The New York Rangers and defenseman Adam Fox are at a crossroads this offseason. Both sides are pondering what the future holds.
The ridiculous amount of uncertainty surrounding everything makes this offseason even harder than it has to be.
But according to one notable insider, Fox would rather stay with the Rangers than seek greener pastures elsewhere.
Elliotte Friedman, in his 32 Thoughts Blog, pointed out that Fox would prefer to stay in New York. But that’s not necessarily a given, as it depends on what the organization does moving forward.
In other words, the path GM Chris Drury chooses could determine if Fox stays or asks to leave.
That’s where the rubber meets the road. If the Rangers choose a retool, the likeliest path, Fox would likely stick around. But if the Blueshirts opt for a full-on rebuild, the unlikeliest path, then Fox might be tempted to request a trade.
At the NHL trade deadline, there was some speculation that Fox might be on the block. However, there was no solid evidence that was indeed the case. In fact, reports after the deadline suggested Fox was never in play.
But that could change depending on what the Rangers choose to do this offseason. Again, it’s unlikely the organization chooses to tear everything down. But if the Rangers’ 2026-27 season goes ca-ca quickly, the conversation might change.
Fox Could Emerge as Early Trade Candidate
The Rangers are hoping they can turn things around next season. The expectation is that additional offseason changes, whatever they may be, could turn the team around. Ideally, that turnaround would mean a trip to the postseason after two straight misses.
But what if things go south from the start? That’s a very real possibility. And if things get ugly quickly, Fox may become an early trade candidate.
Perhaps a timeline similar to the one Quinn Hughes followed this season might be comparable. The Vancouver Canucks’ season went badly pretty soon. By mid-December, Hughes was on his way to Minnesota.
That could be a realistic timeline if the Rangers were serious about trading Fox. That situation, of course, hinges on Fox’s willingness to waive his no-trade clause.
That’s something that could significantly gum up the works.
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Rangers May Have Little Leverage in Fox Trade
Then again, that full no-trade clause is a powerful reason for the Rangers holding off on trading Fox. Fox had a full no-movement clause kick in this season. That will last next season, before shifting to a 16-team no-trade clause in 2027.
So, does that mean the Rangers’ best bet would be to wait until 2027 to trade Fox? On the whole, yes. Trying to move Fox this summer or even next season would not make much sense. Unless Fox was willing to let the Rangers negotiate in good faith, the Blueshirts would have little leverage in the negotiations.
The last thing the Rangers need is a repeat of the Artemi Panarin situation. That’s why the club may have no other choice but to sit on its hands and wait for the right time and opportunity to make a trade work.
In the meantime, their hope is that things will somehow be different this season.
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