I’m not sure how many of you might remember the old Tonight Show skit Carnac the Magnificent. Carnac ( Johnny Carson) would read the answer to a question that had sat in a mayonnaise jar on Funk and Wagnell’s porch since noon that day. 

Carnac (holds the envelope up to his head and says):

Broad Shoulders and a Thick Skin.

Ed McMahon (repeats in a loud and staccato voice):

Broad Shoulders and a Thick Skin!

Carnac (rips open the top of the envelope, blows on it and pulls out the index card, reads the question):

What do Tom Renney, Chris Drury and Petr Prucha need to get through this season?

After all the shoes were dropped by the Rangers today regarding cuts and captains, the most controversial decision by the Rangers is the apparent decision to scratch Petr Prucha for tomorrow’s opening game in Prague against Tampa. Yes. that’s right. Quite unbelievably, Prucha has been scratched in the first ever NHL game to be played in his home country. This decision has many Ranger fans perplexed, to say the least. Many more are just angry and are using this decision as another opportunity to bash Tom Renney.

Sometimes I think many fans enjoy the sport of Renney bashing more then they enjoy the sport of ice hockey. My advise to these “fans” would be to step back and take a deep breathe. I have a couple of questions for you. How the hell do you know that this is solely a “Renney” decision? Could it  be possible that there are several explanations for Prucha being scratched? Has Prucha’s preseason play distinguished him over and above those who will be playing tomorrow? These are all rhetorical questions. The answers are:

You don’t know. Yes. And, No.

I’m reading blogs where people are saying, Renney hates Prucha, Renney is a ********* for benching Prucha in front of his home crowd, Renney sucks, fire Renney, yadda, yadda, yadda. 

STOP THE INSANITY!

Not one regular season game has been played but now is the time to fire the third most winning coach in Ranger history? Now is the time to fire the coach that has gotten the Rangers to the playoffs for three seasons in a row after the lockout? Why? Is it because of a perceived act of disrespect toward a player who, though well liked, has recently proved marginal after a phenomenal start?

Most of the time I am proud to be a Ranger fan. But, after reading some of the lunatic ravings of the lynch mob among us, I question my faith in some of the Garden Faithful.

I am glad that we have a Coach and now a Captain who have broad shoulders and skin thick enough to weather the storms of controversy that lie ahead of them. My advise to young Petr Prucha is to man up and not pout or display his displeasure to the press about decisions that are not in his control. Players who have lowered the curtain and publicly displayed their negative emotions are not around anymore (ie, Ward, Malik, Avery and Pock, to name a few). In addition to becoming a better two way player, Petr Prucha needs to develop a thicker skin and broader shoulders.

(Updated 8am 10/5/08 - Turns out Prucha will play in the Prague opener. All the indignation and anger directed by some fans at Renney has been a tempest in a teapot. We shall see!)

Posted under New York Rangers