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Michel Bergeron
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Michel Bergeron
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Michel Bergeron (born June 12, 1946) is a Canadian former ice hockey coach.

Key Information

Coaching career

[edit]

Bergeron began his coaching career behind the bench of a midget team from Rosemont, Quebec. During his second season, he led the team to a national championship. He then took over for the Trois-Rivieres Draveurs of the QMJHL, leading the team to two Memorial Cup appearances.[1]

In 1980, Bergeron became an assistant coach for the Quebec Nordiques. Six games into the season, with the Nordiques sputtering to a 1-3-2 start, general manager and head coach Maurice Filion dropped his head coach's title and named Bergeron his successor.[2] Bergeron remained head coach until 1987. His teams gained a reputation for playing a high scoring, quick paced game. As coach, Bergeron also devoted significant time to pursuing European players, adding the Stastny brothers after their defection from Czechoslovakia.[3] His teams reached the postseason in each of seven years behind the Quebec bench, including two trips to the Wales Conference Finals.

Just before the 1987 draft, Bergeron was traded to the New York Rangers for a first-round draft pick and $75,000, which was the first time a coach was traded in NHL history.[4][5] In spite of on-ice achievements, Bergeron's relationship with the Nordiques front office had become rather strained in recent years. Nonetheless, his reputation as a strong motivator enticed the Rangers, who were seeking coaching stability. Bergeron was the franchise's 13th head coach in 12 years.[6]

Bergeron's first season in New York saw the Rangers in a battle with the upstart and rival, New Jersey Devils, for the final playoff spot in the Patrick Division. A tie with the Winnipeg Jets in the second-to-last game of the season left the Rangers and Devils tied with 80 points each. However, the Devils had one more win, meaning that if both teams won their final game, the Devils would advance on the total wins tiebreaker. On the final day of the season, the Rangers easily defeated Bergeron's old team, the Nordiques, 3–0. Hours later, the Devils defeated the Chicago Blackhawks in overtime, 4–3. The Devils went to the playoffs, and the Rangers went home.[7][8]

With two games remaining in the 1988–89 NHL season, general manager Phil Esposito fired Bergeron and named himself head coach for the remainder of the season. Even though the Rangers had secured a playoff spot, Bergeron had drawn the ire of Esposito by vocally requesting a contract extension; Esposito stating that the firing was rooted in "philosophical differences."[9][10][11][12][13]

Bergeron returned to Quebec during the 1989–90 NHL season, presiding over a ghastly 12-win season that is still the worst in Nordiques/Avalanche franchise history (both NHL and WHA). He was fired after the season.[14][15][16] His 265 wins over two stints were the most in franchise history until current Avs coach Jared Bednar passed him in 2023.[17] Due in part to the 1989-90 debacle, he still owns the most career losses in franchise history.

In December 1990, he was treated for a mild heart attack.[18][19]

Legacy

[edit]

Bergeron earned the nicknames of "Le Tigre" ("The Tiger") and "Napoleon", in reference to his fiery temper, small stature, and French lineage. Bergeron reportedly even got under the nerves of Cuban leader Fidel Castro; in 1964, Bergeron was the catcher on a travelling Canadian baseball team, and, despite the tradition of visiting teams showing deference to the Cuban executive during his appearances in games, Bergeron cut down Castro as he attempted to score.[6]

Broadcasting career

[edit]

Bergeron served as panelist on the popular French talkshow "l'antichambre" which is broadcast on RDS. He spent 6 years with RDS and he was nicknamed "le capitaine" on the talkshow. Bergeron quit RDS for TVA Sports on December 19, 2013. He is a panelist before and during games when TVA broadcasts NHL hockey. TVA Sports recently acquired the rights to broadcast 20 regular season Montreal Canadiens games in French.[20]

In 2021 he was a competitor on Chanteurs masqués, the Quebec adaptation of the Masked Singer franchise. He sang Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York" in costume as a whitecoat seal, but was the first person eliminated from the competition.[21]

Coaching record

[edit]

