The New York Rangers placed defenseman Adam Fox on long-term injured reserve Sunday after he sustained an upper-body injury in a 4-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Fox, who has 26 points in 27 games, is expected to be out week to week. The team faces challenges replacing their top defenseman as they sit one point out of a playoff spot.
Adam Fox suffered the injury during the third period of the Rangers' 4-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning at Madison Square Garden on Saturday. With 12:57 remaining, Fox was hit by Lightning forward Brandon Hagel in a clean shoulder-to-shoulder check, getting sandwiched into the end boards. He left the ice holding his left arm and did not return.
Rangers coach Mike Sullivan confirmed after the game that Fox was being evaluated for an upper-body injury, later specified as a left-shoulder issue. The team did not practice Sunday, and per reports from Vince Mercogliano of The Athletic, Fox is considered week to week and will be re-evaluated around Christmas. Placement on long-term injured reserve means he must miss at least 10 games and 24 days.
Fox leads the Rangers with 26 points (three goals, 23 assists) in 27 games, tied with Artemi Panarin, and his 23 assists are tied for the most among NHL defensemen with Cale Makar. He averages 23:50 of ice time and extended a six-game scoring streak (10 assists) with an assist on J.T. Miller's goal Saturday. The 2021 Norris Trophy winner is the team's most indispensable player outside of goalie Igor Shesterkin.
The Rangers (13-12-2) are 12th in the Eastern Conference points percentage but just one point from a playoff spot. To adjust, rookie Scott Morrow is expected to enter the lineup for sheltered third-pair minutes and quarterback the top power-play unit. Braden Schneider, with five points in 27 games, will likely pair with Vladislav Gavrikov, whose duo with Fox has logged 449:34 of 5-on-5 time with a 59.85 percent expected goals share and a 16-11 scoring edge.
General manager Chris Drury is unlikely to pursue trades immediately, given the injury is not long-term. The Rangers previously managed a 10-game absence for Fox in 2023-24 due to a knee injury and won the Presidents' Trophy.