Trading Adam Fox This Offseason Would Be a Mistake for the Rangers

Adam Fox has come up in trade talks already this offseason. The New York Rangers are entering a retool, and Fox has not said he is willing to see this retool through, so many fans are beginning to wonder if Fox has a future in New York. However, the team hopes to return to being contenders as early as next season, and trading Fox would be a huge mistake the franchise cannot afford.

The Rangers Want to Be a Playoff Team Next Season

This season did not go to plan after the Rangers had hoped to put a disappointing 2024-25 season behind them. They were the worst team in the Eastern Conference, finishing with 77 points and earning the fifth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. While that could signal a rebuild, Rangers management has made it clear they will retool and get back to contention as quickly as possible. That means they will try to add NHL-ready players this offseason, not trade players away for draft picks and prospects.

While they traded Artemi Panarin for futures in February, and will likely end up getting futures in a potential Vincent Trocheck trade this summer, the Rangers are not looking to be a lottery team again next season, and any trade that involves Fox will not make them better next season. If anything, he, along with Igor Shesterkin, should be the players the team builds around. They are the Rangers’ stars, and the team struggled when both were injured in January. If the Rangers want the best chance of getting back to the playoffs next season, they need to keep Fox.

Trading Fox Would Signal a Rebuild, Not a Retool

The story would be different if the Rangers had said they were heading into another rebuild. Fox would then become their most valuable trade piece, and the return for him could help the team become contenders in three to five years. But that isn’t the case, and while teams might be asking general manager Chris Drury about Fox’s availability, that doesn’t mean he is willing to move him. Trading away a number one defenseman signals that you will not be a serious contender for years, and that isn’t what Drury is trying to accomplish.

If anything, trading Fox would make other players on the team question their future in New York. If management wanted to rebuild, players like J.T. Miller and Mika Zibanejad would also be mentioned in trade rumors, but since they both publicly stated that they want to help turn the team around, there is no noise surrounding them.

Fox’s name has come up because he did not confirm he wanted to stay for a retool but wanted to see what moves Drury would make this offseason to make the team better. If Drury changes his mind and decides to enter a rebuild, then all of these players will be on the trade block.

Fox is Underrated Around the NHL

Fox has been criticized often over the past two seasons. Many have pointed to his poor play at the 4 Nations Face-Off as the start of his struggles, which likely led to him being left off the US 2026 Olympic Men’s team that won the gold medal, a team coached by Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan. However, Fox is still one of the best defensemen in the NHL, and if the Rangers moved him, their blue line would take a significant hit.

Fox gets criticized for his size and skating ability, but he makes up for it with a hockey I.Q. better than anyone in the NHL. He can see plays before they happen, and just because he can’t skate as fast as Cale Makar doesn’t mean he’s not as good as Makar.

Fox won the Norris Trophy in his second season, and he’s consistently been among the best NHL defensemen of his era. He doesn’t get the respect he deserves because he hasn’t won a Stanley Cup or put up as many points as other top defensemen. But his contributions to the Rangers’ success cannot be taken for granted.

The Rangers will make moves to improve the roster this offseason. One move they should not make is trading Fox, especially if they want to make the playoffs next season. Moving him now, before seeing how next season plays out, would be a mistake. If the team struggles again, then maybe they should consider rebuilding, but right now, Fox should remain a core player to build around. Trading him this offseason would be a mistake the franchise would never live down.