Claude Lemieux, who won the Stanley Cup four times during a memorable NHL career, has died, the NHL Alumni Association announced Thursday. He was 60.
Lemieux died by suicide, according to authorities.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said that deputies responded just after 3 a.m. to the scene of an apparent suicide at a furniture store showroom in Lake Park, Florida. The sheriff's office said the victim was believed to be Lemieux and said he was found in a rear warehouse by one of his sons.
Just three days before, Lemieux was the Montreal Canadiens' torch bearer before Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final at Bell Centre.
"Today is a dark day for the Canadiens family and the entire hockey community," Canadiens owner Geoff Molson said. "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. Today we mourn the untimely passing of one of our champions. Our thoughts are with his family on this difficult day."
The NHL Alumni Association is devastated to share that Claude Lemieux has passed away at the age of 60.
— NHL Alumni (@NHLAlumni) May 28, 2026
Born in Buckingham, Quebec, Claude was selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the second round of the 1983 NHL Entry Draft and would make his NHL debut just a few months later... pic.twitter.com/iohlATU6qz
Born in Buckingham, Quebec, Lemieux was selected by the Canadiens in the second round of the 1983 NHL draft. He played 1,215 games in the NHL, scoring 786 points (379 goals, 407 assists). Lemieux played primarily with the Canadiens (seven years), New Jersey Devils (six years, in two different stints) and Colorado Avalanche (five years) before making stops with Phoenix, Dallas and San Jose near the end of his career.
President Donald Trump, in a post on social media, called Lemieux a "true Legend of the Game and one of the fiercest competitors Hockey has ever seen."
Lemieux was known for elevating his game in the playoffs, with 0.68 career points per game in 234 postseason games. He won the Stanley Cup four times in his career with the Canadiens (1986), Devils (1995 and 2000) and Avalanche (1996). He won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 1995 with a playoff-best 13 goals in 20 games.
He played one game for the Sharks in the 2008-09 season, having last played in the 2002-03 season with Dallas. In between, Lemieux was featured on the Spike TV show "Pros Vs. Joes" and the CBC reality competition figure skating show "Battle of the Blades."
Lemieux was one of the NHL's most antagonistic players, known for getting under the skin of other teams' star players. His play would frequently cross the line of legality, as Lemieux earned 1,777 penalty minutes in his career as well as the ire of opposing fans.
There was never more heat on Lemieux than in 1996 with the Avalanche, when he checked Detroit Red Wings forward Kris Draper from behind in Game 6 of the Western Conference finals. Draper suffered a concussion and needed reconstructive surgery on his face. Lemieux was suspended for two playoff games. This led to an epic line brawl between the teams on March 26, 1997. This would eventually be covered in ESPN's series "Unrivaled" in 2022.
After his retirement, Lemieux became an NHLPA-certified agent, representing players such as Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider and Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen.
Lemieux appeared before Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals at Bell Centre, carrying the Canadiens' pregame torch to "light up" the arena before their game against Carolina.
"He was loved by his wife and four children, and on behalf of the Lemieux family, we kindly ask that everyone respect their privacy during this difficult time. Memorial service details to follow," wrote the NHL Alumni Association.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.