On the morning of Nov. 2, 2023, the question was whether Adam Fox, coming off the best month of his NHL career, was going to win his second Norris Trophy in four years.
Now, nearly 16 months later and in the wake of 4 Nations, the question is whether Fox is an automatic to be one of eight defensemen selected for the 2026 United States Olympic Team that will compete in Italy next February.
The night of Nov. 2, 2023, Fox sustained a right knee injury at the Garden on an unpenalized hit from Sebastian Aho. And then, after taking just about all season for No. 23 to get back to his elite game, Fox reinjured the knee when he took a penalized hit from Nick Jensen in Game 4 of the first round in D.C. on April 28, 2024.
Jack Hughes had a disappointing go of it for the U.S. through 4 Nations and Elias Pettersson was a cipher for Sweden, but Fox’s reputation as one of the best-of-the-best in best-on-best perhaps took more of a beating than any player who participated in the electric event — which took a life of its own.
