Just In:: New York Rangers To Release 2 Key Players Following The NHL

Four Rangers were graded on Team USA following their overtime defeat to Canada in the 4 Nations final game. On Friday, Adam Fox, Chris Kreider, J.T. Miller, and Vincent Trocheck rejoined the New York Rangers following one of the most devastating setbacks in their individual hockey careers. At the first-ever 4 Nations Face-Off, all four represented Team USA on Thursday night at TD Garden in Boston, where the Americans lost 3-2 in overtime to Canada in the championship match.

None of the four could recall a tournament. The only player to score a goal or earn a point was Kreider, who was a healthy scratch for the first two games. Of the four players, he and Miller were the only ones who finished with a positive plus-minus.

With a travel game against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday and a visit to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday, it’s time to return to the NHL grind. With 27 games left, the Rangers are three points shy of the second Eastern Conference wild-card spot.

This is a report card for each of the four Rangers that were part of the

Despite being among the NHL’s top six defenseman, Fox didn’t appear to be one during the 4 Nations tournament.

Perhaps it was quarterbacking the second power-play unit instead of the first, as he did with the Rangers, and playing a second-pair role, mostly alongside Noah Hanifin of the Vegas Golden Knights. Perhaps it was the lack of physical presence on Team USA’s defense, particularly following Boston Bruins player Charlie McAvoy’s injury that forced him to miss the final game.

For whatever reason, Fox rarely seemed to be a No. 1 defenseman, a position he has held with the Rangers all of his playing days. In the second period, he was on the ice when Sam Bennett gave Canada the game-tying goal. In overtime, he was late in bringing up Mitchell Marner, which allowed Marner to feed Connor McDavid for the game-winning goal. For the game and the tournament, that put him at minus two.

After what must have been a lackluster effort at the 4 Nations, the Rangers hope Fox doesn’t have any carryover.

Chris from the US at the Four Nations.