Adam Fox Should Be in the Norris Trophy Conversation
Quinn Hughes and Cale Makar get most of the attention. But there's an argument to be made that Adam Fox has been as good, if not better, since they all came into the league.
I don't know exactly when it first started, but the popular sentiment around elite defensemen in the NHL has turned into a conversation of two with Quinn Hughes and Cale Makar, and with no one else appearing with any regularity as a solidified "big three."
Adam Fox is the clear choice to complete this trio, and there's a case to be made that since entering the league he's been the best of the bunch.
It is quite peculiar to see him overlooked with such regularity, because Fox won a Norris Trophy during his sophomore season in 2020-21, had a Norris Trophy arguably stolen from him by Erik Karlsson in 2022-23, finished fourth in voting last year, and is still performing at an extremely high level. Fox might be lost in the shuffle because many people see Makar on NHL dot com with 63 points leading defensemen in scoring, Hughes just behind him tied with Zach Werenski for second with 59 points, and then you have Fox down the list in sixth with 44 points.
The real reason for the lack of recognition, this year specifically, is likely because the Rangers have been an underwhelming and disappointing hockey team. Award voters usually like the winners to be players who make the playoffs, and with the Rangers a fringe playoff team at best, Fox's name has been off the radar for Norris consideration.
That shouldn't be the case, and based on some recent sentiment I have seen from members of the Rangers' fanbase, now is a great time for some context on how great Fox has been this season.
