But in all seriousness, I just think it comes down to the issue of whether Prucha can jump start the power play (if he even gets an opportunity). If he can, you need to find a spot for him in the lineup. Eric and I both really like what Sjostrom has brought to the team forechecking-wise, skill-wise, and effort-wise. I would not sit him down under any circumstances. When it comes to Orr, he did a very good job this season, but I don’t think that he will be “the difference” in any playoff series. He is replaceable at this time of year. The physicality that abounds in the playoffs isn’t fighting or intimidation really, but scrapiness and bad blood after hard plays. Prucha (although a small guy) is fearless and fiesty. I think people are underestimating him and overestimating Orr.

Again though, this is a moot point if Renney doesn’t give Prucha a shot on the power play.

Next year we may well be looking at a deficiency at wing, what with the potential departures of Jagr, Shanny, Straka, and Avery. Who will fill those roles? Obviously, everyone is hoping Alexei Cherepanov will be able to come in and dominate, but we need other candidates, too. Prucha and Sjostrom are entirely competent, and, given enough ice time, can be major scoring threats.

Sjostrom, Prucha, I dont see a big difference there except Sjostrom is a little bigger. They can both kill penalties, but Prucha can play on the power play and on 4 0n 4 situations which i havent seen Sjostrom skate 1 shift of.And Prucha Scored 30 goals once! Im pretty sure Sjostrom has never done that

I LOVE what Sjostrom has brought to this team, don’t get me wrong, the best thing being that he put Hollweg in the stands, but the only reason Orr gets replaced in this lineup for any reason is if there is a game 7 when we know that even if we are up 7 goals there arent gonna be any fights.

I know…. now it sounds like Im the president of his fan club.

I don’t think Prucha would step into that role to be honest, Prucha is an offensive-minded player and just doesn’t fit into what a 4th line player needs to be, particularly if defensive guys like Betts and Hollweg are playing. If you’re going to play Prucha, who has legitimate top-six forward skills, you certainly can’t play him on that 4th line and expect anything.

I think too many people want the 4th line to become a legitimate scoring threat. You’re overlooking the fact that the Rangers have offensive balance on their first three lines and have top-caliber NHL players on each of those lines. They don’t need any more offense on the 4th line; this is a team that is average defensively and needs a solid grinding, checking unit to be successful in the playoffs. Come that time, I’m not sure which two guys out of Orr, Hollweg, Prucha, Strudwick, or Sjostrom would play on that 4th line; if I had to pick, I’d take Orr on the right and Sjostrom on the left.

As for Straka, I’d agree, it’s good that he’s been taken off the point and moved to the wing and as Steve said, he’s looked OK there so far. I was surprised when Renney made that move because as I said, Renney is as stubborn a head coach as they come.

As for the Prucha question, your guess is as good as mine. Renney’s unwillingness to change personel on the power play has been one of the problems. Prucha NEEDS to get a shot.

While Colton Orr has turned into a reliable player, don’t mistake yourself. He is NOT an elite defensive winger. He does his job within the Rangers system and that’s the bottom line. But you’d be wrong into thinking that a Petr Prucha could not step in and play just as responsibly in the defensive zone.

With Prucha’s upside, not just on the power play, but at even strength with a Freddy Sjostrom, the fourth line could turn into a legitimate scoring threat. On top of that, if Prucha does get some time on the man up and does prove to be valuable, it is impossible to take him out of the lineup. The only logical person to remove him for at that point would be Colton Orr. Without as much need for a Colton Orr-type enforcer in the playoffs, that would be okay.

When the NHL gets down to the last 15-20 games of the regular season, every game has the intensity of a playoff game because so many teams are battling for points and playoff positioning. With this intensity comes the desire to play smart, sound, tight hockey, which is something we don’t always see at the beginning of the year and during the dog days of winter.

Many teams don’t dress their enforcers right now because they can’t afford to waste a spot in the lineup on guys who can’t play and contribute. There is less competition, as far as fighting opponents go, for Colton Orr because he’s not seeing as many tough guys who will drop the gloves like he did at the beginning of the year.

Players are also scared of taking extra penalties, particularly the instigator/major/misconduct or the extra two for unsportsmanlike conduct or whatever because they don’t want to put their team in a bad spot at this critical time of the year. When you look around the league, fighting numbers always go down towards the end of the season.

Contrary to what Steve says, Colton Orr’s job is NOT to fight, although it used to be. He’s now a valuable part of the 4th line and is counted on to play 5-10 minutes a game. Let’s be honest, none of the Rangers’ top three lines are anything special defensively and even the Rangers D-corps isn’t that special either, so the 4th line is really important in shutting down opponents’ top lines. Sure, they’re supposed to provide energy and hitting, but not stupid penalties.

It’s not about fights at this time of the year, it’s about burying a couple of the few chances you get in any given game because teams are playing much tighter.

Prucha does deserve a shot on the PP, but Renney is as set in his ways as they come and probably won’t put him on that unit.

Oh and as to Larry’s point, there is NO WAY that either Mike Pelino or Perry Pearn, the Rangers’ assistant coaches, should be head coaches right now in the NHL. I have no time for either of them and find them both to be particularly useless.

Also, Renney has to put Prucha on the power play. There’s just no reason not to at this point. These last couple of games have been the type of games that you will see in the Playoffs. The power play could easily win or lose a series. At this point, it looks like it will lose the series…

And I second Eric on the responses. We’ve gotten an influx of emails and calls since the last episode went up, including many first timers. Keep ‘em coming folks. This is how we envisioned the show from the start…