from Tom Flynn of PennLive,
There might not be any bigger fan of Eagles coach Chip Kelly than embattled Flyers coach Craig Berube. With all of the moves Kelly has made recently, Berube has enjoyed convenient cover for a series of missteps that should cost him his job.
After Saturday's game in Edmonton, the Flyers are eight games from a season that will end without a playoff berth for only the third time in 19 seasons. Since 16 of the 30 teams in the NHL make the playoffs, it requires some effort to join the 47 percent that will be making tee times starting April 12, the day after the regular season ends.
Certainly, Berube has a co-conspirator in Paul Holmgren, the former general manager who left the coach with an ill-fitting roster. A defensive corps comprised mostly of second-pairing (at best) talent and a huge lack of secondary scoring hindered the team all season.
Also, the huge contracts and minuscule production from washed-out veterans Vinny Lecavalier and R.J. Umberger will continue to be a problem because their outsize deals will prevent any sort of trade.
What should get Berube canned, however, is his puzzling mistreatment of goalie Steve Mason, who has become the team's most indispensable player.
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