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Claude Lemieux, an esteemed NHL player and Stanley Cup champion, has died, the NHL Alumni Association confirmed May 28. He was 60.
By Olivia Evans May 28, 2026 8:52 PM | Updated 33 minutes ago
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The hockey world is mourning the loss of a true legend.
Claude Lemieux—a four-time Stanley Cup champion and NHL star who played for the Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils and the Colorado Avalanche—died May 28, the NHL Alumni Association confirmed. He was 60.
“On behalf of the Lemieux family,” the NHL wrote in its social media statement May 28, “we kindly ask that everyone respect their privacy during this difficult time.”
Claude is survived and “loved,” the NHL noted, by his wife Deborah Lemieux, as well as their four children—one of whom is fellow NHL star Brendan Lemieux.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office told the New York Times in response to questions about Claude's death that deputies responded in the early hours of May 28 to a suicide attempt at a furniture showroom.
E! News reached out to the NHL Alumni Association but has not yet heard back.
Claude was beloved in the NHL. Geoff Molson, a co-owner of the Canadiens where he played for seven seasons and won his first Stanley Cup, expressed his condolences.
“Today is a dark day for the Canadiens family and the entire hockey community,” he wrote 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 Montreal Canadiens player.”
Throughout his 21-season career, Claude embraced a reputation as a “world-class pest and irritant,” according to his biography. However, he also scored an impressive 329 goals over the duration of his career and was the recipient of the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1995.
Playing for six teams during his time in the NHL, his final season was with the San Jose Sharks in 2009.
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Following the end of his career as a player, Claude went on to work as an NHL player agent, according to the New York Times.
Just days before his death, he carried the torch into Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals May 25, where the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Montreal Canadiens 3-2.
In addition to the impact Claude made on the league, his son emphasized he was a huge supporter as he pursued his own career in hockey.
"My dad is my biggest role model on and off the ice," Brendan told USA Today in 2014. "I'm proud of the career he had. I'm proud of the way he played, how hated he was. I just love that about him.”
If you or someone you know needs help, call 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call the network, previously known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741 or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources.
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