So am I the only person who believes Fox is a top pairing defenseman?
- picklerick

I believe in you

I believe in you
- Greschnergy#4

So am I the only person who believes Fox is a top pairing defenseman?
- picklerick

When did I say he wasn't?

Lets keep firing the coach, maybe we will get one you guys like for more than a year.
- mdw7413

How many times have I written it's a joint issue? But the system they are using doesn't work.

When did I say he wasn't?
- airjan23

I was addressing the original comment which was that Fox should be on the second pair

I feel like its potentially a lose lose situation potentially with LAF.

If he continues to play like this and we try to move him, we will get squat for him. If he starts stepping up and scoring again, you're now left to wonder which LAF is the real LAF... and are you willing to gamble on it on June 30th before the NMC and new contract kick in?
- aecliptic

I find it hard to believe this is contract driven. It’s possible, but I think something else may be going on. I have no idea, just spit balling. He looks very uninterested.

- picklerick

I was addressing the original comment which was that Fox should be on the second pair
- picklerick

My idea of a top pair defensemen is the 2 guys you want out there with a minute left in a 1 goal game.

Fox isn’t that guy, and to be honest, we don’t have that guy.

Is fox paid as a top pair defenseman? Yes. Is he one? No. He’s an elite offensive dman, but he’s not a guy you want shutting down an opposing top line.

Staal and Girardi in their prime was a “top pair”. Put them out against Sid, Ovi etc and they’d do a damn good job at keeping them off the score sheet. If Fox was depended on to shut them down, we’d get shredded.

My idea of a top pair defensemen is the 2 guys you want out there with a minute left in a 1 goal game.

Fox isn’t that guy, and to be honest, we don’t have that guy.

Is fox paid as a top pair defenseman? Yes. Is he one? No. He’s an elite offensive dman, but he’s not a guy you want shutting down an opposing top line.

Staal and Girardi in their prime was a “top pair”. Put them out against Sid, Ovi etc and they’d do a damn good job at keeping them off the score sheet. If Fox was depended on to shut them down, we’d get shredded.
- nyrangers9479

My idea of a top pair defensemen is the 2 guys you want out there with a minute left in a 1 goal game.

Fox isn’t that guy, and to be honest, we don’t have that guy.

Is fox paid as a top pair defenseman? Yes. Is he one? No. He’s an elite offensive dman, but he’s not a guy you want shutting down an opposing top line.

Staal and Girardi in their prime was a “top pair”. Put them out against Sid, Ovi etc and they’d do a damn good job at keeping them off the score sheet. If Fox was depended on to shut them down, we’d get shredded.
- nyrangers9479

I think we’re conflating top pairing with shut down but whatever

My idea of a top pair defensemen is the 2 guys you want out there with a minute left in a 1 goal game.

Fox isn’t that guy, and to be honest, we don’t have that guy.

Is fox paid as a top pair defenseman? Yes. Is he one? No. He’s an elite offensive dman, but he’s not a guy you want shutting down an opposing top line.

Staal and Girardi in their prime was a “top pair”. Put them out against Sid, Ovi etc and they’d do a damn good job at keeping them off the score sheet. If Fox was depended on to shut them down, we’d get shredded.
- nyrangers9479

I think there is a bit of flawed logic here. You are using Fox as a singular entity but measuring him against a pair. At present, the Rangers don't have a top pair because they need that second defensemen.

I think Fox is a top pair defensemen when paired with a suitable counterpart. For a short while, Lindgren was good enough. I don't think Fox is elite enough to carry a pair all by himself like Makar can, and I'm not sure anyone other than Makar can do that.

My idea of a top pair defensemen is the 2 guys you want out there with a minute left in a 1 goal game.

Fox isn’t that guy, and to be honest, we don’t have that guy.

Is fox paid as a top pair defenseman? Yes. Is he one? No. He’s an elite offensive dman, but he’s not a guy you want shutting down an opposing top line.

Staal and Girardi in their prime was a “top pair”. Put them out against Sid, Ovi etc and they’d do a damn good job at keeping them off the score sheet. If Fox was depended on to shut them down, we’d get shredded.
- nyrangers9479

Agree. Using Fox as a shut down guy is a terrible idea.

Housley needs to go after this season. The man-to-man D scheme doesn't work in this league. M2M works on faceoffs, after that, it's no good against any team that has players that do more than skate in a straight line.

Rangers PK is tops in the league and they play an aggressive zone. Why not do that 5-on-5 as well? Like most other teams do. Back to the Torts D style...just cool it with star players diving to block shots.

