Adam Fox adjusting to new defensive partner Urho Vaakanainen

Adam Fox is adjusting to life after his close friend and teammate Ryan Lindgren was traded from the New York Rangers to the Colorado Avalanche. Fox expressed that it has been tough for him to adapt, as he and Lindgren played together for most of Fox's NHL career. They also knew each other from their time with the USA Hockey National Team Development program. The Rangers traded Lindgren, Jimmy Vesey, and a draft pick to the Avalanche in exchange for Juuso Parssinen and Calvin de Haan earlier this month. Fox had been sidelined for eight games due to an upper-body injury and hadn’t felt the impact of the trade until recently. After returning, he played two games without Lindgren, both of which the Rangers lost. “It was obviously tough,” Fox said about losing Lindgren. He noted that he misses his teammate and that it feels strange adjusting to a new defensive pairing. Lindgren has been performing well with the Avalanche, contributing to their success since the trade. Fox is now paired with Urho Vaakanainen. He commented on the importance of chemistry between defensemen, explaining that after playing many games together, they develop a strong understanding of each other’s movements on the ice. On Wednesday, the Rangers held an optional practice. Several players, including Fox and new acquisition Carson Soucy, participated. Coach Peter Laviolette mentioned that Soucy has been working to adjust to the team’s system after being a healthy scratch for the past three games. He emphasized that with more practice and observation, Soucy would improve his understanding of the team’s play style.