One can say that in the Rangers scheme of "Team" things that all players are equal. But reality tells us that some Rangers are more equal than others.

We're talking about "The Core," alias the big-money, big hitters. The club either will thrive or dive – as in sink out of the playoffs, depending on ths 2025-26 Silver Seven.

With important input from my Ranger-intense, hockey-wise grandson, Ariel Fischler, here's what we can – and should – expect from the canny core contingent

1. IGOR SHESTERKIN: Granted he had a disappointing season last year and one reason was that Shesty was overworked. Coach Sullivan should trim his game load while giving Jonathan Quick meaningfully more than in 2024-25. There's no question that Igor is getting the biggest bucks to ''carry" the team. But, in this case, less will be more; as in more Rangers wins.

2. ADAM FOX: Let's not kid around; Fox is at the peak of his playing career. There is no physical reason why he shouldn't revert to Norris Trophy form. And if Slava Gavrikov is as useful as Chris Drury thinks he'll be, Adam will have a defense mate who'll enable him to go on the attack as Fox did in his Norris year. As the club's power play quarterback, he can still be a game-breaker.

3. ARTEMI PANARIN: There's no reason to diminish expectations from the team's leading scorer. What would be refreshing, however, would be to see The Breadman become more of a leader – with an attitude. Assuming that the club makes the playoffs, it also shouldn't be too much to ask him to be a hero and not a zero!

4. MIKA ZIBANEJAD: The Amazing Z – or un-amazing as the case may be – underwent a severe image change for the worst last season. The Mika of last season was just plain lazy while also giving the impression that he just didn't care. A major attitude change is in order; ergo: back to his glorious past. At his age, and with solid coaching, that's not an impossibility.

5. J.T. MILLER: The high command paid well for what was hoped to be a kind of a latter-day Mark Messier. In the end what Drury got was more mess than Messier but Miller – based on his Vancouver past – has shown that he can become top banana on the Blueshirts. Our guess is that we'll see at least a 15- 20 percent improvement.

Rangers Thoughts From Here, There And Everywhere <b>1.</b> I don't know about you but I believe that it's downright insulting that Peter Laviolette spent two years here – got paid a ton – and didn't have the time to even deliver a good-bye thank you to the citizens of Rangerville who hosted him so well.

6. VINCENT TROCHECK: All hands agree that Vinnie has the ability and disposition to be club captain. But if he does get the "C," a vast improvement will be in order. Or, to put it another way, we shouldn't have to hear fans yelling two little words Trocheck's way:  SHOW UP!

7. WILL CUYLLE: This major league hustler is in the best position to be heir apparent to Chris Kreider – when Kreider was in his prime. Cuylle hits, leads, scores and does just about everything Kreider did not do last season.