acquired Harvard defenseman Adam Fox and signed him to an entry-level deal this week. Just how good is the Long Island native?

Tell me if you’ve heard this one before, a player staying in college as a means of leveraging their way to the New York Rangers. In recent years, the Rangers’ organization took advantage of a series of players favoring the ability to choose their own destiny to bolster a barren prospect cupboard. Now Adam Fox of Harvard is poised to jump to the NHL this fall.

Unlike fellow Harvard product Jimmy Vesey, there is a legitimate high-end buzz around Fox. While Vesey did capture the Hobey Baker Award as college hockey’s most outstanding player, he did it in a year where two teammates from Boston College split the vote. So, Fox finishing second to Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche seems slightly more impressive.

Throw in the fact that Fox registered just one point less than Makar this past season of college hockey and the Rangers should be really grateful. It sounds weird for an organization to be grateful a player chose to sign with them, but someone like Fox is going to be an impact player right away.

Through seven NHL playoff games, Makar has five points including four assists. Since Fox plays a similar style of hockey which is oriented around moving the puck and transition, it’s easy to assume that he’ll have a similar acclimation process. Of course, every player is different and assuming only leads to disappointment, but it should be encouraging nonetheless.

Thedraftanalyst.com

Starting with thedraftanalyst.com, Fox’s scouting report reads like the textbook definition of the modern NHL defensemen.

"“Excellent playmaking abilities and vision. Passes are near perfect. Hands are soft and handles passes like a finesse forward while either static or on the move. Plays with his head up and surveys the changing nature of the opposing scheme like a quarterback calling an audible. Will attack openings and exploit and open ice with confidence and decisiveness”"

For the Rangers’ rebuild to truly be considered a success, it’s going to require a total overhaul of the team’s blueline. Today’s NHL requires a blueliner to play both ends of the ice and not be one dimensional. Too many of New York’s defensemen from this past season failed to transition to offense effectively and it led to the team getting trapped in its own end of the ice.

"“Not very physical and uses the stick at his own line rather than line someone up. Gap control and closing speed are good but can improve timing and upper body strength.  Will engage in puck battles but often cedes positioning in front of the net. Floats from slot coverage but can make timely step ups to breakup cross-ice passes”"

However, like most of these new age defenseman, Fox does rely on his raw physical talent too much which can occasionally undermine the structure of the team around him. Just because a defenseman is offensively inclined does not mean they have to be a defensive liability. Fox is only 22-years-old and will have time to learn how to play at the NHL level.

Dobberprospects.com

Onto Dobberprospects.com, another scouting website. While the scouting report doesn’t deviate much, it’s encouraging that multiple sets of eyes all see the same thing when it comes to Fox’s talent.

"“Fox is an offensive wizard. He finds ways to gather assists like the greatest easter egg hunter. He plays with confidence and authority that is hard to miss. His stickhandling, vision, ability to get shots through quickly from the point are elite in his draft class. He has all of the tremendous skills you’d want from an offensive-minded player. If you’re into effective breakouts, smart zone-exiting passes, and someone not afraid to join the rush or cycle the puck deep, he’s your guy”"

Simply put, Fox is a more polished version of what Tony DeAngelo was this season. While Fox’s competition at the NCAA level doesn’t really compare to what DeAngelo played against in the NHL, the same high-end offensive instincts are present in both. In fact, the two should be penciled into the Rangers’ right-side for the foreseeable future.

Fox’s U-18 highlights from his draft year with the United States national development program are mouthwatering. The first highlight against Russia, Fox threads the needle right up the center of the ice to a forward on a breakaway who tucks one in to give the Americans the lead.

The second highlight against Sweeden is more of the same, Fox threading the needle and finding a forward all alone waiting for a pass. This is the type of play where the Long Island native didn’t know exactly where his teammate was but still managed to chop the puck through the neutral zone and use spatial awareness to make an impactful play.

The allure of New York pulled in another college player that the Rangers didn’t have the draft rights to. With Fox’s elite offensive skills in the fold, New York is one player closer to returning to contender status.