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Flyers GM Ron Hextall: No Plans To Fire Coach

By Catherine Silverman

Nov 28, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Flyers head coach Craig Berube talks in the direction of center Claude Giroux (28) as he skates to the bench during a break in a game against the New York Rangers at Wells Fargo Center. The Rangers defeated the Flyers 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Flyers head coach Craig Berube talks in the direction of center Claude Giroux (28) as he skates to the bench during a break in a game against the New York Rangers at Wells Fargo Center. The Rangers defeated the Flyers 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Philadelphia Flyers GM Ron Hextall is standing behind his head coach — for now, at least

It’s been a rough season so far for the Philadelphia Flyers.

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Almost every other team that was caught limping out of the gate in October has picked themselves up and dusted off; although the Dallas Stars and the Arizona Coyotes are still having trouble getting on the board, they’ve managed to leave the teens in the points standings.

It took until Philadelphia fell in overtime to the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday night, though, for the Metropolitan Division team to finally reach twenty points on the season; the only teams hurting more than them right now are Columbus, Carolina, Buffalo, and Edmonton — and Buffalo is only behind them in goal differential.

For a team that made the playoffs last season, this seems alarming; GM Ron Hextall doesn’t want to panic, though.

In a recent interview, he insisted that the team ‘isn’t happy with’ the way things are going right now — with an 8-13-4 record, that’s understandable — but was firm in that he’s not going to be getting rid of head coach Craig Berube any time soon.

On a day where the Edmonton Oilers pointed fingers at pretty much everyone but the ones actually causing the problems, it’s nice to see a GM recognize the value in what he has. The Flyers need to make a change, no doubt — but Hextall isn’t letting panic overshadow the fact that his coach is probably doing the best he can.

Hextall also suggested that the team won’t be tanking for one of the highly-coveted top draft prospects this summer, but did mention that things need to be different with the roster.

"“We’re not getting rid of guys to try to finish first or second (worst) in the league,” said Hextall, as per NJ.com. “You guys won’t be asking that question in a couple of weeks, I believe.”"

Despite this, he stressed that everyone is responsible for where the team sits in the standings right now — and that includes the players.With a few teams out there (Calgary included) openly offering to eat some painful contracts, it could be that Philadelphia won’t look so familiar this time next season… or even by 2015.

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