Rangers Grapple with Fox’s Injury Ahead of Crucial Trade Deadline

GREENBURGH, N.Y. — The New York Rangers are preparing for a challenging stretch without their top defenseman, Adam Fox, who sustained an upper-body injury Wednesday and was placed on injured reserve. The extent of Fox’s absence remains uncertain as the Rangers gear up to face the Toronto Maple Leafs at Madison Square Garden on Friday.

Fox, who has been instrumental on both ends of the ice, suffered the injury during the Rangers’ 5-1 victory over the New York Islanders. “It’s tough,” said Rangers center Mika Zibanejad, reflecting on the impact Fox has in the locker room and on the ice. “It’s a key player for us not only on the ice but off the ice as well in the locker room, the player and the leader he’s become. Always tough to be without your top players.”

Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette did not provide a specific timeline for Fox’s return, stating, “Placed on IR and we’ll evaluate him.” Fox is having a standout season, ranking second on the team with 48 points and tied for fourth among NHL defensemen, playing a team-high 23:14 minutes per game.

“It’s a huge loss,” said Fox’s longtime defensive partner, Ryan Lindgren. “He’s our top guy, leads us in minutes and does so much. Not only is he good offensively, he’s so good defensively, great on the kill, all that stuff. It’s a huge loss for us.” While Fox will miss Friday’s game, the Rangers received some positive news as forward Chris Kreider and defenseman K’Andre Miller participated in practice and could be available for the upcoming match.

Kreider, who has missed the last two games, skated on a line with Zibanejad and included in the team’s first power-play unit. Miller, having recovered from an injury sustained during the game against the Islanders, appeared in a red non-contact jersey but took part in all drills. “Really happy about that, that [Miller] made it out there, and I saw exactly what you saw,” Laviolette said.

The urgency for the Rangers is heightened as they aim to secure a playoff spot and evaluate their strategies ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline on March 7. As of Thursday, they sit outside the playoff line in the Eastern Conference, trailing the Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings by four points.

“I’m going to be boring and say game at a time and just go from there,” Zibanejad said when asked about the looming Trade Deadline. “We should embrace the challenge. We should enjoy it. Obviously, the playoffs start after April 17, but these types of games are playoff games for us. That’s the type of games we want to play, and we get to do it this early. Enjoy it.”

The Rangers have 24 games remaining in the season and will play their next four at home against Toronto, the Nashville Predators, the Islanders, and the Washington Capitals before the Trade Deadline. Lindgren emphasized that despite the pressure, the team’s focus remains on improving their standings and not the upcoming trade discussions. “Trying not to think about it, just thinking about tomorrow and trying to get back into the playoff picture,” he said.

In the wake of Fox’s injury, the Rangers plan to experiment with their power play, utilizing five forwards in practice. Zibanejad stepped into Fox’s usual spot on the point. “The only difference is Mika has got a big shot, so they’re going to have to respect that a little bit more and it might open up some other areas,” said Vincent Trocheck.

While the Rangers manage the fallout from Fox’s absence, they remain hopeful that their upcoming matches will provide clarity on their playoff prospects and the necessity for potential trades. With their playoff viabilities at stake, the next few games will be crucial in shaping the Rangers’ strategy as they approach the trade deadline.