Rangers small but mighty leadership group already showing what its all about

The Rangers have had a leadership group consisting of five or six players since the 2021-22 season. That band was cut to three for the first time in 13 years ahead of this season, a reflection of not only how many key players the Blueshirts have had to part with recently, but also how long the organization has opted to empower a broad collective of voices in its locker room — captain or no captain.  Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mollie Walker about the inside buzz on the Rangers.The last time the Blueshirts had only three players wearing letters was the last time the team went to the Stanley Cup Final, 2013-14, when Ryan Callahan started the season as captain with Brad Richards and Marc Staal as alternates.

Callahan was traded to Tampa Bay in a deal for Martin St.Louis at the trade deadline and Dan Girardi joined as the third alternate before the Rangers lost to the Kings in five games. With Vincent Trocheck and Artemi Panarin traded away over the last eight and a half months, only Mika Zibanejad and Adam Fox remain as alternates under second-year captain J.T.

Miller. “I give a lot of credit to our leadership group,” head coach Mike Sullivan said when asked what’s allowed the Rangers to start and finish games so strongly early in the season.“I think they have a lot to do with it.

Just leading by example for starters, first and foremost.I think leadership is a big part of that.

I give the guys credit.I think they understand the importance of playing on your toes, playing the game the right way, we want to be a team that doesn’t sit back and sit on our heels and try to defend a lead.

We want to be proactive and continue to play on our toes and try to dictate the terms out there.Just do it in a responsible way. “But I think it boils down to our leadership.

I give our veteran guys — J.T., Foxy, Mika — I think those guys are leading the charge there.” Entering Tuesday’s m...