Typically, he is the best defenceman on the ice, but Adam Fox‘s discipline is going unnoticed due to his offensive production. You might remember his game-winning goal in New York’s 5-2 over the Boston Bruins on Thursday. Yet, do you remember his hooking penalty in the first period? What about his interference call on Tuesday against Winnipeg? You don’t remember the interference call from this past weekend against the Islanders, do you?
That’s fine if you answered no to any of them because the offensive prowess is doing an excellent job of making up for his mistakes. This piece is not a dig at Fox by no means, it is just bringing up an issue that might be costly come playoff time. Let’s face it, Fox should be on the ice for both the power play and the penalty kill. No one can lead a breakout on this roster like Fox can, apart from Artemi Panarin. In this article, we will dissect the pros and cons of Adam Fox’s game, starting with the things he does best.
Adam Fox: This Generation’s Brian Leetch
After the days of Brian Leetch, no Rangers defenceman has ever been this dominant with the puck as Adam Fox. Sure, there have been some cult heroes along the way, but their games differ from New York’s most recent Norris Trophy Winner. Dan Girardi was the shot-blocking master, something Jacob Trouba is replicating well. Next, Ryan McDonagh, who might be the most similar to Fox, focused more on his two-way game. Who can forget about Marek Malik‘s shootout goal?
While all of these legends are missed, New York is lucky to have a defenceman like Fox. His vision might be the most noticeable part of his game. How he can find the tape of a forward is remarkable. The true leader of the power play, Fox anchors one of the NHL’s most dominant units. Surprisingly, Fox might be the best quarterback in New York since Eli Manning.
Like many Rangers, Fox can be a little too unselfish in crucial moments. Last night told us a different story and it was his shot that broke the tie in the final period of the game.
He might not have the stinging clapper from the point, yet his wrist shot accuracy is unmatched. His ability to pick corners on netminders is a fantastic trait to have in the arsenal of a puck-moving defenceman. With the puck on his stick, Fox is one of the most reliable weapons in the National Hockey League.
The Curious Case of Adam Fox’s Discipline
At 83.4 percent, New York has the fourth-best penalty kill in the NHL. Having centremen who can win a needed draw and defencemen who can move the puck out of their own zone are the benchmarks to a successful kill. When one of, if not your best puck-moving defenceman is in the “Sin Bin”, that’s a problem. Moreover, with his hooking penalty last night, Fox has now been penalized in the last four games. The calls range from hooking to holding and even interference. Let’s use a basketball example to switch things up. If Adam Fox was a basketball player, he would get called for a moving pick almost every single time.
It is a greater deal now because Trouba and Ryan Lindgren are out due to injury. Consequently, they are missed due to their ability to block shots and step into any lane given. Now, with Fox in the penalty box, three of your best penalty-killing defencemen are not on the ice for those two dreaded minutes.
For this reason, Fox needs to make some adjustments to his play without the puck. He needs to have a sit down with either Peter Laviolette or Phil Housley and work on ways to avoid taking penalties. Last time we checked, the playoffs are right around the corner. New York cannot afford to have #23 missing any sort of crunch time, especially on the penalty kill.
New York returns home to Madison Square Garden on Saturday when they take on the Florida Panthers. Expect Igor Shesterkin to return to the crease after Jonathan Quick‘s Broadway Hat-winning performance in Boston. Puck drop is scheduled for 8 p.m. EDT on Saturday from The World’s Most Famous Arena.
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