Claude Lemieux, Stanley Cup champion and fierce playoff competitor, dies at 60
The New York Times • • sports
Key Points:
- Claude Lemieux, a four-time Stanley Cup champion and renowned NHL playoff performer, has died at age 60, according to the NHL Alumni Association; no cause or details of death were provided.
- Lemieux played 21 NHL seasons, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1995 and four Stanley Cups with the New Jersey Devils, Colorado Avalanche, and Montreal Canadiens, ranking ninth in playoff goals with 80.
- Known for his physical and agitator style, Lemieux accumulated 529 playoff penalty minutes (third all-time) and was involved in a notorious 1996 incident injuring Kris Draper, leading to a suspension.
- After retiring in 2009, Lemieux worked as an NHL player agent and remained connected to the game, recently appearing at a 2024 playoff game in Montreal to energize fans.
- Lemieux's hockey legacy includes his son Brendan Lemieux, a professional player, and his brother Jocelyn Lemieux, who also played in the NHL.