Adam Fox leaves the game early and the Rangers might have a serious problem

The New York Rangers lost for the eighth time on home ice at Madison Square Garden on Saturday afternoon, and somehow that wasn't the most worrying thing of the day. Late in the third period Adam Fox went to play a puck behind the goal line, and he took a hit from Brandon Hagel.

Adam Fox has been the Rangers' most valuable player to start season

Heading into today's game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Fox had logged just under 500 minutes at 5v5. In those minutes he has posted a 61.87 GF%, a 57.15 CF%, and a 59.98 xGF% for the Rangers. That includes the Rangers generating 2.74 goals for per 60 minutes, and surrendering 1.69 goals against per 60 minutes. On top of that, Fox has recorded points in six consecutive games, and right now sits second in the NHL among defenseman with 26 points (3 goals and 23 assists) in 27 games played. He only trails Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche, and that's important for Norris Trophy voters who consider the offensive production of a defender when filling out their ballots.

Rangers' options if Fox has to miss time

The Rangers just ended a tough stretch of hockey in November in which they played 15 games, and they have another 15 games on tap in December. If Fox has to miss time to start the month, the best option would see Scott Morrow step into Fox's spot alongside Vladislav Gavrikov. There is no replacing Fox, but from a skillset perspective, he's the best equipped to try and emulate the Rangers' top defender.

Morrow has proven to be an established offensive defender in the American Hockey League, and has had some limited success in NHL minutes with the Carolina Hurricanes. The one area of his game that has needed development is the defensive side of the puck, and Gavrikov is an elite shutdown defender who could cover for his shortcoming.

As tempting as it might be for the team to considering moving up someone like Will Borgen or Braden Schneider, neither plays a game that would mesh the greatest with Gavrikov. And to that point, the Rangers are better off letting their other pairs try and establish chemistry, especially since Borgen just returned to the lineup.