NHL

[edit]
Team Year Regular season Postseason
G W L T OTL Pts Finish Result
Quebec Nordiques 1980–81 74 29 29 16 — (78) 4th in Adams Lost in Preliminary round (2–3 vs. PHI)
Quebec Nordiques 1981–82 80 33 31 16 — 82 4th in Adams Won in division semi-finals (3–2 vs. MTL)
Won in division finals (4–3 vs. BOS)
Lost in conference finals (0–4 vs. NYI)
Quebec Nordiques 1982–83 80 34 34 12 — 80 4th in Adams Lost in division semi-finals (1–3 vs. BOS)
Quebec Nordiques 1983–84 80 42 28 10 — 94 3rd in Adams Won in division semi-finals (3–0 vs. BUF)
Lost in division finals (2–4 vs. MTL)
Quebec Nordiques 1984–85 80 41 30 9 — 91 2nd in Adams Won in division semi-finals (3–2 vs. BUF)
Won in division finals (4–3 vs. MTL)
Lost in conference finals (2–4 vs. PHI)
Quebec Nordiques 1985–86 80 43 31 6 — 92 1st in Adams Lost in division semi-finals (0–3 vs. HFD)
Quebec Nordiques 1986–87 80 31 39 10 — 72 4th in Adams Won in division semi-finals (4–2 vs. HFD)
Lost in division finals (3–4 vs. MTL)
New York Rangers 1987–88 80 36 34 10 — 82 5th in Patrick Missed playoffs
New York Rangers 1988–89 78 37 33 8 — (82) (fired) —
Quebec Nordiques 1989–90 80 12 61 7 — 31 5th in Adams Missed playoffs
Quebec Nordiques Total 634 265 283 86 — 616 1 Divisional Title 31–37 (0.456)
New York Rangers Total 158 73 67 18 — 164 0 Divisional Titles 0–0 (0.000)
Total 792 338 350 104 — 780 1 Divisional Title 31–37 (0.456)

QMJHL

[edit]
Team Year Regular season Post season
G W L T OTL Pts Finish Result
Trois-Rivières Draveurs 1975–76 72 36 31 5 — 77 2nd in East Won in quarter-finals (4–1 vs. CHI)
Lost in semi-finals (1–4 vs. SHE)
Trois-Rivières Draveurs 1976–77 72 38 24 10 — 86 3rd in Dilio Lost in quarter-finals (2–4 vs. COR)
Trois-Rivières Draveurs 1977–78 72 47 18 7 — 101 1st in Dilio Won in quarter-finals (4–0 vs. QUE)
Won in semi-finals (4–1 vs. SHE)
Won President's Cup (4–0 vs. MTL)
Finished in 3rd at Memorial Cup (1–3)
Trois-Rivières Draveurs 1978–79 72 58 8 6 — 122 1st in Dilio Won in quarter-finals (4–0 vs. SHA)
Won in semi-finals (4–1 vs. MTL)
Won President's Cup (4–0 vs. SHE)
Finished in 3rd at Memorial Cup (2–2)
Trois-Rivières Draveurs 1979–80 72 36 27 9 — 81 4th in Dilio Lost in quarter-finals (3–4 vs. CHI)
Total 360 215 108 37 — 467 2 Divisional titles 2 President's Cups - 34–15 (0.694)
0 Memorial Cups - 3–5 (0.375)

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Michel Bergeron

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Michel Bergeron is a Canadian former ice hockey coach known for his passionate, aggressive style that earned him the nickname "Le Tigre" (The Tiger). He gained prominence in the National Hockey League during the 1980s and early 1990s, primarily through his tenures as head coach of the Quebec Nordiques, where he built competitive teams and intensified the provincial rivalry with the Montreal Canadiens. Bergeron also coached the New York Rangers before returning briefly to the Nordiques and then transitioning to a long career as a television hockey analyst in Quebec, where his colorful commentary has made him a recognizable figure in Canadian sports media. Born June 12, 1946, in Montreal, Quebec, Bergeron's coaching career in the NHL spanned from 1980 to 1990, during which he became synonymous with high-energy, confrontational bench presence that energized fans and players alike. His work with the Nordiques helped elevate the team's profile during a key period for hockey in the province, contributing to memorable playoff runs and heated battles in the Adams Division. After his final coaching stint, he remained influential in the sport through broadcasting, offering insights and opinions that have entertained and informed generations of viewers.

Early Life and Entry into Coaching

Birth and Early Years

Michel Bergeron was born on June 12, 1946, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He grew up in the Montreal area during his early years. He later resided in the Rosemont area of Montreal, Quebec, where he began his involvement with local hockey as a coach of midget teams.

Midget Coaching Beginnings

Michel Bergeron began his coaching career with a midget team from Rosemont, Quebec. He took charge of the Élites de Rosemont midget squad. In his second season at this level, Bergeron guided the team to a national midget championship.

