don't go well, acquired a number of role players in addition to The Beezer to support the cast of stars already in place. He's probably not done.

Top-flight players including Theoren Fleury of Calgary and / or Chicago defenseman Chris Chelios might be wearing an orange and black sweater before the season is over. Philadelphia probably does need to bolster its blueline if it wants to make a serious run.

A Stanley Cup finalist as recent as two years ago, the Flyers were swept as Detroit secured the first of consecutive Stanley Cups. After winning the last two, no one would crucify the Wings for failing to win a third. Dallas' season would still be considered a success even if the Stars reach the finals and lose. Of the elitea weekly column he writes for the Sporting News.

"In may ways, it appears (GM Brian) Burke had his mind made up right from the beginning," Keenan wrote. "It's unfortunate how this all came down. I wish this had been handled better."

Keenan wrote he was informed of his firing via a phone call from a Canucks' PR person, who said, "You've been fired; you'll read about it tomorrow in the newspaper."

Keenan, who intends to coach again, was dismissed from the fifth NHL team he's coached, during the All-Star break on Jan. 24. The Canucks were 15-24-6 under Keenan, and had just traded season-long holdout Pavel Bure to Florida two games earlier.

In announcing his decision, Burke criticized Keenan, calling the season "an unmitigated disaster" since Christmas and saying he had