It’s hard to find anyone associated with the New York Rangers — whether it’s players, management, or fans — who’s pleased with how the season ended. After winning the Presidents’ Trophy in 2023-24, missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs this year was a major disappointment.
Still, even if few would say it out loud, the unusually long offseason might actually benefit one of the team’s core players going forward.
Star defenseman Adam Fox had a solid 2024-25 campaign, tallying 10 goals and 51 assists with a plus-9 rating over 74 games. As expected, the advanced stats confirmed his elite level of play — he posted a career-best 55.7% expected goals share, according to Natural Stat Trick, reinforcing his status as a top possession player and former Norris Trophy winner.
Yet, despite the impressive numbers, something seemed off. Fox, who has never been known for blazing speed, looked like he was missing some of his usual sharpness and confidence. He didn’t quite resemble the calm, cerebral player who typically dictated play from the blue line, especially on the power play, relying on his hockey IQ and instincts to compensate for a lack of foot speed.
Alarming 4 Nations performance exposed Adam Fox’s diminished play
Fox’s decline was most evident during his rough outing at the 4 Nations Faceoff in February. Once considered a cornerstone of the U.S. squad—he was among the first six players selected—he ended up being one of the team’s biggest letdowns, particularly on the defensive end against elite competition.
His deficiencies in speed and mobility were on full display, and this time, his sharp hockey IQ wasn’t enough to compensate—something that had previously allowed him to thrive as a top-tier NHL defenseman over the past six seasons. Fox went pointless and posted a minus-2 rating across four games. In the final, a tight overtime loss to Canada, U.S. coach Mike Sullivan—who also coaches Fox with the Rangers—gave him just 17:05 of ice time, the lowest among American defensemen.
So, what’s going on? It seems unlikely that his elite hockey sense has faded. A more plausible explanation is that physical limitations were the root issue—ones that more rest this offseason could help resolve.
The trouble began on Nov. 2, 2023, when Fox suffered a lower-body injury following a questionable knee-on-knee hit from Carolina’s Sebastian Aho. After logging just over six minutes that night, he was placed on long-term injured reserve. He returned on Nov. 29 after sitting out the required 10 games and 24 days.
While he quickly resumed collecting assists, he endured a 17-game goal drought and was clearly working through physical setbacks. Still, he finished the 2023-24 season with 73 points in 72 games, and looked nearly back to form heading into the playoffs, tallying 22 points in his final 18 regular-season appearances.
But then came another setback. On May 11, 2023, during Game 4 of the Rangers’ first-round sweep of the Capitals, Fox re-injured himself in a collision with Nick Jensen. Though he played in all 16 playoff games, his production dipped—he recorded just eight assists—and the Rangers were eliminated in the Eastern Conference Final by Florida.
Fox didn’t have much time to recover. After pushing through heavy playoff minutes, New York’s season ended on June 1. Training camp opened a little over three months later, with the regular season starting Oct. 9. On top of that, the compressed 2024-25 schedule, built around the Four Nations tournament, gave him no reprieve—he didn’t even get the tournament break off since he was competing.
In total, Fox dealt with two knee injuries in a short span and never had a meaningful chance to fully recover over the next year. Given the demanding schedule and limited rest, his struggles at the Four Nations tournament seem much more understandable in hindsight.
Rangers coach Mike Sullivan has faith Adam Fox will rebound in 2025-26
Sullivan made it clear last week that there’s no cause for concern when it comes to Fox.
“I believe he’s one of the top players in the league. His track record certainly backs that up,” said the new Rangers head coach during his introductory press conference on Thursday. “I’m excited to start working with Adam. We’re going to challenge him to reach his full potential.”
Despite Sullivan’s confidence, it’s quite possible that Fox wrapping up a grueling hockey stretch on April 17 — more than five weeks ahead of the 2024 season’s June 1 finish — could be the best outcome for him. It’s also important to note that Fox likely suffered a shoulder injury on February 25 against the Islanders, just his third game back after the Four Nations tournament, causing him to miss eight games.
Given the physical toll, Fox is arguably among the players most in need of extended rest to fully recover. While the Rangers may have preferred a playoff appearance, missing out might ultimately benefit Fox’s 2025-26 season — and, by extension, the team’s future success — especially considering they weren’t serious contenders this year.
Now 27, Fox is entering the peak of his career. Although the last 17 months have seen him fall short of his usual form, the Rangers’ disappointing 2024-25 campaign could prove to be a hidden blessing for their star defenseman.