Stefan Matteau

TAMPA, Fla. — They don’t have quarterbacks or point guards in hockey. Not under those names, anyway. But that is exactly what Adam Fox is for the Rangers. He’s listed as a defenseman on the roster, but the 24-year-old Long Island native, who wears No. 23 on his blue sweater, is the team’s quarterback and point guard wrapped in one brilliant, team-MVP package. From afar, former Rangers playoff hero Stefan Matteau has watched Fox closely and is reminded of another former great defenseman and teammate on the Rangers’ 1994 Stanley Cup championship team: Brian Leetch. “My God … Fox looks so nonchalant on the ice...

Matteau (leg) was activated off injured reserve and assigned to AHL Colorado on Tuesday. Matteau has remained with the big club since suffering a leg injury in the first game of the season, but now that he's healthy, he'll head to the minors for the foreseeable future. The 27-year-old winger picked up one goal through18 top-level appearances last year and will likely spend most of his time with AHL Colorado down the stretch.

Matteau (leg) was placed on long-term injured reserve Monday, per CapFriendly. With the transition to long-term injured reserve, Matteau will need to miss the next 10 days for the Avs, which means he will be sidelined until at least mid-November. Considering the 27-year-old winger managed just 18 games for the Blue Jackets last year, he may struggle to break into the lineup even once cleared to play.

Matteau was injured in the first period of Saturday's game versus the Blues, and he couldn't put much weight on his right leg, Peter Baugh of The Athletic reports. With Gabriel Landeskog suspended and Nathan MacKinnon in COVID-19 protocols, the Avalanche were already shorthanded up front entering Saturday. Matteau's injury leaves them with just 10 healthy forwards available due to salary cap rules. Head coach Jared Bednar could have an update on Matteau after the game.

Matteau snagged a one-year, two-way deal from Colorado on Thursday. Matteau -- who played in 18 games for the Blue Jackets last year -- figures to remain a fringe roster play for Colorado. With just 11 points in 91 contests, fantasy players shouldn't be expecting Matteau to generate a lot of fantasy value even when he does crack the Avs' lineup.

Zach Werenski is the latest Blue Jacket to be bitten by the injury bug. When the Blue Jackets take on the Hurricanes tonight, Werenski, one of the team's top defensemen, won't be in the lineup. The lower-body injury that held him out for three games last week will prevent him from playing tonight, head coach John Tortorella said Monday.