The absolute absurdity of the narrative surrounding Adam Fox and his role with the Rangers

There has been a rise of fantastic defensemen making their way into the NHL from Jake Sanderson in Ottawa to Matthew Schaeffer with the Islanders, and with this jump in talent on the back-end many seem to forget how good Adam Fox really is. From being omitted from the Team USA's Olympic roster to not being a consensus top-five defensemen based off media reactions, it feels like no elite player has gotten disrespected more than Fox has due to these past couple of seasons.

Fox's exceptional 2025-26 season hasn't been properly appreciated

If it weren't for injury, Adam Fox would undoubtedly have been a Norris candidate this past season. Despite playing in only 55 games, Fox ranked fifth in points per game among and was 20th in points among all defensemen in the NHL; this is on a New York Rangers team that was bottom-ten in goals for this past season. Delving deeper into Fox's metrics, among all defensemen to play a minimum of 40 games this season; he was on the ice for 2.16 xGA/60 (expected goals against per sixty minutes) which was 14th best and gave up a remarkable 7.87 HDCA (high danger chances against)/60, which was the best.

On the offensive side of his analytics, Fox once again was an elite play driver for a defensemen where he ranked eleventh among all blueliners in his HDCF (higher danger chances for)/60, he also was the Rangers best in his xGF (expected goals for)/per 60 with a 2.78, 45th among all defensemen, and overall his EVO (even strength offense)/per 60 was tied third with notable offensive powerhouses Evan Bouchard, Lane Hutson, and Zach Werenski. Furthermore Fox on a per sixty basis gave any defender the most "wins" above a replacement level (WAR) player for their respective teams, registering a 0.15 WAR/60.

Fox will continue to let his play do the talking

Adam Fox seems to have become an after thought when you talk to people about the elite defensemen currently playing in the league and it's mainly because he isn't as flashy as Quinn Hughes, Cale Makar, Lane Hutson, or Matthew Schaeffer while also playing on a Rangers team that has left much to be desired these past couple seasons. But it doesn't really make sense when you look into his statistics and how the Rangers play with him on and off the ice.

Adam Fox without a doubt is a top 3 defensemen in the NHL right now, at worst top 5, and to be completely honest he's closer to being the absolute best in the game right now than he is to not being a Top-10 blueliner at all.

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