The 2026 Winter Olympics are ongoing in Milan, with today featuring Mika Zibanejad and Sweden vs, Mike Sullivan, David Quinn, J.T. Miller, Vincent Trocheck, and the rest of Team USA, but back at home the New York Rangers got some positive news for a change. Both Igor Shesterkin and Adam Fox were active participants in practice, and it would appear each are making progress to the point where they could rejoin the lineup after the Olympic break.
Adam Fox's 2025-26 season will remain a huge "what if?"
Fox has appeared in 30 games for the Rangers this season, and he has scored four goals while adding 24 helpers for 28 points. When healthy, he's been a workhorse for the Rangers logging 23:34 a night, and he's put up some spectacular underlying numbers.
Fox has logged 559 minutes at 5v5 for the Blueshirts, and has a dominating slash line that includes a 62.69 GF%, a 56.58 CF%, and a 58.71 xGF% which is elite production. When he's on the ice the Rangers generate 2.86 goals for per 60 minutes, and the team allows just 1.7 goals against per Evolving-Hockey.
The pair of Fox and Vladislav Gavrikov was also one of the best in the league with a collective slash line that includes a 59.62 GF%, a 55.84 CF%, and a 58.52 xGF% in 494 minutes of 5v5 play. It is unfortunate that Fox has missed as much time as he did, but if it results in the Rangers landing an elite prospect through the draft that bolsters the retool, it will have at least been worth it a bit.
Shesterkin should be more appreciated upon return
Goaltending has been a massive struggle for the Rangers with Shesterkin on the shelf, and it exposed fans to what life is like when you don't have a goalie. There has always been a contigent of fans who complained that the Rangers paid too much on their goalies, but I'd imagine some of them are likely changing their tune after watching Jonathan Quick and Spencer Martin struggle.
In 34 games Shesterkin has saved 16.14 goals above average (GSAA), and 23.37 goals above expected (GSAx). In 20 games Quick has a -1.79 GSAA, and a 3.16 GSAx. Lastly, Martin has a -3.92 GSAA rating, and a -2.45 GSAx in six appearances.
For those wondering at home, Shesterkin's GSAA is fourth in the league, and his GSAx is eighth overall. What is notable about that is both stats are cumulative stats that benefit those who have played more games, and to this point Shesterkin's 17th in total minutes played amongst goalies.