QUEBEC -- The Quebec Nordiques, who finished with the worst record in the NHL this season, Thursday dismissed Coach Michel Bergeron.
Dave Chambers, a former assistant coach with the Minnesota North Stars, is expected to be named the replacement in the next few days.
Quebec General Manager Pierre Page, who left as North Stars coach to join the Nordiques May 4, went to great lengths at a news conference not to blame Bergeron for the team's 12-61-7 record. Page also refused to characterize the move as a firing.
'Michel Bergeron was not fired,' he said. 'We assigned him to a new function. He has a long-term contract. We're taking care of him. We're looking after him.'
Page said the Nordiques have offered Bergeron a job involving promotion and possible radio and television work.
The general manager refused to confirm reports that Chambers, his former assistant with Minnesota, will be the new coach. Page did say the new coach would be named within the next few days.
Jean Perron, former Nordiques and Montreal Canadiens coach, said Chambers had the job on his radio show Wednesday.
Chambers told the Toronto Sun he has been approached by the Nordiques, but declined further comment. North Stars President Lou Nanne has said Quebec could talk to Chambers only if it meant a promotion.
There is speculation Page could take on the coaching duties himself, and that Chambers will be one of two assistant general managers. At the time he was hired, Page said his first priority would be to find two assistants, one adminstrator and one hockey man. There is also the fear that an English-speaking coach would be unwelcome in the French-speaking city.
'Italian, German, French, English, Czech, Russian, you just want to win, don't you,' Page said. 'You want to be successful. You want people to come here and learn the language. I think if you want to be successful, you have to think the unthinkable.'
Chambers, 49, coached at Toronto's York University for eight seasons, and also coached Canada's gold-medal team at the World Junior Championships in Moscow in 1987-88 before joining the North Stars.
Bergeron had coached the team from 1980-87 and returned last season after spending two years with the New York Rangers.
