Hockey world mourns Claude Lemieux's death

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Hockey world mourns Claude Lemieux's death

Victoria Hernandez, USA TODAY · USA TODAY Sports

Thu, May 28, 2026 ·

3 min read

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Remembering Claude Lemieux’s NHL career in photos

Claude Lemieux ’s NHL career was marked by playoff performances and key moments across multiple teams.

See the moments that trace Lemieux’s path through a long career on the ice, including his role in defining games.

Above, Goaltender Mike Richter of the USA stops Claude Lemieux of Canada on a breakaway in the third period the World Cup of Hockey at Molson Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in 1996. Richter made 35 saves in the game and was voted the tournament's MVP.

(Glenn Cratty, Getty Images)

Claude Lemieux of Canada and Keith Tkachuk of the USA go at each other after a fight broke out 20 seconds into the first period of the USA- Canada World Cup of Ice Hockey at the CoreStates Center in Philadelphia. USA defeated Canada.
(Andy Lyons, Getty Images)

Right wing Claude Lemieux of the Colorado Avalanche in action during a game against the New Jersey Devils at the McNichols Sports Arena in Denver, Colorado in 1997. The Devils won the game 4-1.
(Al Bello, Getty Images)

Rightwinger Claude Lemieux of the Colorado Avalanche in action during a game against the Los Angeles Kings at the McNichols Sports Arena in 1997 in Denver, Colorado. The Avalanche lost to the Kings 4-2.
(Nevin Reid, Getty Images)

Right wing Claude Lemieux of the Colorado Avalanche in action during a game against the New Jersey Devils in 1997.
(Al Bello, Getty Images)

Claude Lemieux of the Colorado Avalanche controls the puck during the game against the Nashville Predators at the McNichols Arena in Denver, Colorado in 1997. The Avalanche defeated the Predators 3-1.
(Stephen Dunn, Getty Images)

Right wing Claude Lemieux of the Colorado Avalanche in action during a game against the Boston Bruins at the McNichols Sports Arena in Denver, Colorado in 1997.
(Brian Bahr, Getty Images)

Right wing Claude Lemieux, left wing Waleri Kamensky of the Colorado Avalanche celebrate during a playoff game against the Detroit Red wings at the McNichols Arena in Denver, Colorado. The Red wings won the game 4-2.
(Jed Jacobsohn, Getty Images)

Right wing Claude Lemieux of the Colorado Avalanche in action during a game against the Calgary Flames at the McNichols Arena in Denver, Colorado in 1998. The Flames won the game 3-1.
(Brian Bahr, Getty Images)

Right wing Claude Lemieux of the Colorado Avalanche in action during a game against the Buffalo Sabres at the Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo, New York in 1998. The teams won the game 2-2.
(Rick Stewart, Getty Images)

Claude Lemieux of the New Jersey Devils skates on the ice during the game against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey in 1999. The Devils defeated the Flyers 2-1.
(Jamie Squire, Getty Images)

Right winger Claude Lemieux of the New Jersey Devils takes a shot against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first period of Game 1 of their NHL semi-final game at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 2000. The Maple Leafs won the game 2-1.
(Rick Stewart, Getty Images)

Claude Lemieux of the New Jersey Devils celebrates with the Stanley Cup Trophy as he skates around the rink after winning the 2000 Stanley Cup Finals game against the Dallas Stars at Reunion Arena on June 10, 2000, in Dallas, Texas.
(Jim McIsaac, Getty Images)

Claude Lemieux of the New Jersey Devils and Scott Gomez celebrate with the Stanley Cup Trophy after winning the 2000 Stanley Cup Finals game against the Dallas Stars at Reunion Arena on June 10, 2000, in Dallas, Texas.
(Jim McIsaac, Getty Images)

Right wing Claude Lemieux #22 of the Phoenix Coyotes waits for the puck during the NHL game against the Torono Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada in 2001. The Leafs defeated the Coyotes 6-3.
(Dave Sandford, Getty Images/NHLI)

Right wing Claude Lemieux of the Phoenix Coyotes pins right wing Ryan VandenBussche of the Chicago Blackhawks against the boards during NHL action at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois in 2002.
(Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images)

Claude Lemieux of the Dallas Stars poses for a portrait on September 15, 2003, at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
(Getty Images, Getty Images)

Claude Lemieux of the San Jose Sharks warms up before playing the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on February 15, 2009 in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils defeated the Sharks 6-5.
(Jim McIsaac, Getty Images)

Claude Lemieux of the San Jose Sharks warms up against the Anaheim Ducks during Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinal Round of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center on April 21, 2009, in Anaheim, California.
(Harry How, Getty Images)

Claude Lemieux of the San Jose Sharks looks on against the Anaheim Ducks during Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinal Round of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center on April 21, 2009, in Anaheim, California.
(Harry How, Getty Images)

Former Monreal Canadien Claude Lemieux skates during the Centennial Celebration ceremonies prior to the NHL game between the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins on December 4, 2009, at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Canadiens defeated the Bruins 5-1.
(Richard Wolowicz, Getty Images)

