Jan Levine: Rangers defeat Panthers 5-3, Kenny Albert, De Haan comments
Fun times in Rangers’ land

If I was a Ranger D-man and saw how poorly Fox has been playing, I'd be pissed, too. Rangers need to figure him out. He looks disinterested (in fairness, he's always had that look on his face but now he plays disinterested, too). Maybe he's still injured or recovering from injury. It's pointless to have him on the PP because he has nothing that resembles a shot from the point, not a slapper or even a floater searching for a tip-in. One former strength was his ability to possess the puck and not panic in a pressure situation. That's been MIA. Fox is pass-first, pass-second, pass-all-the-time and his passing hasn't been great lately. At 5v5 he's weak in the crease and in the corners. He's slow so he can't even use his skating to make up for mistakes (at least K-Miller has that ability, along with his reach and his occasional physical play and willingness to shoot the puck).

7 players PUBLICLY voicing their opinions within the same season? Something is very very wrong here. Starts at the top, amateur hour.

One thing Ive noticed is since the firing of Jim Ramsay, there has been far far more nagging injuries that dont seem to be getting better.

If I was a Ranger D-man and saw how poorly Fox has been playing, I'd be pissed, too. Rangers need to figure him out. He looks disinterested (in fairness, he's always had that look on his face but now he plays disinterested, too). Maybe he's still injured or recovering from injury. It's pointless to have him on the PP because he has nothing that resembles a shot from the point, not a slapper or even a floater searching for a tip-in. One former strength was his ability to possess the puck and not panic in a pressure situation. That's been MIA. Fox is pass-first, pass-second, pass-all-the-time and his passing hasn't been great lately. At 5v5 he's weak in the crease and in the corners. He's slow so he can't even use his skating to make up for mistakes (at least K-Miller has that ability, along with his reach and his occasional physical play and willingness to shoot the puck).
- dashripdot

Adam Fox definitely had a bad year

Adam Fox definitely had a bad year
- jimbro83

For his standard, it was bad. Still a 60 point season where he was hurt. He just has to be top 5-10 with that contract.

If I was a Ranger D-man and saw how poorly Fox has been playing, I'd be pissed, too. Rangers need to figure him out. He looks disinterested (in fairness, he's always had that look on his face but now he plays disinterested, too). Maybe he's still injured or recovering from injury. It's pointless to have him on the PP because he has nothing that resembles a shot from the point, not a slapper or even a floater searching for a tip-in. One former strength was his ability to possess the puck and not panic in a pressure situation. That's been MIA. Fox is pass-first, pass-second, pass-all-the-time and his passing hasn't been great lately. At 5v5 he's weak in the crease and in the corners. He's slow so he can't even use his skating to make up for mistakes (at least K-Miller has that ability, along with his reach and his occasional physical play and willingness to shoot the puck).
- dashripdot

The PP still a head scratcher. Fox ran the PP and was top 5 for three years in a row. Same personnel and now its awful. He needs to add a shot to his arsenal but not sure what happened to that unit

For his standard, it was bad. Still a 60 point season where he was hurt. He just has to be top 5-10 with that contract.
- nyrangers2

Fox had a poor season, yet, his peers still ranked him as the fifth best overall defenseman. There is no question it was a down year but I am not just ready to say New York needs to move him.

Fox had a poor season, yet, his peers still ranked him as the fifth best overall defenseman. There is no question it was a down year but I am not just ready to say New York needs to move him.
- airjan23

trading Adam Fox now would be like trading Brad Park all over again

trading Adam Fox now would be like trading Brad Park all over again
- jimbro83

I am open to trading any player. There are just certain ones very hard to replace after. Fox can be a 70 point dman again next season healthy. Not sure you can find that if you trade him. It would have to be a deal the rangers fleece on

I am open to trading any player. There are just certain ones very hard to replace after. Fox can be a 70 point dman again next season healthy. Not sure you can find that if you trade him. It would have to be a deal the rangers fleece on
- nyrangers2

Idk if anyone saw it, but the Verhaghe goal the other night is why Fox is a problem on this team. Hes very weak and extremely easy to beat on pucks at or around the net. Like lift weights or something Adam, get stronger

He could get 100 pts and it still would be the same problem with him. And yea the PP was atrocious all year which he should get a lot of the blame for, being the QB on it because it ultimately cost them a playoff spot over anything else. The PP hid the warts of everything the last 3 years and didn’t this year

Idk if anyone saw it, but the Verhaghe goal the other night is why Fox is a problem on this team. Hes very weak and extremely easy to beat on pucks at or around the net. Like lift weights or something Adam, get stronger

He could get 100 pts and it still would be the same problem with him. And yea the PP was atrocious all year which he should get a lot of the blame for, being the QB on it because it ultimately cost them a playoff spot over anything else. The PP hid the warts of everything the last 3 years and didn’t this year
- Slimtj100

Well yea he is not the perfect dman. Nobody in the league is. That and skating is his weakness. Each player has them. Need to mitigate those weaknesses by maximizing his strengths and not putting him in bad spots

Everyone on the PP gets blame. They got the praise when it worked. It did not for many reasons this season

Solid year of blogs again Jan. Not an easy task when you put in more effort than the paid professionals on the ice, kudos to you once again.

