Adam Fox is in unknown territory.
He played defensively for his entire career as a defensive pairing for the Rangers alongside Ryan Lindglen. The two knew each other beforehand from the US Hockey National Team Development Program.
However, the Rangers were selected for the Avalanche earlier this month in exchange for Yuso Palsinen and Calvin de Haan, along with the rights of Jimmy Visy and unsigned 2021 draft Hank Kempf.
Fox was on the list of eight games injured with upper body injuries and had yet to feel the impact of being handled by longtime friends.
He was removed from the injured list last week and played his first two games without losses from Lindgren, the Oilers and the Flames.
“It was obviously tough,” Fox said Wednesday. “The guy I played throughout my entire NHL career and I knew him before. He's clearly doing well. I'm not surprised by that. It was a bit strange timing. I was out.
Avalanche has won six of the seven games since Lindgren joined (6-1-1).
He has Colorado goals and assists and is a plus two on the ice.
Fox was prepared for trade but felt that it could have been avoided.
Lindgren is an unlimited post-season free agent.
“I think anyone who's in that UFA has a certain sense,” Fox said. “Some of it is on us too. I'm sure we had a better record and there were more and more. [playoff] Push, he'll still be here. ”
In the two games, Fox is paired with Ulhova Kanainen, as he played without Lindgren.
“A lot of times you just think of the line in that sense as forward and chemistry, but I think defenders need to have a lot of chemistry,” Fox said. “When you know where each other is, communication is huge. You play 300 games with one guy. You get that second feeling of where they are, where your outlet is, support, and communication.
“That's definitely a little tweak.”
The Rangers practiced options on Wednesday.
Participants included Fox, De Hahn, Vercaninen, Perssinen, Braden Schneider, Brennan Osman, Brett Berard, Alexis Lafrenniere, Johnny Brozinski, Will Quill, Igor Shesterkin, Jonathan Quick and Carson Sussy.
Sussy, who the Rangers acquired from the Canucks for a third round pick in 2025 just before the deadline, has been a healthy scratch in the last three games.
“I think he's working to speed up the system,” coach Peter Laviolet said Wednesday. “If you think a little too much and it slows a bit, I think it's just a bit more practice, watching games, and understanding how you want to do things, and it helps you speed up the process.”