Junior Hockey Coaching Career

Trois-Rivières Draveurs

Michel Bergeron served as head coach and general manager of the Trois-Rivières Draveurs in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) from the 1975–76 season through 1979–80, spanning five full seasons of notable success in junior hockey. Over 360 regular season games, his teams posted a record of 215 wins, 108 losses, and 37 ties. In the playoffs, Bergeron achieved a winning percentage of .694 across 49 games. He led the Draveurs to back-to-back President's Cup championships, capturing the QMJHL title in 1977–78 and 1978–79. The 1978–79 season stood out particularly, with the team securing 58 wins and 122 points, tying a league record for most wins and setting a QMJHL benchmark for points in a season that remained unmatched as of 2024–25. As QMJHL champions, the Draveurs represented the league at the Memorial Cup in both 1978 and 1979, earning third-place finishes with tournament records of 1–3 in 1978 and 2–2 in 1979. This dominant junior performance built Bergeron's reputation and paved the way for his move to the National Hockey League with the Quebec Nordiques.

NHL Coaching Career

Quebec Nordiques

Michel Bergeron was named head coach of the Quebec Nordiques six games into the 1980–81 NHL season after serving initially as an assistant. During his first stint through 1986–87, he guided the team to seven consecutive playoff appearances from 1981 to 1987. His teams reached the Wales Conference Finals in 1982 and 1985, and captured the Adams Division title in 1985–86 with a 43–31–6 record. Bergeron's Nordiques played a high-scoring, fast-paced style that emphasized offensive output and quick transitions, as seen in their "shoot-first" approach that produced high goal totals early in his tenure. He played a key role in recruiting European talent, notably integrating the Stastny brothers following their defection from Czechoslovakia to bolster the roster's skill and scoring. Just before the 1987 NHL Entry Draft, Bergeron was traded to the New York Rangers in exchange for a first-round draft pick and $75,000, marking the first trade of an active NHL coach in league history. He returned for a second stint in 1989–90, but the season proved disastrous as the Nordiques finished with a 12–61–7 record and only 31 points, missing the playoffs. Across his combined 634 games with the franchise, Bergeron compiled a 265–283–86 record, which stood as the most wins in Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche history until 2023.

New York Rangers

Michel Bergeron served as head coach of the New York Rangers from 1987 to 1989 after being acquired in a trade from the Quebec Nordiques in June 1987, a historic NHL transaction that sent the Rangers' 1988 first-round draft pick and cash to Quebec, marking the first time a coach was traded for draft assets. Over his tenure, he coached 158 games and compiled a record of 73 wins, 67 losses, and 18 ties. In the 1987–88 season, the Rangers finished with a 36–34–10 record and 82 points but missed the playoffs, eliminated on the final night of the regular season despite winning their own game against the Quebec Nordiques; the New Jersey Devils secured the final playoff berth with an overtime goal in their finale against Chicago, prevailing via tiebreaker with more wins (38 to the Rangers' 36) after both teams ended tied at 82 points. The following year, the 1988–89 season saw the team post a 37–33–8 mark through 78 games and clinch a playoff spot. On April 1, 1989, with two regular-season games remaining, general manager Phil Esposito fired Bergeron, citing the team's lack of response and poor play over February and March, including a 9–17 record in those months. Esposito stated that the club "just weren't playing well" and "didn't seem to be into it," and he immediately assumed head coaching duties himself.

Broadcasting Career

Television Panelist Roles

Michel Bergeron pursued a second career in broadcasting after his time as an NHL coach, becoming a respected hockey analyst in Quebec's French-language media. He served as a panelist on the RDS late-night talk show L'Antichambre for six years. In December 2013, Bergeron joined TVA Sports, where he served as an analyst contributing columns and commentary focused primarily on the Montreal Canadiens and other NHL topics. He appeared as a panelist for NHL broadcasts, providing insights before and during games. In 2021, Bergeron made a brief foray into entertainment television by competing on the first season of Chanteurs masqués, the Quebec adaptation of The Masked Singer, under the guise of the character Blanchon, depicted as a whitecoat seal. He performed Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York" in his episode and became the first contestant eliminated and unmasked.

Film and Television Appearances

Roles and Self-Appearances in Media

Michel Bergeron has made occasional appearances in film and television, nearly always portraying himself in hockey-themed productions that capitalize on his prominence as a former NHL coach in Quebec. His involvement in media has been limited, reflecting his primary career in coaching and broadcasting rather than acting. He appeared as himself in the Quebec comedy film Les Boys II (1998), part of the popular Les Boys franchise centered on amateur hockey players. In Les Boys IV (2005), he was credited in the role of Michel Bergeron, again essentially playing a version of himself within the series' humorous take on hockey culture. Bergeron also featured as himself in La Soirée du hockey (TV Series, 1998), the long-running Canadian hockey broadcast program. More recently, he appeared as himself in three episodes of the TV mini-series Canadiens Nordiques - La rivalité (2022), a documentary-style production revisiting the historic rivalry between the Montreal Canadiens and Quebec Nordiques. These appearances underscore his enduring recognition within Quebec's ice hockey community.

