Rangers Adapt to Loss of Adam Fox
The Rangers face a challenge as they navigate the loss of one of the NHL’s premier power play defensemen for the next few weeks. With Adam Fox now on long-term injured reserve due to a left arm injury, coach Mike Sullivan is opting for a somewhat unconventional strategy to rejuvenate the team.
Initially, Sullivan plans to use a five-forward power play setup, a tactic he experimented with during Saturday’s home game against the Lightning. Artemi Panarin, an All-Star winger, is set to take on a new role at the blue line during the power play in Tuesday’s upcoming match against the Stars. He practiced with forwards Mika Zibanejad, JT Miller, Vincent Trocheck, and Will Quill on Monday in Tarrytown.
Panarin shared his thoughts, stating, “Losing Fox is very bad. He’s a great player who helps us move the puck out of the zone, into the offensive zone. That’s everything for us.” He also emphasized the impact of losing Fox on the power play, acknowledging the situation’s gravity. “It’s pretty sad but there’s nothing we can do right now. We just have to score again,” he added.
While Panarin admits he hasn’t played this role extensively, he frequently substitutes for Fox during regular power play setups. Sullivan believes Panarin’s vision and shot capability make him well-suited to this central position on the forward line.
During practice, Panarin showcased his skills, effortlessly scoring with a wrist shot from the right circle, finding the net past goaltender Jonathan Quick. Power play performance has been a mixed bag for the Rangers; they’ve ranked 12th in the league at 21.3 percent efficiency but seen improvements to 29 percent in November, even achieving a remarkable 40 percent in their last nine games.
“When I switch to Foxy, I’ve done it several times in the game, so it’s not really new for me,” Panarin remarked. “I like it up there; it gives us more options and opportunities.” He acknowledged the need for caution but insisted that being overly conservative isn’t the right approach given their current struggles.
Sullivan noted that choosing Panarin for this role was a strategic decision, as he doesn’t see the same strengths in the team’s veteran defensemen, like Braden Schneider or Vladislav Gavrikov, in this particular context. “We want to create the best chance to succeed on the power play,” he explained, highlighting Fox’s exceptional skills in distributing the puck and reading the game, skills that he feels are not as strong in other players.
Scott Morrow, 23, who has seen limited action with the Rangers and AHL Hartford, will also get a look on the second power-play unit alongside forwards Alexis Lafreniere, Johnny Brodzinski, Connor Sheary, and Noah Laba. Sullivan emphasized the need for Morrow to play decisively and without hesitation to fully utilize his opportunities.
