USA coach Mike Sullivan sets clear expectations for $66.5M NY Rangers star, ties them to Olympic chances

USA coach Mike Sullivan made it clear that Adam Fox’s early-season performance will affect his chances to play in the Olympics. The New York Rangers defenseman won the Norris Trophy in 2021 and is one of the team’s top players.

Fox signed a seven-year, $66.5 million contract with the Rangers in November 2021. He has played 431 games and scored 369 points in his NHL career. Last season, he scored 10 goals and made 51 assists. He plays important minutes, contributes on the power play and helps create scoring chances from the defense.

"Performance matters," Sullivan said Saturday about Fox's chances of earning roster spot for 2026 Olympics, via The Athletic.

Sullivan said that Fox is capable of an elite game and can still perform at a Norris Trophy level.

“He’s a Norris Trophy winner, and he’s a young guy," the coach said. "He’s not ageing out. He’s capable of an elite game. And it’s our job as coaching staff to help him get there.

"And we’re certainly going to do everything we can to do for that, but we think, we believe, that Foxy’s capable of a next-level game. A Norris Trophy-caliber game. You don’t win the Norris Trophy if you’re not capable of that, and we believe he still is.”

Fox played for Team USA at the 4 Nations tournament in February. He did not score points but played over 16 minutes per game. His focus on positioning and puck movement helped the team stay balanced, even when his plus-minus was slightly negative in the final.

Rangers' Adam Fox competes at U.S. Olympic orientation camp, eyes 2026 Winter Olympics spot

Adam Fox attended the U.S. Men’s Olympic Orientation Camp on August 19, competing for a spot on the 2026 Winter Olympics team. The camp in Plymouth, Michigan, included 44 players, with Fox and his Rangers teammates Vincent Trocheck and J.T. Miller among them.

While Fox's ranking in the NHL Network’s Top-20 defensemen dropped heading into the 2025-26 season, he is determined to help Team USA reach its goal.

About the author

Abhilasha is an NHL writer at Sportskeeda. Holding a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, her interest in writing hockey was piqued after watching an NHL skills video on YouTube. The 2023 Stanley Cup Finale series between the Vegas Golden Knights and Florida Panthers was among the most iconic games she has seen and it left an impact on her.

Her reporting strengths include covering news stories and following stars like McDavid, Matthews and Alex Ovechkin, among others.

Abhilasha is a huge fan of the Edmonton Oilers and Colorado Avalanche because of their skilled forwards, while her favorite players include Wayne Gretzky, Auston Matthews, Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby and Connor Bedard. For her, John Tortorella is the greatest coach ever.

Abhilasha has over 3 years of experience writing content for different products and websites, along with handling social media content for various brands. She values using credible sources when writing and likes to identify fake and false narratives.

Abhilasha’s hobbies include spiritual reading, staying updated on the latest makeup trends, fitness and exploring new destinations through travel.

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Edited by Krutik Jain