Claude Lemieux, the four-time Stanley Cup-winning winger who led the Devils to their first championship in 1995 and was one of the most-hated players in the NHL, has died, the NHL Alumni Association announced Thursday.
He was 60.
Lemieux died by suicide, according to TMZ, which reported he was found Thursday morning at a family business in Florida.
“The New Jersey Devils organization is deeply saddened by the news of the passing of former Devil Claude Lemieux,” the team said in a statement. “A clutch player on the ice and greatly appreciated by Devils’ fans off it, Claude’s impact in bringing the first-ever Stanley Cup to New Jersey will forever be remembered as one of the paramount performances in team history. Widely respected throughout the NHL, both as a trusted agent and a valued colleague, Claude leaves behind a lasting legacy within our game that he gave so much to. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this time.”
The Quebec native, who won his first Cup with the Canadiens in 1986, was in attendance as Montreal hosted the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals Monday night, carrying the ceremonial torch before the game.
“Today is a dark day for the Canadiens family and the entire hockey community. I wish to express my most sincere and deepest condolences to Claude’s family and loved ones,” Canadiens owner Geoff Molson said in a statement. “A fierce competitor who rose to the occasion in big moments, Claude was a relentless, courageous, and tenacious player who led the team to the highest honors. He embodied the very essence of being a Montreal Canadiens player. Today we mourn the untimely passing of one of our champions. Our thoughts are with his family on this difficult day.”
A clutch scorer and one of hockey’s most reviled agitators, Lemieux won the Conn Smythe award as the playoff MVP after scoring 13 goals during the Devils’ Cup run in 1995, and after spending the next four-plus seasons with the Avalanche, he returned to New Jersey in a November 1999 trade and helped the Devils win another Cup that season.
Lemieux, who became a player agent after he retired, scored 80 postseason goals, the ninth-most all-time.
Lemieux recorded 379 goals and 407 assists in 1,215 regular-season games, and had 158 points in 234 playoff matches.
Traded by the Devils to the Avalanche before the 1995-96 season, Lemieux won a Cup for the second straight season
His most memorable moment from that postseason, however, was his vicious hit on Kris Draper during Game 6 of the Western Conference finals
Lemieux drilled Draper from behind in front of the benches at the red line and Draper’s face smashed into the boards, causing a concussion, along with a broken jaw, nose and cheekbone.
After retiring from the NHL following the 2002-03 season, Lemieux mounted a comeback in 2008 at 43 years old, playing 18 games for a Sharks team that won the Presidents’ Trophy.
He made one playoff appearance for San Jose as it was upset by the eighth-seeded Ducks in the first round in six games.
One of Lemieux’s three sons, Brendan, played parts of seven seasons in the NHL, including 109 games with the Rangers from 2019-21.
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis, you can call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org for free and confidential crisis counseling.