Former New Jersey Devils player Claude Lemieux is introduced during a ceremony honoring the 1995 Stanley Cup Championship team before the game between the New Jersey Devils and the Philadelphia Flyers on March 8, 2015, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
(Elsa, Getty Images)

The 1995 New Jersey Devils Stanley Cup championship team is honored before the game between the New Jersey Devils and the Philadelphia Flyers at Prudential Center.
(Ed Mulholland, USA TODAY Sports)

Cammi Granato of the USA Legends celebrates her goal with Claude Lemieux #22 of the Canada Legends at the Legends Classic Hockey Game at the Air Canada Centre on November 7, 2010, in Toronto, Canada.
(Bruce Bennett, Getty Images)

Claude Lemieux of the Canada Legends enjoys a goal against of the USA Legends at the Legends Classic Hockey Game at the Air Canada Centre on November 7, 2010, in Toronto, Canada.
(Bruce Bennett, Getty Images)

The hockey world mourned the passing of Claude Lemieux after the news broke that the four-time Stanley Cup champion died on Thursday, May 28.

Lemieux was taken by the Montréal Canadiens in the second round of the 1983 NHL draft. He played for the team for seven seasons and won his first Stanley Cup with them in the 1985-1986 campaign. He then joined the New Jersey Devils and Colorado Avalanche where he won the rest of this three championships, two with New Jersey and one with Colorado . He finished his career with stints on the Phoenix Coyotes, Dallas Stars and San Jose Sharks .

The Quebec native helped fuel the rivalry between the Avalanche and Detroit Red Wings when, in Game 6 of the 1996 Western Conference Finals, he slammed into Kris Draper. Lemieux was suspended two games for the hit.

Just days before his passing, Lemieux presented the torch for the Canadiens' Game 3 matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes .

Several of Lemieux's former teams and media personalities from across the sports world expressed their condolences for the hockey great's passing, which is being investigated as suicide.

NHL commissioner honors Claude Lemieux

National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman released a statement upon Claude Lemieux's death praising him for his accomplishments on the ice.

"The National Hockey League mourns the passing of Claude Lemieux, a four-time Stanley Cup champion and one of the greatest big-game Players in hockey history," he said.

"Lemieux forged his postseason reputation and won the Cup for the first time as a rookie in 1986, when he scored 10 goals in the Playoffs for the Montreal Canadiens . He won the Conn Smythe Trophy as Playoffs MVP in 1995, scoring 13 goals in 20 postseason games with the New Jersey Devils. He also was an integral part of Cup-winning teams in Colorado, in 1996, and back with New Jersey in 2000.

"Overall, his teams reached the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 15 straight seasons; his 234 postseason games played rank sixth in NHL history; and his 80 career Playoff goals rank ninth. In recent years, as a player agent, he has represented some of the top stars in the NHL.

"We send our deepest condolences to Claude's wife, Deborah, and his four children, Brendan, Claudia, Michael and Christopher."

Canadiens, Avalanche, Devils pay tribute to Claude Lemieux

The Montréal Canadiens shared the news of Claude Lemieux's death and mourned his passing.

"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," Geoff Molson, owner and CEO of Groupe CH, 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 Montréal Canadiens player."

In an Instagram post , the team said it was "shocked and saddened" to hear the news of his death.

The Colorado Avalanche and New Jersey Devils also shared their condolences to Lemieux's loved ones. Hall of Famer Joe Sakic released his own statement on the Avalanche's social media.

"We are devastated to learn of Claude's passing," Sakic wrote. "'Pepe' was a terrific hockey player, a fierce competitor and a champion in every way."

In his tribute, former Detroit Red Wings player Darren McCarty said that Lemieux was a venerable threat on the ice and a different person off it.

"This is extremely sad no matter what feelings from past or present you hold, he wrote on X. "My thoughts and prayers to his family and friends and people who got to see the person off the ice wasn't the person on. As I've said and will always call it as I see it 'If your on the ICE with Claude Lemieux and your turn your back. YOU Are an IDIOT. But off the ICE I'll turn mine.'"

The official X page for Canada Hockey also honored Lemieux.

"We are saddened by the passing of Team Canada alumnus Claude Lemieux, and send our condolences to his family and friends," the team wrote.

Jemele Hill, Vic Lombardi among media mourning Claude Lemieux

Jemele Hill and Vic Lombardi also took to social media to pay tribute to Claude Lemieux.

Hill recalled the rivalry between the Detroit Red Wings and Colorado Avalanche.

"This is just horrible news. I watched a lot of hockey growing up and even collected trading cards," she said on X . "As a Detroiter, we spent a lot of time absolutely hating Claude Lemieux, but he was a heck of a player."

Lombardi reflected on the right wing's impact on Colorado sports.

"This awful," he wrote on X. "Such an instrumental piece of the Avs first Cup winner. He was the sandpaper that team desperately needed. So him many years later. Could not have been nicer."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Claude Lemieux death reactions from around NHL world

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