Rangers superstar Adam Fox was disrespected by the NHL as he was only ranked as the league's 16th-best defenseman after a difficult Four Nations performance.
Adam Fox didn't require any additional motivation for the 2025-26 season, yet he just received it. The New York Rangers star received a surprisingly low ranking on NHL Network's 'Top-20 Defensemen Right Now,' coming in at No. 16.
Only two years ago, Adam Fox was No. 2. Last summer, he fell to No. 8, and now he's fallen again. Although Fox didn't quite reach his Norris Trophy level from last season, there's no way to justify a fall this far.
His 61 points in 74 games were a decrease from 73 the previous year, his third consecutive 70+ point season, but the drop was far from isolated.
Almost every Rangers skater, with the exception of Will Cuylle, experienced a decrease in production during one of the most disappointing seasons for the franchise.
Despite this, Fox still tied for sixth among defensemen in assists (51) and finished ninth in points.
The bigger blot came at February's 4 Nations Face-Off, where Fox struggled and dropped down Team USA's depth chart behind Zach Werenski and Brock Faber. Selected early to the team, he played below expectations and was roundly criticized.
He was on the ice for Canada's game-tying goal in the final and was slow to pick up Mitch Marner in overtime, leading to Connor McDavid's championship winner.
Those issues might account for his ranking plummet, and possibly for why he wasn't one of the first six players invited to the 2026 U.S. Olympic team.
For Fox, it's not just a number on a list; it's another motivation to come out swinging this year.
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