It has been confirmed that New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox, one of the league’s premier blueliners, played through a significant injury during the recent Stanley Cup Playoffs. According to Mollie Walker of the New York Post, Fox was dealing with a mild MCL sprain throughout most of the postseason.
Observers noticed that the 2021 Norris Trophy winner seemed slower in the later rounds, suggesting something was amiss. Fox initially injured his knee in November after a knee-on-knee collision with Sebastian Aho of the Carolina Hurricanes, which led to his placement on long-term injured reserve.
The injury was exacerbated during the playoffs when Fox experienced another knee-on-knee collision in Game 4 of the opening round against Washington Capitals defenseman Nick Jensen. As a result, the 26-year-old did not skate between the Rangers’ sweep of the Capitals and their second-round series against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Despite the injury, Fox remained a crucial part of the Rangers’ lineup, playing in every postseason game. He managed to accumulate eight assists over 16 games, averaging nearly 24 minutes on the ice per game, and achieving a plus/minus rating of +5. However, his efforts were not enough to push the Rangers past the Eastern Conference Final, where they were eliminated by the Florida Panthers in six games. This marked the second time in three seasons that the Rangers were knocked out in the conference finals.
Fox’s knee injury kept him sidelined for nearly a month during the regular season, causing him to miss 10 games. Despite this setback, he had an impressive season, achieving 73 points from 17 goals and 56 assists, making it the first time in his career that he averaged a point per game.
Throughout his NHL career, which spans 357 games, Fox has tallied 53 goals and 255 assists. His playoff record includes 39 points in 46 games, showcasing his consistent performance even in high-stakes situations.
