si
The New York Rangers have burst out of the gates in the 2026-27 season, and the early returns have been nothing short of thrilling for the organization. After a campaign they would rather forget, the Blueshirts have flipped the script and established themselves as one of the league's top teams through the first week of action.
New York owns a 4-1 record and rides a four-game winning streak into its next matchup, the latest victory coming against the rival New York Islanders. Perhaps most encouraging, the Rangers have already secured three wins at Madison Square Garden after struggling mightily on home ice a year ago. While the sample size remains small, the team has looked vastly improved in all three zones.
A major reason for the optimism is the presence of Igor Shesterkin, one of the premier goaltenders in the NHL. The Rangers believed they could contend this season in part because of Shesterkin's elite abilities, but he is not the only cornerstone the franchise trusts.
That other pillar is Adam Fox, and the star defenseman has come out of the gates firing. With a wave of talented young blueliners emerging across the league in recent years, Fox has quietly operated under the radar. Yet as a former Norris Trophy winner, he entered this season determined to reaffirm his place among the game's best.
When healthy last season, Fox delivered 53 points in 55 games, including nine goals and 44 assists, showcasing his productivity—especially on the power play. His absence for a significant chunk of the year was a key factor in the Rangers finishing last in the Eastern Conference, as the team performed markedly better with him in the lineup.
Through five games this season, Fox has picked up right where he left off when healthy. He has amassed five points and is riding a four-game point streak. While much of the attention has centered on the Rangers' new faces, their gifted defenseman has once again been instrumental to the team's success.
What makes Fox's point-per-game pace even more impressive is that he has recorded just one power-play assist so far. The first-unit power play, which features Fox, has yet to hit its stride, but that breakthrough is surely on the horizon.
Key Analysis
Fox's quiet excellence underscores his value to the Rangers. Even without the power play clicking, he is producing at an elite rate, and once the man advantage finds its rhythm, his numbers could skyrocket. For a team riding high early, Fox's steady presence on the back end remains a foundational reason for their resurgence.