Adam Fox's return is near. Here's how much the Rangers missed him
The Rangers have been without their top defenseman for 13 games, and though they've kept pace in the standings, analytics show his absence.
TARRYTOWN, New York — At New York Rangers practice Sunday, Adam Fox looked as close to returning from a shoulder injury suffered Nov. 29 against the Tampa Bay Lightning as he has at any point over the last month. The defenseman shed the red non-contact sweater of recent practices and was a full participant, even working in some power play reps.
Coach Mike Sullivan classified Fox as day-to-day.
“We’ll see how he responds and we’ll make decisions,” he said.
The coach didn’t say whether it’s possible Fox returns Monday against the Carolina Hurricanes. Based on Sunday’s practice, it felt possible but perhaps not likely. Scott Morrow took the first reps on the top power-play unit, and Fox primarily skated with Urho Vaakanainen, a recent healthy scratch. The other defensive pairs — Vladislav Gavrikov with Braden Schneider, Carson Soucy with Will Borgen, and Matthew Robertson with Morrow — remained the same.
The Rangers will be elated to get Fox back, whether it comes Monday or a little later. The team has missed him while he’s been out, managing to stay above .500 by going 6-5-2 in 13 games without the defenseman, but struggling to generate offense. Fox is the only defenseman on the team who can do that consistently.
“We try to do our best,” Gavrikov said. “Obviously, he’s a big part of our team, big part of the power play and offensive game for us. Gotta be excited for whenever he’s going to be back. That’s going to be huge for us.”
Fox has 26 points in 27 games played. The Rangers have 69 points by a defenseman in 40 games all season, which ranks 23rd in the league. That means Fox has 37.6 percent of New York’s total points by a defenseman — all while missing 13 games. In the games he’s been out, the Rangers have averaged 2.38 goals per game, which is fifth-worst in the league.
Here are the New York defensemen’s numbers with Fox out:
• Vladislav Gavrikov: 13 games, 2 goals, 1 assist, 25:06 ice time/game
• Braden Schneider: 13 games, 0 goals, 2 assists, 23:38
• Carson Soucy: 13 games, 1 goal, 1 assist, 17:03
• Will Borgen: 13 games, 1 goal, 0 assists, 17:51
• Matthew Robertson: 13 games, 1 goal, 3 assists, 15:51
• Scott Morrow: 11 games, 0 goals, 2 assists, 16:26
• Urho Vaakanainen: 3 games, 0 goals, 0 assists, 9:00
“They’re not perfect, but they’re competitors,” Sullivan said. “I think they defend hard. They’ve continued to do that in Foxy’s absence.”
Matthew Robertson has been one of the Rangers’ most impressive defensemen in December. (Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)
Indeed, the Rangers have stayed afloat through both overtime success — four of their six wins without Fox have been after regulation — and solid defense. They’ve allowed an average of 2.77 goals per game over their past 13, which is 12th best in the league: not earth-shattering, but decent.