Rangers Report Cards: Grading the Right Defenseman
Rangers Report Cards: Adam Fox: A+(A+)
Fox is already etching his name in New York Rangers history. The former Norris Trophy winner and reigning Norris Trophy runner-up set a career-high with 12 goals and a whopping 72 points. Fox was like the takeaway king with 88, the fourth in assists (defensemen category, of course), and his offensive mojo ranked him third with 141.03 Xgoals according to Moneypuck.
Every time he took the ice, opponents forgot how to score. Fox and Ryan Lindgren were the ultimate goal-stopping duo, ranking second with a 2.3 xGoals against per 60 minutes. They were masters at shutting down the other team’s chances. And guess what? Any pair with Fox on it let in less than two goals per 60 minutes on average.
It’s like Fox sprinkled defensive magic on his partners – they all became wizards alongside him!
He was so close to grabbing the Norris Trophy, finishing second, but Erik Karlsson and his 100-point season pulled a sneaky win.
In the playoffs, when the going got tough, Fox got going. Six assists in two games? Talk about dishing out the magic! He’s the only defenseman in Rangers history to pull off a 4+ assist playoff game – no big deal, right?
Sure, Fox had his “oops” moments, like that game seven giveaway against the New Jersey Devils, but even defense wizards have their off days. They’re not hockey-playing robots, after all! Despite those moments, his skills are still on fire, and his all-around game is mesmerizing.
Moreover, the Bluehshirts perform better with Fox on the ice than without. Offense? Bam, 23% net positive! Defense? A remarkable 13% positive impact. And oh, let’s not forget that powerplay is a mind-boggling 78% in the positive zone. When Fox is on the ice, the Rangers’ XGF per 60 is 3.74 compared to 3.28 without him per hockey Viz.
That said, it’s time Fox had the chance to play consistent top minutes with the Blueshirts’ other star blueliner, K’Andre Miller. With those two, we might witness one of the league’s top pairs. We love Lindgren (As displayed by his report card), but the evidence suggests a Fox-Miller duo could unlock Jacob Trouba’s full potential and teach the 23-year-old a few neat tricks, too.
Let’s face it: the 25-year-old Fox is the Rangers’ golden ticket. He’s not just the best on the team. He’s a contender for the best defenseman in the NHL. Each time he takes the ice, he makes that $9.5 million cap hit look like a bargain. Rangers fans love hearing what the Fox says on both sides of the puck each game night.
Rangers Report Cards: Jacob Trouba: B (C)
Trouba’s season with the Rangers wasn’t his best outing. Starting the season as captain, he battled through a wrist injury that held him back. Despite his rough patch, he still managed eight goals and 30 points while pairing up with K’Andre Miller.
In a league of cautious hits, Trouba’s the bold one. He’s like a hockey meteor shower. He ranked 19th in the “How to Knock Someone Over 101” class and fourth in “Blocking Shots Like a Human Wall.” among skaters who logged 200+ minutes. He’s got this gritty style that screams, “I’ll put my body on the line for the team.”
That said, Trouba gave away the puck like he was auditioning for a comedy show – 49 giveaways, 37 of them in the “oh-no-the-opponents-are-here” zone. And let’s not forget his putrid 63.65 XGoals against, second highest on the Rangers.
So, sometimes Trouba and his partner let the other guys create too much havoc. When Trouba and Miller teamed up, it was like a mini rollercoaster of goals. They were expected to give up about 2.55 goals per 60 minutes, yet averaged 2.95 goals allowed per 60 minutes.
However, the 29-year-old balanced out his poor defense with his “I-didn’t-see-that-coming” 61.51 XGoals, good for third highest on the squad. Like they say, always give with one hand and take away with the other.
Trouba wasn’t the team’s scoring superstar, but he was 11th on the team in scoring, third amongst defensemen(8), and led the squad in hits(218) and blocked shots(196). He showed that defensemen can play defense and still contribute offensively.
In the playoffs, the speed demons that were the New Jersey Devils gave Trouba a run for his money. He and Miller let in some high-danger chances and had a dreadful 8.57 XGoals against. that felt like he’d accidentally left the front door open for the other team.
Trouba’s secret weapon? Knocking guys flat at center ice. He did it to Andreas Athanasiou before tossing his helmet and slamming the boards, which was the turning point in the Rangers regular season after their slow start.
He also crushed Calgary Flames star Nazeem Kadri for good measure.
Unfortunately, Trouba was a no-show offensively in the postseason. Trouba collected as many points as you have wings – zero. However, when he knocked Timo Meier into next week in game seven with that open-ice hit, it was like a sudden spark of “Hey, we’re still in this!”
Despite the tough times, Trouba’s determination shines through. Watch out; next season, he’s bouncing back with a vengeance! Over time, he will prove that the $8.5 million cap hit is worth it.
Rangers Report Cards: Braden Schneider: B (A)
Schneider might not have the spotlight like Kakko, Lafreniere, and Miller, but he’s been holding his fort on the third pair like a champ. Think of him as the unsung hero of the blue line. He’s been there, quietly doing his thing, like the guy who always brings the best snacks to the party.
Talking numbers, for a guy on the third pair, Schneider brought more firepower than you’d expect. Five goals and 18 points in 81 games with a 3.4 defensive points share– not bad. And get this: he tied with Ryan Lindgren in points – a bit like hanging out with the cool kids in school.
Schneider’s like a hits-and-blocks magician – he put up 147 hits and blocked 130 shots like a goalie who wandered into the wrong neighborhood. And let’s not forget, he’s following in Captain Trouba’s footsteps, bringing that rough and tough energy to the game.
Now, about his playmaking skills – it’s like he’s got a GPS for forward transitioning. Yet natural stat trick says he generated around 46.28 expected goals, which sounds a bit like a polite way of saying he made some nice plays, but not all led to fireworks.
On the flip side, his defensive dance wasn’t always smooth. The “expected goals against” stat wasn’t exactly his BFF at 63.38, the ninth-worst on the team. He also was outworked in his end, as the Rangers were outshot 292-211 when he was on the ice.
Schneider had his share of critics, and rightfully so. Yet, he broke Blueshirts camp and became the go-to guy for stabilizing the third pair. He might not have been in the ideal position to shine being on the bottom of the depth chart, but he held his own, even if the numbers sometimes said otherwise.
In the playoffs, Schneider’s point tally was like my chances of becoming an astronaut – zero. His on-ice stats didn’t do too well either. Shots(88-133), Scoring chances (39-71), and expected goals(3.45 for, 7.09 against) were against him. The Devils were his testy rival in the playground.
That said, let’s cut him some slack; he’s only 21 and still learning the ropes.
Playoffs-wise, well, we’ll call it a learning experience.
With a mix of Jones and Erik Gustafsson and a more structured coaching approach under Peter Laviolette, the Schneider story continues. He might not be the Adam Fox everyone hoped for right out of the gate, but who is?
Schneider still has time to sharpen his skills, and he might surprise us all in the next chapter. For a team hungry for young talent, Schneider is like a trusty toolkit – not flashy, but oh-so-valuable.
And keep your eyes peeled because the next chapter in his contract saga is just around the corner. After the upcoming season, Schneider will be a restricted free agent, giving Rangers General Manager Chris Drury another bridge deal to negotiate.