Mike Sullivan is setting the bar high for Adam Fox this season. And the New York Rangers coach is going to do everything he can to help his best defenseman get there this season.
“I think ‘Foxy’ knows he’s capable of a better game. And him and I have had discussions about it, and I think he’s inspired with the opportunity to bring a better version of himself,” Sullivan told The Athletic at the recent United States Olympic orientation camp. “And I told him when I became his coach that I was going to do everything in my power to help him become the best version of himself.”
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Like most of his Rangers teammates, Fox’s play dipped in 2024-25 in a wildly disappointing season for the club. However, Fox still finished third on the Rangers and ninth among all NHL defensemen with 61 points. His 51 assists were on shy of Artemia Panarin’s team lead, and tied for sixth among the League’s defensemen.
However, it was the first time in four seasons that Fox failed to record at least 70 points nor finish in the top five in voting for the Norris Trophy as top NHL defenseman. Fox won the award in the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season.
The 27-year-old also fell down the depth chart for Team USA during the 4 Nations Face-Off. He was under fire for appearing a bit slow for the high-tempo games in the best-on-best international tournament in February. It didn’t help that he was caught out of position on Connor McDavid’s game-winning goal for Canada in overtime of the championship game.
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Sullivan, Team USA’s coach, had an up-close look at Fox during 4 Nations. He’s also seen plenty of Fox over the years when he coached the Pittsburgh Penguins. And now as coach of the Rangers, he expects a lot from Fox this season.
“We think, we believe, that Foxy’s capable of a next-level game. A Norris Trophy-caliber game,” Sullivan explained. “You don’t win the Norris Trophy if you’re not capable of that, and we believe he still is.”
Related: Vladislav Gavrikov ‘massive upgrade’ on Rangers defense corps, former NHL enforcer believes
Adam Fox remains ‘capable of elite game’ for Rangers this season
Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
The Rangers made a major move to bolster the defense corps this offseason when they signed Vladisalv Gavrikov to a seven-year, $49 million contract. The stud shut-down defender likely will pair on the left side of Fox on the pair this season. That will benefit Fox greatly, after he skated alongside Ryan Lindgren, K’Andre Miller, and and Carson Soucy last season.
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Even with revolving defense partners, Fox’s underlying numbers were best on the Rangers in 2024-25. The Rangers had an expected goals share of 55.7 percent and a 663-507 advantage in scoring chances with Fox on the ice 5v5 last season, per Natural Stat Trick.
However, the Rangers power play cratered last season. With Fox running point, the Rangers dropped to 28th in the NHL (17.6 percent) after finishing third (26.4 percent) in 2023-24.
Enough concerns were raised about Fox’s overall play that he’s not a lock to earn a spot on the United States team that will participate in the 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympics. Sullivan will coach that team, too. So, he’s got plenty of incentive to get Fox back to an elite level this season.
And Sullivan will have plenty of help on his coaching staff in New York. David Quinn is Sullivan’s assistant in charge of the defense. Perhaps not so coincidentally, Quinn was Rangers coach when Fox won the Norris Trophy five seasons ago.
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“He’s a Norris Trophy winner, and he’s a young guy. He’s not ageing out,” Sullican said about Fox. “He’s capable of an elite game. And it’s our job as coaching staff to help him get there.”
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