As far as "I would love to see Dave Maloney in the booth at times"


IMO he's a stammering fool that tends to drone on far too long after a play, but to each his own.

Here's hoping for a volatile offseason followed by a stronger team next season.

Well yea he is not the perfect dman. Nobody in the league is. That and skating is his weakness. Each player has them. Need to mitigate those weaknesses by maximizing his strengths and not putting him in bad spots

Everyone on the PP gets blame. They got the praise when it worked. It did not for many reasons this season
- nyrangers2

I said it all year that if they take him off the PK it would help him, specifically, and it didn’t happen. They need to at least do that just to reduce some wear and tear on him where maybe he’s can be stronger around the net. He gets far too much ice time and now he’s another year older too

trading Adam Fox now would be like trading Brad Park all over again
- jimbro83

You take his name out of your mouth. Fifth years later and I am still not over it

Solid year of blogs again Jan. Not an easy task when you put in more effort than the paid professionals on the ice, kudos to you once again.

As far as "I would love to see Dave Maloney in the booth at times"


IMO he's a stammering fool that tends to drone on far too long after a play, but to each his own.

Here's hoping for a volatile offseason followed by a stronger team next season.
- fourtrax23

Thank you.
Appreciate the differing view on Maloney

You take his name out of your mouth. Fifth years later and I am still not over it
- airjan23

ha,

in 1974-75 Park had what they would call a "down year"

You trade fox you better have a damn good solution because this instantly becomes the worst d corps in the league. In a down bad year he still hit 60 points. Get him a better system and players around him fox will be fine

Buccigross on coaching situation in Chicago, NY and Philly: https://x.com/buccigross/...&t=TjVF8knYfhOudT98NT3GtQ

You trade fox you better have a damn good solution because this instantly becomes the worst d corps in the league. In a down bad year he still hit 60 points. Get him a better system and players around him fox will be fine
- TPC

Cannot trade fox. Down year? Yes. Was he playing hurt? Maybe. If that’s the case, it needs to be addressed right after tomorrow night.

Someone somewhere is going to realize K’ Miller is not a NHL Dman. They’ll play at wing and watch him fly up and down the ice. The rest can be taught.

What is the “Brayden Point” in changing coaches once again. I know they will as Lav lost the room but so have, the Turk, AV and Quinn. Bringing in someone who will want to play todays style of NHL hockey will not achieve a thing until this roster is remade.

Buccigross on coaching situation in Chicago, NY and Philly: https://x.com/buccigross/...&t=TjVF8knYfhOudT98NT3GtQ
- airjan23

I betcha we end up with Tocchet and Boeser, with Lavy Zib and Kreider out

The season JT Miller and Boeser had as linemates last year is really good if you look

I think that is a pretty good pivot from this year if that all happen

I betcha we end up with Tocchet and Boeser, with Lavy Zib and Kreider out

The season JT Miller and Boeser had as linemates last year is really good if you look

I think that is a pretty good pivot from this year if that all happen
- Slimtj100

It’s a good start.

Cannot trade fox. Down year? Yes. Was he playing hurt? Maybe. If that’s the case, it needs to be addressed right after tomorrow night.

Someone somewhere is going to realize K’ Miller is not a NHL Dman. They’ll play at wing and watch him fly up and down the ice. The rest can be taught.

What is the “Brayden Point” in changing coaches once again. I know they will as Lav lost the room but so have, the Turk, AV and Quinn. Bringing in someone who will want to play todays style of NHL hockey will not achieve a thing until this roster is remade.
- OLDSCHOOL#6

Miller is a 5/6 dman on a contender. The rangers rolling out so many depth dmen as top 4 and top 6 its sad at this point.

I betcha we end up with Tocchet and Boeser, with Lavy Zib and Kreider out

The season JT Miller and Boeser had as linemates last year is really good if you look

I think that is a pretty good pivot from this year if that all happen
- Slimtj100

Boeser does not move the needle imo. Nice shooter but does not really drive any play. Tocchet might be worse than lavi.

Boeser does not move the needle imo. Nice shooter but does not really drive any play. Tocchet might be worse than lavi.
- nyrangers2

What are you basing that on?

Last year between the 2 of them, Boeser and Miller, they were +55. I know you and you’re 5 on 5 love affair…and that was under Tocchet