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It’s Christmas! Some gifts the Rangers could be wishing for

By Jake Mozarsky

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 06: Pavel Buchnevich #89 (l) of the New York Rangers celebrates his first period goal against the Philadelphia Flyers and is joined by Chris Kreider #20 (c) and Mika Zibanejad #93 (r) at Madison Square Garden on October 6, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 06: Pavel Buchnevich #89 (l) of the New York Rangers celebrates his first period goal against the Philadelphia Flyers and is joined by Chris Kreider #20 (c) and Mika Zibanejad #93 (r) at Madison Square Garden on October 6, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ONTARIO – AUGUST 03: Adam Fox #23 of the New York Rangers looks on during warm ups before Game Two of the Eastern Conference Qualification Round prior to the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 3, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/Freestyle Photo/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ONTARIO – AUGUST 03: Adam Fox #23 of the New York Rangers looks on during warm ups before Game Two of the Eastern Conference Qualification Round prior to the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 3, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/Freestyle Photo/Getty Images) /

The first defense pair

This defensive pairing played above expectations last season and enters this season as New York’s best to offer. The two second year defensemen will need to replicate what they did last year in order for the Rangers to avoid one of their weaknesses.

Ryan Lindgren: The best lefty

One of the glaring weaknesses for the Blueshirts this season is their lack of left-handed defensemen. They traded Marc Staal in the off-season, and they have prospects who are close to the NHL but are not ready. This means that Lindgren needs to step up offensively, as his defensive game has already shown. With the other two left defensemen projected to be Brendan Smith and Jack Johnson, New York needs Lindgren to be on his best and play upward of 20 minutes a game.

Adam Fox helps with this, and we will get to Fox’s wishes, but they have built a partnership that David Quinn will surely not want to break up. If he wants to give Fox more time, this means Lindgren will also get more time, only helping him become what fans believe he can be.

Adam Fox: Being a top ten defensemen

Fox needs to take the next step and become one of the top defensemen in the league, and there will be pressure on him to perform well. He will get well over 18 minutes per game and will be slotted in on the second power play unit, and defensively he needs to step up.

Many believe Fox was snubbed from any Calder recognition, and that is only fuel to the fire for someone with so much talent. The Rangers have three right handed defensemen who will have major roles (Fox, Tony DeAngelo and Jacob Trouba) and Fox is seen as a centerpiece  for this team for the future.

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