After finding out that they weren’t going to be able to sign top prospect Adam Fox, the Carolina Hurricanes have traded his rights to the New York Rangers. In return, the Hurricanes will receive the Rangers’ 2019 second-round pick and a conditional 2020 third. That third-round selection will bump up a round if Fox plays 30 games next season.
The Rangers were always the expected destination for a trade, given the belief that he would leave college early and sign with them. Fox has completed three seasons at Harvard and could become an unrestricted free agent next summer, but instead is expected to start his professional career in 2019-20.
This was the exact scenario that the Calgary Flames did not want to take part in when they decided to include Fox in last summer’s blockbuster trade with the Hurricanes. It was clear to them that he had no intention on signing in Calgary, but the Hurricanes did believe that they could get him under contract. For whatever reason, that wasn’t to be and the Rangers seemed like the eventual destination. The Hurricanes front office made it clear that they would seek out a trade this summer, and they did well to secure at least some sort of return for the college star.
Fox, originally selected in the third round back in 2016, developed into one of the best defensemen in college hockey and put up 116 points in 97 regular season games for Harvard over his three years. A natural powerplay quarterback, he routinely carried the puck up the ice and gained the zone himself before setting up teammates for high danger chances. While not a physical presence, his defensive ability also improved to the point where many expect him to step right into the NHL next season. Right-handed offensive options are difficult to find, and the Rangers have now secured one with a ton of potential.
For the Hurricanes, this trade will certainly bring back some interesting franchise memories. In September 2006, the Hurricanes traded third-overall pick Jack Johnson to the Los Angeles Kings after he turned down their offers to sign out of college. That was just a few months after Carolina had secured their first Stanley Cup, something the current team is trying to replicate this spring. If they are somehow able to, it would be an odd quirk of history to have failed to sign another top college defenseman in the same year.
Luke DeCock of the Raleigh News & Observer was first to report that Fox has been traded, while Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet confirmed it was to the Rangers.
Awesome!
If true,that’s great news for the Rangers.Hope they didn’t give up too much to get him.Probably conditional draft pick.
Great trade for my Hurricanes!
Hope it works out for both teams
looks like a good get for NYR
NYR probably wouldn’t be getting a better talent than Fox in the second round anyways so this is a nice deal as long as they can get him signed.
Two 2nds is pretty pricey. He was a 66th overall and he hasn’t even signed (though I speculate they discussed signing with him before the trade was made). Regardless – he is elite at the college level…..
The NHL needs to close this loophole.
Not fair to the teams that draft them or to the vast majority of other players (juniors and Euro) whose rights are controlled by the draft.
How can teams make trades at this point if the season? We’re beyond the trade deadline and the season hasn’t ended yet…
I maybe wrong Fox was drafted by Carolina, but wasn’t under professional contract cause he was in college, Carolina just retained his rights due to draft, hope someone may correct me on this issue , regarding the post trade deadline, pretty sure Carolina wanted to get something for him since he chose not to sign contract with them, so Rangers jumped in the boat and snatched him up , now maybe Carolina can land a few good prospects for the future, maybe both teams help their selves in this move for future to come. Someone else can help jump in on this regarding trade.
I think you’re always allowed to make trades ski44, even the teams in the playoffs. It’s just that anyone traded now is ineligible for the playoffs. Please correct if I’m wrong.
he was drafted by Calgary i believe
I think Darkside maybe right being involved in trade with Calgary, in deal for Lindholm and other players involved in trade, do remember trade, don’t remember all the future considerations and picks going each way between Carolina and Calgary , would have to look it up , Thanks DarkSide.
Drafted by Calgary, traded to Carolina, who traded him to NYR
Great for both parties.
Drafted by Calgary who traded rights to Carolina. If he wasn’t traded he would have stayed in college for his senior yr and would be unrestricted free agent. This is a great trade for both teams. Yes, Rangers are giving up a lot but the kid is a stud. Hurricanes did well in getting what they got.