The New York Rangers got a terrible blow on Sunday when the team placed star defenseman Adam Fox on LTIR. At this point, the official prognosis on Fox is week-to-week. But that vague timeline reference could mean a significant period.
In the best of cases, the Rangers could get Fox back as early as December 27, as CBS Sports noted. However, Fox could be out much longer than that. That’s why the Blueshirts may have to look into finding a suitable replacement for Fox, especially if he’s out for much longer than three or four weeks.
So, here’s a look at three potential replacements for the Rangers' top blueliner moving forward.
3 options Rangers could target to replace Adam Fox
Rasmus Andersson
Rasmus Andersson has been the subject of abundant trade speculation this season. Andersson is an impending UFA and could be on the way out. While the prevailing wisdom is that the Calgary Flames will do everything they can to keep him, an enticing offer could move the chains for Calgary.
If Fox is indeed out for a much longer period, the club will have cap space to add Andersson to the club. That situation could make pulling off a trade much easier, especially since the Flames don’t really have much of a chance to make the playoffs.
Morgan Rielly
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a team in limbo at the moment. Their big 7-2 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday night provided a glimmer of hope for the team. Still, the rhetoric now has focused on Toronto making just about everyone on its roster available.
That rhetoric includes Rielly. While Rielly isn’t quite as good as Fox, he could be a solid replacement for the Rangers’ top blueliner. Rielly won’t come cheap, but the Maple Leafs could be willing to get out from under his contract.
Mario Ferraro
Mario Ferraro is another impending UFA that has garnered significant attention this season. While the San Jose Sharks are in the midst of a better-than-expected season, the club isn’t quite ready to be a playoff contender.
The chatter has been that the Sharks are willing to pawn off veterans to recoup even more assets to surround their young team. The Sharks might be better off holding onto Ferraro, but if a good deal came across, the Sharks could be willing to trade Ferraro.
For the Rangers, adding Ferraro could be a solid long-term move even when Fox returns. The Blueshirts need more scoring from the blueliner. And that’s something Ferraro can deliver. Plus, Ferraro is young enough to where he could be a meaningful contributor down the road.
It’s worth pointing out that these massive deals could come to fruition if the Rangers feel Fox won’t be back any time soon. But if Fox’s injury proves to be a shorter-term issue, GM Chris Drury may think twice about pulling the trigger.