Adam Fox is the first call the Leafs have to make after the Rangers' retool message

After GM Chris Drury let New York Rangers fans know they are going to be retooling the team amidst a struggling season, that means that several players could be on the move.

We know that Artemi Panarin won't be offered an extension and is likely gone, and other names like Mika Zibanejad and Vincent Trocheck also have a high potential to be dealt.

But one name who has started to get a lot of attention due to the Rangers decision is defenseman Adam Fox. Not only is he the backbone of the New York blueline but he's firmly in the prime of his career and one of the best two-way defenders in the entire league.

With the Rangers looking to make moves, Fox is no doubt going to have his suitors but is he actually available? According to David Pagnotta, it's pretty much inevitable.

Pagnotta explained on the Hello Hockey podcast on Jan. 17 that due to New York signalling changes ahead, that Fox has to be included as a name on the outs -- and everyone is going to be interested:

The Rangers promised fans that they would build around their core players and prospects during the retool and if Drury were to trade him -- that may send the wrong message to the fans anyways.

But if teams do want their hands on Fox then it's going to cost an absolute fortune. We're talking multiple draft picks, NHL-ready prospects and future potential stars in conjunction with one another to make a deal happen.

For a team like the Maple Leafs who lack a lot of true assets, it's going to be much easier said than done but players like Fox don't come around too often and his fit with Toronto is downright scary.

He would immediately replace Morgan Rielly, who is more suited a secondary or tertiary defenseman at this point, while giving them a player who can replace the defensive prowess of Chris Tanev, more offense than Rielly, and is only 27 years old.

Toronto gets their new power-play QB, a penalty killing machine, a guy who has averaged 61.5 points since he broke into the league -- oh and he eats roughly 23-25 minutes a night.

In 461 games so far into his career, Fox has 397 points (67 goals, 330 assists) and has averaged over 100 blocks as well in his career; this is an elite two-way defenseman.

But that's going to cost a lot but for Fox it's certainly worth it. Toronto should be willing to part with Ben Danford, their 2028 first-round pick, all their second and third-rounders left and perhaps a couple roster players like Matias Maccelli and Bobby McMann.

Does that completely strip Toronto of assets? Yes but this gives you a chance to move on from Morgan Rielly potentially this summer while already having a contingency plan signed for three more seasons.

That timeline fits perfectly with the win-now mentality the team has shown, and if they hit the miracle jackpot they could walk away with extensions for Fox, Matthews, and even just maybe Connor McDavid too.

It really only happens though if the Maple Leafs go for absolute broke and try to bring in Adam Fox and frankly, for a player of his caliber it's worth risking the future for a bonafide star.

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