In just his second NHL season, Rangers D Adam Fox has been named one of the finalists for the Norris Trophy, which honors the best defenseman in the league each season.
During his rookie campaign in 2019-20, Fox showcased tremendous skill as a great two-way defenseman who can put points on the stat sheet. He totaled 42 points (eight goals, 34 assists) that season and just followed it up with a 47-point campaign (five goals, 42 assists) in 15 less games.
Fox was also a plus-19 when on the ice during the 2020-21 season.
Other than Fox, Lightning D Victor Hedman and Avalanche D Cale Makar round out the finalist group. Hedman had 45 points on the year and posted a plus-five, while Makar — another 22-year-old with a very promising future in the league — had 44 points and a plus-17 mark.
So it will be a close call to see who takes the trophy at the end of the day. But Fox’s numbers do trump those two, at least in those categories.
Either way, the Rangers must love their trade with the Calgary Flames just two years ago that brought Fox to New York. He’s quickly become a staple of their back end, and a key building block for the future.