A player like Adam Fox only comes around every once in a very long while. He fought like hell to get out of not only one potential home in the NHL, but two, just so he can play for the team he rooted for as a child. He was destined to be a part of the New York Rangers, as if it was written in the stars.
But now, it might be a different narrative as the Rangers are entering the next era of their franchise's history. "The Letter 2.0" has been announced, meaning that this team will be going through a full retooling period, and unpleasant hockey will be ahead of us all.
A player like Fox can hightail it out of here, give the Rangers a massive return, and can pick virtually any team that he thinks can win a Stanley Cup for multiple years. He has the right to do so, but will his heart allow it?
Then, there is the interesting bottom line here, as to what President and General Manager Chris Drury decides to do with Fox in this next phase. Can he convince him to stay on, fight until this team gets on the other side, and build a championship-caliber roster, again?
Fox had to go through this once before, but does he want to do it for a second-time. When asked about it, No. 23 did not want to talk about it, but you can certainly see it is on his mind. How can it not?
Adam Fox was asked about his future with the Rangers
— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) February 27, 2026
"I'm just trying to focus on this year right now. That's a conversation when we're done playing games. We're just trying to win games, we didn't do that tonight. That's where my focus is right now" pic.twitter.com/XHCEBRQofK
If Fox is moved, Drury has failed this franchise
It is quite simple. You do not, I repeat, do not, let a player like Fox walk away from your team. No matter what kind of position you are in, or what the future holds. He is a die-hard Rangers fan from birth, his family is close-by, and he can be the very thing that brings you back into the Stanley Cup-contending fold.
Drury has to remove Fox from the trade block immediately, or else this franchise will be set back even further. Sure, he can bring back a very big return, as he is a 28-year-old Norris Trophy winner, and will likely capture another one or two before he is done playing. Why would you not want that to happen on your own team, instead of having to try and beat him a couple of times a year, as he is somewhere else?
Keep Fox with the Rangers, and the retool will be over before you know it.