As part of the build-up to the first-round playoff series between the Capitals and the Rangers, Japers’ Rink will be looking at some of New York’s important but perhaps lesser-known players…
Adam Fox
#23 | Defense
Height: 5’11” | Weight: 185 | Born: February 7, 1998
Birthplace: Jericho, New York | Acquired: Traded by Carolina for NY Rangers’ 2nd-round pick in 2019 NHL Draft and a conditional pick in 2020 NHL Draft, April 30, 2019.
Scouting Report (via CapFriendly):
- Elite thinker
- Spatial awareness – read/react – seeing plays developing before opponents get set to defend – outsmarting forwards around his net
- Calculating
- Doesn’t play the game with high end pace but makes plays in all three zones
- Exceptional on the power-play. Leans distributor more than shooter but can also beat NHL goalies from distance. Complete player. Used in all situations.
Why You Should Know Who He Is: There is no one more important on the Rangers’ blueline than Fox, who logs huge minutes for this team and puts up big numbers in the process. He finished the 2023-24 season with twice as many points as the next Rangers’ defenseman (former Cap Erik Gustafsson, 31 points) and was fourth on the team in scoring overall, topping 70 points for the third-consecutive season. He obviously scores a ton at even strength but is also deadly on the power play – only Artemi Panarin had more power-play points than Fox’s 33 – and kills penalties (even chipping in with some shorthanded points).
How the Caps Can Stop Him: Um…pray? But no, as dependable Fox has been when it comes to offense, the defensive side (as is often the case with the offensive-minded blueliners, as Caps fans well know) sometimes struggles. Fox is often paired up with Charlie’s brother, Ryan Lindgren, and that duo has had something of an off season when it comes to defense – so the Caps will need to do what you do with any offensive threat, and that is make him play in his own zone. Keep him contained as much as possible, as far from your goalie as possible, and maybe also stay out of the penalty box…not just for him, but y’know, in general.