Rangers: Bridge deal vs. long-term contract… looking at the ELC players.
Adam Fox D
Adam Fox is in the final year of his ELC, so naturally, he is the biggest priority out of the bunch on this list. In just his second season in the league, the 23-year-old defenseman won the Norris Trophy. It was certainly warranted, as he had five goals and 47 points in 55 games. He was very impressive in his rookie season, too, as he had 42 points in 70 games. It will be fascinating to see what he provides in the last year of his ELC.
When it comes to Fox, it is apparent that he needs to the future of the the team’s blueline. With all of the big contracts that have been handed out to defensemen this off-season, it is fair to assume that he will be receiving his big payday next. In my opinion, the Rangers should lock him up for as long as possible.
Having a top-pairing defenseman of Fox’s ability under team control is genuinely a blessing. A bridge deal with him does not seem like the best course of action because of this. With him being so young and already being such a talented player, giving him a contract between six and eight years would not bring upon much risk. He is the type of player they need to build around for many years to come.