Adam Fox rises to No. 13, but is the Rangers star still underrated?

Adam Fox has moved up three spots on NHL Network’s latest list of the top 20 defensemen, but the New York Rangers star might still have a case for being ranked higher. After finishing No. 16 last year, Fox is now No. 13 heading into the 2026-27 season.The ranking has raised some questions because Fox continues to produce at an elite level when healthy. The former Norris Trophy winner has built a strong resume over the last several seasons. Yet, he now finds himself outside the top 10 while several younger defensemen have moved into the spotlight.Adam Fox moved up, but his No. 13 ranking still raises questionsFox’s move from No. 16 to No. 13 is a step in the right direction, especially after he reached No. 2 on the same list in 2023. Still, it’s difficult to ignore what he did during the 2025-26 season.The 28-year-old missed 27 games because of injuries, but even so, he finished with nine goals and 44 assists for 53 points across 55 games, which gave him nearly a point per game. Also, it extended his run to five straight seasons with at least 50 points. Only Cale Makar, Quinn Hughes, and Rasmus Dahlin have matched that level among defensemen.Fox is still part of the Rangers’ power play and averaged a bit over 23 minutes per game last season. His importance got even clearer when the Rangers struggled without him in the lineup. The team went 8-16-3 in the 27 games Fox missed.Younger defensemen are getting more attention than Adam FoxPart of Fox’s ranking may have less to do with his own game and more to do with the number of exciting young defensemen entering the NHL. Lane Hutson and Matthew Schaefer have quickly become two of the most talked-about names at the position, while players such as Jake Sanderson and Moritz Seider have also gained plenty of attention.NHL Network analyst Thomas Hickey called Fox the “forgotten player” on the list, pointing to the attention given to younger defensemen who bring more flash to their game. Ken Daneyko made a similar point, noting that Fox has been one of the league’s best defensemen for the last six or seven years.That is important because Fox does not need to score highlight-reel goals every night to make an impact. His value comes from his ability to move the puck, create chances and help control play at both ends of the ice.Adam Fox still has a strong case to be among NHL’s eliteThere are several defensemen ranked ahead of Fox who have a strong case. Cale Makar, Quinn Hughes and Zach Werenski are difficult to argue against, while Rasmus Dahlin and Miro Heiskanen have also established themselves as top players.But the debate becomes more interesting after the top names. Fox has already won the Norris Trophy, finished second in voting once and placed among the top five two other times. He has also received Norris votes in six straight seasons, showing how consistently he has remained part of the conversation among the NHL’s best defensemen.His No. 13 ranking is an improvement, but it also shows how much the perception around Fox has changed. Just a few years ago, he was being compared with the very best defensemen in the league. Now, he is being described as the forgotten star.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.