Ever since arriving on Broadway, Adam Fox has lived up to the hype and has surpassed what a lot of people thought was possible for him. At only 24 years old, he has over 200 points in his young career and the future is only looking brighter as he continues to grow and get better as a player.
This season, Fox has looked even better than the season he won the Norris Trophy (his second year in the league). However, he is not getting the same recognition as other defensemen who are putting up more points than him. Ranger fans know that Fox deserves a second Norris Trophy this season and his play on the ice backs up that statement.
In 43 games this season, Fox has 9 goals and 35 assists for 44 points. He is two back from the team lead in points and the only two players in front of him are Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad, the two star forwards for the Rangers. If he were leading the Rangers in points, he might get more consideration, but even being that close to the two superstars has to jump out to people as being impressive.
The main players getting the Norris consideration are Erik Karlsson, Rasmus Dahlin, Josh Morrissey, and Cale Makar. As of this writing, Fox is behind them all besides Makar in points. For the past many years, the Norris Trophy is given to the defenseman who puts up the most points, not who is the best defensively.
If the season ended today, the award would go to Karlsson in San Jose cause he has the most points. However, if the award was based on both offense and defense, Fox would be higher on the voting poll because he is great at both ends of the ice.
Karlsson is known for his offense. His offensive numbers overshadow his poor defensive play on his own end of the ice. Fox is known for both being able to put up numbers, but also being able to be defensively responsible with the puck on his end.
Every game he plays, you notice him in the defensive zone using his stick or you see Fox get the better positioning on his opponent and he is able to break up plays and take the puck away. Fox has all the skills on both ends of the ice to be deserving of the award.
The other nominees are also having great seasons, but Morrissey and Dahlin have only shown this potential this season and Makar is having a worse season than last, but still putting up great numbers. At the end of the day, it will come down to Karlsson and Fox and while it may go to Karlsson just based on points, Fox is the better all-around defenseman and that is what the award should be based on. Adam Fox should become a two-time Norris Trophy winner by the season’s end.