An Idea I’d Like to See the Rangers Try: Rethinking Adam Fox on Special Teams

With the Rangers' revamped defense and Artemi Panarin gone, I'd like to see Mike Sullivan experiment with Adam Fox as a PP1 half-wall/rover, Sean Durzi as the point defenseman, and Fox removed from regular penalty-killing duty.

The objective isn't less Adam Fox. It's using Fox where his strengths matter most while limiting situations that expose his weaknesses and add unnecessary wear.

PP1: Durzi at the Point, Fox on the Wall

My first unit:

Durzi — Point
Fox — Right half-wall/rover
Zibanejad — Shooting option
Dorofeyev — Shooting option
J.T. Miller — Bumper/net-front

The key distinction is that Durzi doesn't have to replace Fox as the power-play quarterback. He only needs to be an effective NHL point man.

Fox can remain the primary quarterback—just from the half-wall instead of the blue line.

Durzi has demonstrated enough offensive ability to make the experiment worthwhile. He's mobile, moves the puck well and provides a legitimate shot from the point. His primary job would be maintaining the blue line, circulating the puck and remaining above the play while Fox creates.

That could actually complement Fox's natural tendencies.

We've repeatedly seen Fox leave the point and work down the wall while quarterbacking the power play. When he does, a forward has to rotate high to cover for him. A turnover can then leave the Rangers defending a shorthanded rush with two forwards effectively playing defense.

Why not build the structure around what Fox naturally wants to do?

Durzi stays high. Fox roams.

Fox can attack down the wall, move below the goal line and exploit his elite vision and passing without leaving the Rangers without a defenseman above the puck.

It also addresses another vulnerability. Fox can be physically challenged while retrieving pucks along the blue line, and if he loses that battle, he doesn't possess elite recovery speed to chase down a breaking forward.

Move Fox down the wall and Durzi is still behind him if possession changes.

And with Panarin gone, the Rangers need another creative half-wall distributor. Fox may already be their best candidate.

PP2: Develop the Next Wave

I'd build PP2 around:

Gavrikov — Point
Perreault — Distributor
Lafrenière — Shooter
Bjorkstrand — Scoring option
Cuylle/Laba — Net-front

I'd especially give Gabe Perreault an opportunity to run offense from the wall and develop into a larger power-play role.

PK: Take Fox Off the Front Line

My defensive pairs would be:

PK1: Gavrikov — Schneider
PK2: Pettersson — Durzi

Fox could still kill penalties when necessary, but he wouldn't be a regular.

Let the bigger defensemen battle around the crease, absorb hits, block shots and handle the physically punishing minutes.

Fox has missed meaningful time in recent seasons. With this defensive depth, there's little reason to expose one of the Rangers' most important players to punishment that other defensemen can absorb.

Use Fox Smarter, Not Less

The entire concept is simple:

5-on-5: Fox remains an elite No. 1 defenseman alongside Gavrikov.

PP: Durzi protects the point while Fox becomes the primary playmaker from the half-wall.

PK: Gavrikov, Schneider, Pettersson and Durzi handle most of the work.

The Rangers aren't diminishing Fox's role. They're concentrating it around the things he does exceptionally well.

Durzi doesn't need to be Adam Fox at the point. He only needs to be good enough that Durzi at the point + Fox on the wall is better than Fox at the point + another forward.

If it works, Fox gets greater freedom offensively, the Rangers maintain a real defenseman above the puck, and they reduce some of Fox's most physically vulnerable minutes.

If it doesn't work, put Fox back at the point.

But it's exactly the kind of experiment I'd want Sullivan to try in training camp.