Respected outlet hands NY Rangers defenseman an awful ranking

Adam Fox has routinely been one of the NHL’s best defensemen since his first full season in 2019-20. In his rookie season, Fox took fourth for the Calder and has since followed up that successful year with perennial top-five Norris consideration, winning the award in 2020-21 following an encouraging 47-point season. 

One of three Blueshirts who could end the year as the Team MVP, Fox recently saw his name gracing the top 20 defensemen in the league heading into the 2024-25. Better yet, he ranked eighth on the list, but to many who follow the Blueshirts, that should be nothing short of frustrating. 

Another career year last season ended with Fox taking fourth for the Norris, and his 17 goals were the best mark of what is still an ultra-young career. Yet, somehow, the NHL Network found a way to rank him lower than the likes of Victor Hedman, Gustav Forsling, and Charlie McAvoy, all of whom he played better hockey than last year. 

NY Rangers defenseman handed a low ranking despite elite numbers

Nobody was more overrated than Gustav Forsling, who, despite playing a sensational game all year, finished with a rather modest 39 points and 10 goals. Yeah, it’s true that Forsling helped the Florida Panthers win in other ways than putting up goals and helpers, but you can argue Fox’s overall play was comparable - he just helped pitch in directly in scoring quite a few more goals while snagging a few more of his own. 

Victor Hedman finished the season with more points, 76 to be exact, but it’s also important to remember that Fox missed 10 games while Hedman missed just four. Fox’s advanced possession metrics were also superior to Hedman’s in many cases, especially in Corsi For Percentage, on-ice save percentage, and on-ice goals allowed. 

Defensively, Charlie McAvoy was incredible, recording 159 blocks and hits, but 47 points and 12 goals in 74 games was far less than what we saw from Fox. Like Hedman, McAvoy saw at least 70 goals go by at even strength. His Corsi For also dipped below 50 percent despite a 57.1 offensive zone starting percentage. 

While each of the players mentioned above more than deserved a top 10 ranking, there is no question Adam Fox, at the absolute worst, should have clocked in at No. 5. Overall, this wasn’t the Network’s best ranking, so now it’s time for Fox to go out and prove them wrong.