Claude Lemieux, the fiery winger who won four Stanley Cups and was known for his hard-hitting style, has died at the age of 60. The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office confirmed that deputies responded to an apparent suicide at a furniture store showroom in Lake Park, Florida, early Thursday morning.
Lemieux's death was announced by the NHL Alumni Association on social media. Just three days earlier, he had served as the Montreal Canadiens' torch bearer before Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final at Bell Centre. Former teammate Chris Nilan reposted a photo with Lemieux and Sergio Momesso, writing: 'You never know when you're going to see someone for the last time. Rest in Peace, Mon Ami.'
Lemieux won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 1995, helping the New Jersey Devils capture their first championship. He also won Cups with the Montreal Canadiens in 1986 and the Colorado Avalanche in 1996, and returned to the Devils for another title in 2000. His career spanned 1,449 regular-season and playoff games across six teams from 1983 to 2009.
Known for his abrasive play, Lemieux was suspended for two games in 1996 for a hit on Detroit's Kris Draper, sparking a fierce rivalry between the Avalanche and Red Wings. Darren McCarty, a former Red Wing, expressed condolences, saying: 'This is extremely sad no matter what feelings from past or present you hold. If you are struggling at all please reach out and talk to someone. Godspeed my friend.'
After retiring, Lemieux became an agent, representing clients including Frederik Andersen, Timo Meier, Moritz Seider, and Hampus Lindholm. At a December gathering for Colorado's 1995 championship anniversary, he reflected on winning: 'When it's happening, you don't quite appreciate it as much as you should.'
Commissioner Gary Bettman called Lemieux 'one of the greatest big-game players in hockey history.' Canadiens owner Geoff Molson said: 'Today is a dark day for the Canadiens family and the entire hockey community. He embodied the very essence of being a Montreal Canadiens player.'
