Michel Bergeron

Michel Bergeron, fired and replaced Saturday by Phil Esposito, said of next season, "One thing is for sure: I'll be coaching somewhere" in the National Hockey League. The question is, where? Quebec writers are lobbying for the Nordiques to rehire Bergeron, who had a 243-222-79 record with them from 1980-87 and twice took them to the Stanley Cup semifinals. This year's Nordiques had the league's worst record (27-46-7), setting a club record for losses. They were 10-20-2 when Coach Ron Lapointe resigned after being stricken with cancer of the kidneys, and 17-26-5 under his replacement, Jean Perron, who has two years left on a contract.

The reason can be as vague as a sense that a team isn't motivated, or as obvious as a superstar's rebellion. The decision to change a coach or manager during the season might be made early — the Detroit Tigers were 0-6 when they fired Phil Garner and replaced him with Luis Pujols in 2002 — or late, as when the New York Rangers dismissed Michel Bergeron with two games left in the 1988-89 season. The switch made no difference in either case: The Tigers were 55-100 the rest of the way and the Rangers lost those two games and were swept out of the playoffs, leading to the dismissal of General Manager Phil Esposito.

Michel Bergeron was fired as coach of the Quebec Nordiques.

Former Quebec Nordiques Coach Michel Bergeron is out of the hospital. Bergeron was released from the Montreal Heart Institute on Monday, 10 days after having a heart attack. Bergeron, whose condition was listed as critical for the first few days after he was admitted, began to show improvement last Monday and has been steadily regaining his strength. He has been told by doctors to rest for the next several weeks, after which his status will be reevaluated.

Michel Bergeron, after two seasons with the New York Rangers, was named coach of the Quebec Nordiques, the team he led from 1980-87. He replaces Jean Perron, who resigned but will remain with the team as a scout.

Michel Bergeron, former coach of the Quebec Nordiques and New York Rangers, was in stable condition Saturday after suffering a heart attack. Bergeron, 44, was taken to a hospital near his home in Rosemere, Quebec, after complaining of intense chest pains Friday night. He had been watching the Montreal-Washington game on television.

Former Quebec Nordiques Coach Michel Bergeron is out of the hospital. Bergeron was released from the Montreal Heart Institute on Monday, 10 days after having a heart attack. Bergeron, whose condition was listed as critical for the first few days after he was admitted, began to show improvement last Monday and has been steadily regaining his strength. He has been told by doctors to rest for the next several weeks, after which his status will be reevaluated.

Michel Bergeron has been named to replace Jean Perron as coach of the Quebec Nordiques, the NHL team said today. Bergeron, who was dismissed as coach of the New York Rangers on April 1 with two games left in the regular season, coached the Nordiques for seven years before joining the Rangers in 1987. Rangers General Manager Phil Esposito said he fired the flamboyant Bergeron because of insubordination, accusing him of secretly trying to make trades. Perron, an assistant general manager who became Nordiques coach Dec. 16 when Ron Lapointe was forced to step down because of a cancerous kidney, said he asked to be relieved of his duties last Monday.

Phil Esposito was fired today as coach, general manager and vice president of the New York Rangers. Esposito took over as coach with two games left last season when, as general manager, he fired Michel Bergeron. In making the announcement, John Diller, executive vice president of Madison Square Garden Sports Group, which owns the NHL team, said, "We announced at the end of the season that we would undertake a thorough assessment of the entire Ranger organization." ". . . It is our belief that new hockey leadership is necessary at this time in order to achieve the goals we have set for this franchise.

Michel Bergeron, the former Quebec Nordique and New York Ranger coach who suffered a heart attack last weekend, can return to coaching if he stops smoking and maintains a healthy diet, his doctor said.

Michel Bergeron, former coach of the Quebec Nordiques and New York Rangers, was in stable condition Saturday after suffering a heart attack. Bergeron, 44, was taken to a hospital near his home in Rosemere, Quebec, after complaining of intense chest pains Friday night. He had been watching the Montreal-Washington game on television.

Phil Esposito was fired today as coach, general manager and vice president of the New York Rangers. Esposito took over as coach with two games left last season when, as general manager, he fired Michel Bergeron. In making the announcement, John Diller, executive vice president of Madison Square Garden Sports Group, which owns the NHL team, said, "We announced at the end of the season that we would undertake a thorough assessment of the entire Ranger organization." ". . . It is our belief that new hockey leadership is necessary at this time in order to achieve the goals we have set for this franchise.

Michel Bergeron, after two seasons with the New York Rangers, was named coach of the Quebec Nordiques, the team he led from 1980-87. He replaces Jean Perron, who resigned but will remain with the team as a scout.

Michel Bergeron has been named to replace Jean Perron as coach of the Quebec Nordiques, the NHL team said today. Bergeron, who was dismissed as coach of the New York Rangers on April 1 with two games left in the regular season, coached the Nordiques for seven years before joining the Rangers in 1987. Rangers General Manager Phil Esposito said he fired the flamboyant Bergeron because of insubordination, accusing him of secretly trying to make trades. Perron, an assistant general manager who became Nordiques coach Dec. 16 when Ron Lapointe was forced to step down because of a cancerous kidney, said he asked to be relieved of his duties last Monday.