Guess which Ranger is in the Calder Trophy conversation (it’s not Kaapo Kakko)

The Calder race

Let’s assess the Calder Trophy race.   While Victor Olofsson and Dominik Kubalik are scoring lots of goals, the votes will automatically go for defensemen who play a much tougher position for a rookie to master.

Adam Fox is a defenseman so that narrows the competition to Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes.  Makar is  playing for a playoff team and is on their top pair, teamed, ironically, with Rangers castoff Ryan Graves.

Quinn is on the second defense pairing for Vancouver, battling for a playoff spot in the Pacific Division.

All three young defensemen are important components on the power play, but Fox plays on the second unit.  Perhaps most impressive is the fact that Fox is teamed with another rookie, Ryan Lindgren.

For Ranger fans who have the pleasure of watching Fox play every game, the eye test is evidence enough that Fox is a bona fide Calder Trophy candidate.  Every game he makes another play that elicits wows.

This is what Dobber Prospects had to say about Fox back in December 2016:  “Fox is an offensive wizard. He finds ways to gather assists like the greatest easter egg hunter. He plays with a 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. Fox is always a huge asset on the PP, creating havoc simply by not spending much time in his own zone.”

They were right and he is only getting better.

The Rangers haven’t had a Calder Trophy winner since Brian Leetch won the award in 1989.  While Fox still is a dark horse to win, one thing is for certain.  He is one of the best rookie defensemen to debut for the Blueshirts in their 95 year history.