Canadiens, Avalanche legend Claude Lemieux passes away at 60

Claude Lemieux, who played 21 National Hockey League seasons and won four Stanley Cups, passed away on Thursday, the NHL Alumni Association confirmed. He was 60.

“The NHL Alumni Association is devastated to share that Claude Lemieux has passed away at the age of 60. Born in Buckingham, Quebec, Claude was selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the second round of the 1983 NHL Entry Draft and would make his NHL debut just a few months later on October 13, 1983 and scored his first career NHL goal on December 4, 1983,” the organization wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

“He was loved by his wife and four children, and on behalf of the Lemieux family, we kindly ask that everyone respect their privacy during this difficult time.”

Lemieux just carried the torch at the Bell Centre ahead of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final between the Habs and Carolina Hurricanes.

The Quebec native carved out a remarkable NHL career, winning four Stanley Cups with three different franchises while cementing himself as one of the greatest playoff performers in league history. He spent most of his career with the Canadiens, New Jersey Devils and Colorado Avalanche, capturing championships in 1986, 1995, 1996 and 2000.

Lemieux won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP with the Devils in 1995 after recording 13 goals and 16 points in 20 postseason contests. Later in his career, he also suited up for the Phoenix Coyotes and Dallas Stars before stepping away from hockey at the conclusion of the 2002-03 campaign.

He returned to the NHL six years later, playing 18 games for the San Jose Sharks before officially retiring after the 2008-09 season.

Over 1,215 regular season games split between the Canadiens, Devils, Avalanche, Coyotes, Stars and Sharks, Lemieux amassed 379 goals and 786 points while becoming one of hockey’s fiercest agitators and most clutch postseason players.

He added 80 goals across 234 Stanley Cup Playoff games and also represented Canada internationally, helping the country win gold at the 1985 World Junior Hockey Championship and the 1987 Canada Cup.

Lemieux remained heavily connected to the game after retirement, while his son Brendan Lemieux also reached the NHL and spent parts of several seasons in the league.

Condolences to Lemieux’s family, friends and loved ones during this difficult time.

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