NHL Star and four-time Stanley Cup winner Claude Lemieux has passed away at 60. This loss has been felt throughout the National Hockey League (NHL) Community.
Claude Lemieux began his NHL career with the Montreal Canadiens in 1986, where he won his first Stanley Cup as a rookie player.
On Thursday, the Canadiens confirmed Claude Lemieux’s passing. Earlier this week, Claude had actually been at the Bell Centre in Montreal as a torchbearer for Game 3 of the Canadiens’ Eastern Conference Final series against the Carolina Hurricanes.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman pays tribute to Claude Lemieux
National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman released a statement regarding Claude Lemieux’s passing.
The statement read, “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.
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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.”
This statement is enough to show that Claude Lemieux has built a reputation throughout his career as one of hockey’s ultimate postseason players.
Claude Lemieux’s Stanley Cup Wins
Throughout his 21-season NHL career, Claude had won four Stanley Cups with three different franchises. This shows that he was a tremendous clutch player.
Claude has also made many rivals over his time because of the way he plays, which mostly goes to the edge of the rules or even beyond them.
His achievements in playoff hockey remain among the most impressive in NHL history.
Claude Lemieux appeared in 234 postseason games, the sixth-highest total in league history, while his 80 playoff goals rank ninth all-time.
Apart from the Stanley Cup, Claude Lemieux was also awarded the 1955 Conn Smythe Trophy with the Devils as the most valuable player.
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