My idea of a top pair defensemen is the 2 guys you want out there with a minute left in a 1 goal game.

Fox isn’t that guy, and to be honest, we don’t have that guy.

Is fox paid as a top pair defenseman? Yes. Is he one? No. He’s an elite offensive dman, but he’s not a guy you want shutting down an opposing top line.

Staal and Girardi in their prime was a “top pair”. Put them out against Sid, Ovi etc and they’d do a damn good job at keeping them off the score sheet. If Fox was depended on to shut them down, we’d get shredded.
- nyrangers9479

You should see what Chris Pronger said. You like guys like Tanev/Carlo as #1D.

He thinks it someone that plays all situaitons. PP/PK/5v5

So am I the only person who believes Fox is a top pairing defenseman?
- picklerick

No he is a solid defender and great facilitator of the puck. Does he need a solid partner, yes, he needs a Toews type player. But he is a top defensemen in this league. Guy had a tough year (great corsi and pt total, but tough for him) and these loser NY Rangers fans think he is not worth it. Typical knuckle heads

How many times have I written it's a joint issue? But the system they are using doesn't work.
- airjan23

I get you Jan, but every 2 years its the same thing. Fire the coach, maybe its more on the players we have. How bout we change players that arent performing, and keep the coach for a bit and stay with a system that they can all get comfortable with.

My biggest complaint of the coaching this year is not playing that 4th line enough. 99% of the issues this year are on the players. imo

No he is a solid defender and great facilitator of the puck. Does he need a solid partner, yes, he needs a Toews type player. But he is a top defensemen in this league. Guy had a tough year (great corsi and pt total, but tough for him) and these loser NY Rangers fans think he is not worth it. Typical knuckle heads
- tbreinold

Fox should not be playing 23-25 minutes a game. Especially not right now. Hes been carrying the D for 4 years and its taken a toll on him physically. Sure, his point production is still top level, but unless youre blind… you can see defensively hes been a huge liability.

Fox should not be playing 23-25 minutes a game. Especially not right now. Hes been carrying the D for 4 years and its taken a toll on him physically. Sure, his point production is still top level, but unless youre blind… you can see defensively hes been a huge liability.
- aecliptic

Fox should be shut down for the season and get whatever surgery he clearly needs to be ready for next season. Then they need to find a the right partner for him. K'Andre, Soucy, Jones, Urho, De Haan are not sufficient for that role.

I get you Jan, but every 2 years its the same thing. Fire the coach, maybe its more on the players we have. How bout we change players that arent performing, and keep the coach for a bit and stay with a system that they can all get comfortable with.

My biggest complaint of the coaching this year is not playing that 4th line enough. 99% of the issues this year are on the players. imo
- mdw7413

But a job of a coach is to maximize the player's talent. That hasn't happened in general and certainly this year. If the talent is not fit for 1:1 play, then go to a zone or. hybrid approach. But this doesn't absolve the players, as they need to play the system, especially when it comes to own zone play, mainly the slot and hand offs.

The Rangers need to sit down at the end of this season and figure out what went wrong. You cant go from best record in the league to battling for a playoff spot. No team is perfect but they have played like poop and if not for some goalie performances would be out of fighting for a wild card spot also. I dont recall a game where I said they deserved a win but didnt. Whether it was the coaches, player decisions, players themselves or the GM. The moves they made, made the team older.

But a job of a coach is to maximize the player's talent. That hasn't happened in general and certainly this year. If the talent is not fit for 1:1 play, then go to a zone or. hybrid approach. But this doesn't absolve the players, as they need to play the system, especially when it comes to own zone play, mainly the slot and hand offs.
- airjan23

This is why is say I cant understand for the life of me how we could have the #1 PK in the league but cant figure it out 5v5.

This is why is say I cant understand for the life of me how we could have the #1 PK in the league but cant figure it out 5v5.
- aecliptic

Cause on the pk they play zone and 5v5 Lavi has them playing man to man which this group of players just can’t play

Cause on the pk they play zone and 5v5 Lavi has them playing man to man which this group of players just can’t play
- TPC

Agree...Though, Housley runs the D. You only play man-to-man at a faceoff. After that, it should be zone.

There is also some confusing line change rules this team is using. It's not a center replaces a center or left D replaces a left D on a change. I've never seen so many too many men on the ice penalties in one season. What's sad about it, Vinny was the cause of both a few games ago. This is on Lav 100%

https://x.com/nhlfoley/st...&t=uyemCTfXPLjxebCnYBfx6Q