Flyers Fire Ramsey

NHL teams

"We've become an easy team to play against," general manager Bob Clarke said. "And we don't find that acceptable."

Barber was Clarke's teammate and linemate with the Flyers in the 1970s during the "Broad Street Bullies" years.

"We've got to identify ourselves a little better," Barber said. "There's nothing wrong with being aggressive. There's no issue of fighting. We can be more physical by having guys dive in front of pucks, taking hits and going hard in the corners."

Ramsay was promoted to head coach last spring after Roger Neilson was told he could not return to his old job after finishing cancer treatment. Ramsay guided the team to the Eastern Conference finals.

The Flyers won their first game under Barber beating the New York Islanders 5-2 Sunday night.

"We seem to have become a team that has accepted just being OK," Clarke said. "Billy is a fiery guy who will put the emotion and direction back into the team."