In 2021, Rod Gilbert, a forward whose NHL career spanned from 1960-1978, passed away. He spent his entire career with the New York Rangers organization and was beloved by fans. He came to be known as “Mr. Ranger,” and the organization created an award in his honor to pay tribute to his legacy and showcase a player who exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice, embodying what it means to be a New York Ranger. The inaugural “Mr. Ranger” award was presented to Chris Kreider for the 2021-2022 season and was given to Jacob Trouba last year.
This year, the award was presented to defenseman Adam Fox on April 11th ahead of the team’s matchup against the Philadelphia Flyers. Fox hails from Jericho, New York, and grew up a dedicated Rangers fan. He was drafted in 2016 by the Calgary Flames and had his playing rights traded twice before landing with the Rangers in 2019. In his five NHL seasons, he has achieved numerous feats, including winning the Norris Trophy for the 2020-2021 season, being an NHL All-Star, and setting numerous defensive records for the Rangers organization. Off the ice, Fox has donated his time and money to organizations such as Tackle ALS and the Garden of Dreams Foundation.
This award comes during a season in which Fox’s name hasn’t been regularly at the center of conversation regarding elite NHL defensemen. Colorado’s Cale Makar and Vancouver’s Quinn Hughes have been dynamic superstars this year and are widely considered the favorites for the Norris Trophy this season. Fox missed some time with a lower-body injury earlier in the season but has had a successful year in his own right. He has 71 points in 70 games this year and currently has a +19 rating. He often contributes lengthy amounts of ice time for the Rangers, especially in a season where several of their defensemen have missed time and roles, and pairings have had to move around. He’s a pivotal part of the Rangers power-play unit and has a penchant for scoring game-winning goals. His ability to block shots, get takeaways, and find scoring opportunities are all elements of his game that the Rangers will be relying on as they head into the playoffs.
Fox has proven he’s all-in on being a Ranger on the ice, but he’s also shown fans how deep his commitment to the city and the community he plays for runs in his actions off the ice. Anyone familiar with the origins of Fox’s NHL career will recall that there was some tension from Calgary and Carolina fans, as Fox remained committed to his NCAA program at Harvard and didn’t sign with either team. Instead, he held out, and his childhood team, a team his family had season tickets for growing up, signed him. To this day, he’s still often met with boos from opposing fans in Carolina and Calgary, but Fox doesn’t mind. He’s been able to live out his dream, playing for a city he calls home and a community he’s known and loved his whole life. This season, Fox even paid homage to New York’s culinary scene by partnering with Brooklyn Bagel and Coffee Company to create his own bagel sandwich and a series of video interviews aptly titled “Bagels and Fox.” In his first year as part of the Rangers leadership team, he hosted a hockey clinic to raise funds for ALS research and participated in the Shoulder Check Showcase, an initiative aimed at spreading awareness of the importance of small acts of support towards teammates and those in your community.
In a city where many athletes succumb to the pressure of the noise, the media, and the high expectations, Fox has remained even-keeled and steady. He plays the game to the best of his ability and utilizes his position to spotlight positivity. Rod Gilbert may have been a little before Fox’s time, but the young defenseman has shown he’s up to the challenge of embodying “Mr. Ranger” for a new generation.
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