As previously reported, Adam Fox, who left the ice holding his shoulder during the New York Rangers' win over the Islanders on Tuesday, is going on injured reserve with an upper-body injury. Here's why he's expected back before the end of the regular season.
Fox, part of the Blueshirts’ top pairing with Ryan Lindgren and a key piece of their top power-play line, has collected 48 points in 58 games. As a result of going on the IR list, the Rangers recalled Matthew Robertson from AHL Hartford on Wednesday. According to the protocols attached to the IR designation, Fox needs to miss at least the next seven days.
"Injured Reserve ListThe NHL
In the event that a player is injured and a Club wishes to place him on the Injured Reserve List the Club must follow these procedures:
1. A club may place a player on the Injured Reserve List if such player is injured, disabled or ill and unable to perform his duties as a hockey player after having passed the Club's initial physical examination in that season.
2. A player who has an injury that renders him physically unable to play for a minimum of seven days after that date of the injury can be placed on the Club's Injured Reserve List. Once a player is placed on the list, the Club may replace said player on its NHL roster with another player. All determinations that a player has suffered an injury warranting injured reserve status must be made by the Club's medical staff and in accordance with the Club's medical standards.
3. A player placed on Injured Reserve is ineligible to compete in NHL games for a period of not less than seven days.
4. Players on Injured Reserve may attend Club meetings and meals, travel with the Club and participate in practice sessions."
Rangers defenseman Adam Fox is going on injured reserve with an upper-body injury. It's not considered season-ending, but he will miss some time.
— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) February 26, 2025
The good news for Fox and the Rangers, as Rosen indicated, is the injury isn't viewed as season-ending. The exact timeline for his return hasn't been revealed, but there is optimism he returns during the 2024-2025 campaign. This in indicated by the New York Times. Their source indicated that Fox should return for the final weeks of the regular season.
Fox was one of two Blueshirt defenders to leave their most recent game. In addition to Fox exiting with an upper-body injury, top-four puck-mover K'Andre Miller was forced out of the game in addition. The team shared that Miller sustained a lower-body injury, but no further updates were given as of presstime.
Without Fox, the Rangers being in playoff contention for a wild card spot takes a huge hit. Now, the Blueshirts must find a way to do so without one of their best players. The road to the 2025 NHL Playoffs was already a steep one for the Rangers after their dismal mid-season slump, and it's become much steeper with Fox out for the next few weeks. But it is just a few weeks. So while the Rangers adjust, if they can keep their playoff hopes alive there's a chance Fox will come back just in time.
Editor's note — This story in ongoing. Miller's status remain unclear after exiting Tuesday’s 5-1 win with a lower-body injury