The New York Rangers placed defenseman Adam Fox on long-term injured reserve with a shoulder injury sustained in a 4-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday. Fox, who leads the team with 26 points in 27 games, will miss at least 10 games and 24 days. Coach Mike Sullivan acknowledged the challenge of replacing Fox's contributions on both ends of the ice.
The New York Rangers are grappling with a significant setback as star defenseman Adam Fox was injured in the third period of Saturday's 4-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Placed on long-term injured reserve Sunday, Fox's shoulder injury—described as upper-body in some reports—will sideline him week to week, with no specific timeline provided. He must miss a minimum of 10 games and 24 days, impacting the team's push for a playoff spot.
Fox has been a cornerstone for the Rangers, who hold a 13-12-2 record and sit 12th in the Eastern Conference, one point behind the Pittsburgh Penguins for the second wild-card spot despite the Penguins having three games in hand. Leading the team in average ice time at 23:50 per game, Fox ties Artemi Panarin with 26 points (three goals, 23 assists) in 27 games, ranking second among NHL defensemen behind Cale Makar. His offensive prowess is crucial for a Rangers squad averaging 2.63 goals for per game, the fifth-worst in the league.
"Obviously, 'Foxy' is not an easy guy to replace for so many reasons," Sullivan said after Monday's practice. "I'm stating the obvious when I say that, but we're going to put a game plan together based on the people that we have to try and set our group up for success."
To compensate, Braden Schneider will pair with Vladislav Gavrikov on the top defense line, increasing Schneider's even-strength ice time from 15:58 per game. The power play will shift to a five-forward unit with Panarin at the point alongside Mika Zibanejad, Vincent Trocheck, J.T. Miller and Will Cuylle. Panarin, who shares Fox's point total, commented on the adjustment: "I'll try to play safer up top, but I also can't be too conservative because it probably won't work like that."
Schneider expressed determination: "It [stinks] seeing Adam go down... I'll do my best to play fast, play hard and play the game that I know how to play."
The Rangers' defense remains solid, allowing 2.63 goals against per game (tied for fifth-fewest), bolstered by goaltender Igor Shesterkin. However, Fox's absence strains an offense already struggling, with upcoming opponents including high-scoring teams like the Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars and Montreal Canadiens. Additional injuries compound the issues: forward Adam Edstrom is day to day with a lower-body injury, Taylor Raddysh missed practice for personal reasons, and Brennan Othmann was recalled from the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack.
Fox, a candidate for Team USA at the 2026 Olympics under Sullivan's coaching, could return by that event. The Rangers host the Dallas Stars on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden.