nypost
When Adam Fox signed his contract extension with the New York Rangers five years ago, it set a new benchmark for defensemen emerging from entry-level deals and immediately positioned him among the highest-paid blueliners in the league. The seven-year, $66.5 million agreement, carrying an average annual value of $9.5 million, came just months after Fox captured the Norris Trophy in the 2020-21 season. Since then, he has consistently delivered at a point-per-game pace, meeting the lofty expectations tied to his lucrative deal.
However, as the market for defensemen has continued to escalate with a series of massive contracts, Fox's annual cost for the Rangers has quietly become a significant bargain. Colorado Avalanche star Cale Makar recently signed a $163.2 million extension over the summer, marking the first time in NHL history a player has surpassed $20 million in average annual value. Quinn Hughes, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the season, is likely to exceed that threshold as well, whether he signs an extension with the Minnesota Wild or joins another team.
According to the collective bargaining agreement, Fox will become eligible for a new extension once the 2027-28 season concludes and the final year of his current deal begins. At that point, he will be just 30 years old, and 31 when his existing contract expires. It is then that the Rangers will be compelled to adjust to the evolving market, where rising salary caps and monumental deals will continue to redefine the ultimate price tag for Fox's next contract.
Key Analysis
The anniversary of Fox's extension, coupled with his 500th career game on Monday night against the Los Angeles Kings and his blistering start to the season, makes this an opportune moment to revisit the topic. Fox has racked up 16 assists through the Rangers' first 13 games, leading all defensemen and trailing only Connor McDavid's 25 for the NHL lead. His point total ranks 12th in the league and tops the Rangers. That translates to a 103-point pace, which would shatter his previous career-best of 74 set during the 2021-22 campaign—the same season he signed his extension. As the market continues to skyrocket, Fox's contract stands as a testament to exceptional value and foresight.
Originally reported by nypost.