Personal Life and Legacy

Nickname and Coaching Style

Michel Bergeron was widely known by the nickname "Le Tigre" (The Tiger), a moniker that captured his intense and passionate approach behind the bench as well as his fiery temper. He also earned the nickname "Napoleon," referencing his small stature, French heritage, and explosive temperament. Bergeron's coaching style was marked by flamboyance, high energy, and a combative demeanor that often made him one of the NHL's most animated and confrontational figures during games. His teams, especially with the Quebec Nordiques, developed a reputation for high-scoring, quick-paced offensive hockey that emphasized speed and skill. This approach helped produce exciting, entertaining hockey and contributed to memorable rivalries during his tenure. Bergeron was also noted for embracing talented European players, helping integrate skilled imports into a dynamic offensive system.

Later Years and Health

In December 1990, Michel Bergeron suffered a mild heart attack while watching a Montreal-Washington hockey game on television, experiencing intense chest pains that led to his immediate hospitalization near his home in Rosemère, Quebec. He was initially reported in stable condition the following day, though his status fluctuated before stabilization. Bergeron was subsequently transferred to the Montreal Heart Institute for treatment and was released after about 10 days, with medical advice indicating he could potentially return to high-stress activities if he adopted lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking. The heart attack occurred several months after his final NHL coaching position with the Quebec Nordiques, where he was fired following the 1989-90 season. Bergeron did not return to coaching thereafter. He remained active in hockey media, continuing as an analyst and panelist into the 2020s and beyond. As of November 2025, he is alive (age 79) and continues to be engaged in media appearances, including on TVA Sports programs, where he has expressed his passion for the work while contemplating retirement.

References

  1. https://www.hockey-reference.com/coaches/bergemi99c.html
  2. https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/1181543/michel-bergeron
  3. https://mabumbe.com/people/michel-bergeron-age-net-worth-biography-career/
  4. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0074461/bio/
  5. https://alchetron.com/Michel-Bergeron-(hockey-coach)
  6. https://www.lenouvelliste.ca/2023/02/18/le-tigre-et-ses-draveurs-da8dc6b44e29d840de627bd52c2be43b/
  7. https://www.eliteprospects.com/staff/9262/michel-bergeron
  8. https://lhjmq-records.qc.ca/en/franchises/24/history?season_id=15
  9. https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=71654
  10. http://gdrinnan.blogspot.com/2008/06/memorial-cup-history-1979.html
  11. https://records.nhl.com/coaches/michel-bergeron-1016
  12. https://web.archive.org/web/20131103052616/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1125081/1/index.htm
  13. https://www.nytimes.com/1987/06/19/sports/rangers-pull-a-surprise-bergeron-becomes-coach.html
  14. https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/35521274/jared-bednar-becomes-winningest-coach-avalanche-history
  15. https://www.nhl.com/news/new-york-rangers-traded-top-pick-for-coach-michel-bergeron-in-1987-nhl-344923178
  16. https://nypost.com/2009/04/04/rangers-rarely-ruin-playoff-spot-late/
  17. https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/NYR/1988.html
  18. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1989/04/02/bergeron-is-fired-as-rangers-coach/c2dd6b7f-eddc-43b3-9e75-c99084675054/
  19. https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2013/12/18/michel-bergeron-quitte-rds-pour-tva-sports
  20. https://www.tvasports.ca/experts/michelbergeron
  21. https://the-masked-singer.fandom.com/wiki/Blanchon
  22. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0074461/
  23. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0137401/fullcredits/
  24. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0308064/fullcredits/
  25. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9354274/
  26. https://www.nhl.com/fr/news/il-y-a-33-ans-michel-bergeron-ecrivait-l-histoire-317183374
  27. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1063640-the-20-most-feared-coaches-in-nhl-history
  28. https://www.chicagotribune.com/1989/11/01/nordiques-coach-michel-bergeron-is-well-known/
  29. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-12-02-sp-8118-story.html
  30. https://www.nytimes.com/1990/12/02/sports/sports-people-bergeron-in-hospital.html
  31. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-12-11-sp-6536-story.html
  32. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-12-06-sp-7855-story.html
  33. https://www.tvasports.ca/2025/11/10/jaurais-adore-coacher-le-canadien--michel-bergeron-fait-le-bilan-de-sa-brillante-carriere
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