Youth Movement Ahead: Rangers Turn to Prospects After Injury Setback
A disastrous game yesterday for the New York Rangers, who fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-1. They continue to struggle to find their game on home ice with an abysmal record of 2-8-1, but that's not the worst of what came out of that loss. As a loss like that was bad enough, just one day later, it was reported that Adam Fox, their best defenseman, would be placed on long-term IR with an upper-body injury after being hit by Brandon Hagel in the third period. Currently labeled week-to-week, this constitutes a massive loss for one of the best defensive teams to begin the season. The Rangers will need to survive without him for some time, but how?
There's no doubt that Adam Fox is crucial to this Rangers team. He plays a vital role on their power play and is tied with Artemi Panarin with 26 points. He even picked up an assist that game, too, after setting up J.T. Miller for the Blueshirts' only goal that game. It's hard to imagine any defenseman on the roster that can do what Fox does, but someone will need to step up, but who?
Without Fox, it isn't good, but it does create a significant opportunity to see what this team can do with either Matthew Roberson or Scott Morrow. Slotting either one of those with Vladislav Gavrikov, including giving one of them a spot on the first power play unit, would be some great experience for those kids. If either one of them can create the kind of offense remotely similar to Fox, they just may survive. In the end, during a season like this for the Rangers, letting the kids play is never a bad idea.
Experimenting is never a bad thing; it may just lead to great things. After Tony DeAngelo was placed on waivers in 2021, it gave Fox an increase in ice time and power play time, leading to the player he is now. Though he was more proven at the time, Scott Morrow could potentially have a great opportunity in front of him. As bad as it is for the Rangers, it opens up a massive opportunity for these kids, and whether they survive without him or not, it gives fans a little glimpse of this team's future.
