Posted on 05/28/2026 1:44:28 PM PDT by JSM_Liberty
Claude Lemieux, a four-time Stanley Cup champion and one of the fiercest playoff performers in NHL history, has died, the NHL Alumni Association said Thursday. He was 60.
Lemieux played 21 years in the NHL, winning the 1995 Conn Smythe Trophy and the four Cups — two with the New Jersey Devils and one each with the Colorado Avalanche and Montreal Canadiens. His 80 playoff goals rank ninth in NHL history and his 158 points are tied for 27th. Lemieux played 1,215 regular-season games, scoring 379 goals and 786 points and amassing 1,777 penalty minutes. “Today is a dark day for the Canadiens family and the entire hockey community,” Geoff Molson, owner and CEO of Groupe CHI, said in a statement. He later added, “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.”
When asked about Lemieux’s death, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office told The Athletic that deputies responded early Thursday morning to a suicide attempt at a furniture showroom, which state records show is in Lake Park, Fla., and is owned by Lemieux and his wife, Deborah. The Sheriff’s Office secured the business for investigation. The Palm Beach County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed Lemieux’s death but declined to release any records, citing a Florida statute exempting suicide cases from public records requirements.
Lemieux embraced the role of a physical agitator throughout much of his career. His 529 penalty minutes in the playoffs rank third in league history, and he infamously checked Kris Draper from behind into the boards during the 1996 Western Conference final, breaking Draper’s jaw, nose and cheekbone. ...
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Mario did have a brother who played in the NHL - Alain.
He played 119 games over 6 seasons.
https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/l/lemieal01.html
RIP. I’d bet Gary Thorne called some of his games.
So sad. He was such a great, intensely competitive player, especially during the Devils ‘95 Stanley Cup run.
I wonder if it was reaction to the pathetic showing the Habs put on last night.
Someone mentioned Darren McCarty. When he played on the Rangers with Theo Fleury one game they taunted some player forget who maybe Someone on the Isles, giving the chicken lips sign whilst the other flapped their ‘wings’.. funniest thing i ever saw. They got the gate and 10 for unsportsmanlike.
An absolutely dreadful performance. I felt bad for Dobeš. I picked a fine time to give up grain alcohol.
Classy statement. Thanks for posting.
Habs have been pathetic.
Vegas/Carolina is not the Finals the NHL wanted.
Why?
I was thinking baseball, but that was another French Canadian Devils goalie. Martin Brodeur’s brother played in MLB.
I was thinking baseball, but that was another French Canadian Devils goalie. Martin Brodeur’s brother played in MLB.
From the article:
‘He amassed 1,777 penalty minutes for infractions. He checked Kris Draper from behind into the boards during the 1996 Western Conference final, breaking Draper's jaw, nose and cheekbone.’
He also appears to have committed suicide.
You could say he was one happy dude when purposely hurting others and that God wanted him to commit a hapoy suicide, but I don't think his life supports that.
Very "cute" way of saying cause, without saying it. In this case, cute means "ugly."
They said Robin Williams had a progressive neuro disease, and his children said the wife kept him from seeing them.
Exactly my thinking. CTE from head shots. One reason certain levels of hockey (rec leagues) ban head shots.
Former NHL great Claude Lemieux hanged himself as tragic new details emerge: authorities
Very sad. Multiple head trauma can affect anyone. Reminds me of other tough hockey players who did the same, including Wade Belak and Rick Rypien (not to mention other sports, e.g. Junior Seau).
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