Insider Suggests Adam Fox and Igor Shesterkin’s Futures Could Be Offseason Topics

The New York Rangers had a surprisingly quiet trade deadline. January’s retool letter, followed by trading away Artemi Panarin, signaled what many believed to be the start of a potential fire sale, but that wasn’t the case — at least for now.

It’s expected that GM Chris Drury will continue to field offers on Vincent Trocheck after the season, and insider Emily Kaplan suggested that there’s a chance the shake-up in New York could go much deeper than that.

---

During a hit on TSN’s TradeCentre, Kaplan pointed out how many have wondered about the future of superstars Adam Fox and Igor Shesterkin through this retool, going on to say that those could be conversations and, depending on how they go, potential moves for this summer.

Kaplan said:

“I know a lot of people are wondering ok what about Adam Fox, maybe even Igor Shesterkin, those aren’t going to happen until at least the summer if at all… But that’s a big if,”

The 28-year-old Fox is in year four of the seven-year, $66.5 million extension signed with the Rangers back in 2021, while Shesterkin, 30, is in just the first year of the eight-year, $92 million deal signed to extend in New York in 2024

Fox has produced 29 points (four goals, 25 assists) in just 34 games played this season. Shesterkin has gone 19-12-6 while posting a 2.47 goals-against average, a .912 save percentage, and one shutout across 38 starts.

Recent comments — or lack thereof — from Fox about his desire to stay with the Rangers through a retool were eye-opening and certainly make him one to watch moving forward. We haven’t heard as much from Shesterkin, though, for a guy who will be 31 next season, a lengthy retool or rebuild might not be of interest.

If one or neither player is willing to stick it out in New York, then Drury has the opportunity to truly rebuild his roster and accumulate a massive package of future assets. Both Fox and Shesterkin would draw significant interest if available on the trade market, though the latter could be a bit trickier to move given his $11.5 million cap hit as a goalie.

As Kaplan noted, there is still a big “if” in play here. However, the Rangers don’t necessarily appear to be entering a quick retool to return to contention, so these are the kinds of questions that will inevitably come up. That said, trading franchise cornerstones is never easy, no matter the circumstances, making for undoubtedly difficult decisions for everyone involved.

Next: Oilers Insider Hints at Potential Offseason Trade for Goalie Prospect