Claude Calls It A Career (Again)

SAN JOSE – Forward Claude Lemieux today formally announced his retirement from the game of hockey at the age of 44. One of the most successful NHL players in the history of the League, Lemieux won four Stanley Cups and is one of only eight players to win hockey’s greatest prize with three different teams (Montreal, 1986; New Jersey, 1995 and 2000; Colorado, 1996).

“I want to thank my former teammates from my entire career for all of their support,” said Lemieux. “I feel very fortunate that I was able to have a career like I had. There have been many great NHL players who did not get the opportunities to win that I had. I played for a long time but it went by so very fast.”

In 1,215 National Hockey League games with Montreal, New Jersey, Colorado, Phoenix, Dallas and San Jose, Lemieux posted 786 points (379 goals, 407 assists) and 1,777 penalty minutes, along with 58 game-winning goals.

However, it was the Stanley Cup Playoffs where Lemieux defined his legacy, becoming one of the most potent post-season performers in NHL history. His 234 playoff games are fifth all-time behind only Chris Chelios, Patrick Roy, Nicklas Lidstrom and Mark Messier. Lemieux’s 80 playoff goals are more than Jean Beliveau (79) and only two fewer than Maurice “The Rocket” Richard and his 19 post-season game-winning goals are tied-for-third all-time, trailing only Wayne Gretzky and Brett Hull (24). In addition, he sits 24th in Stanley Cup Playoff points (158) and tied-for-37th in playoff assists (78).

In 2008, Lemieux made a remarkable comeback to the National Hockey League with the Presidents’ Trophy-winning San Jose Sharks. After being out of the game for five years, Lemieux decided he wanted to continue playing the game he loved. Sharks Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Wilson afforded Lemieux the opportunity to play for the Sharks Asian League affiliate, the China Sharks and he later signed an AHL contract with the Worcester Sharks of the American Hockey League.

“I want to thank the Arizona Sun Dogs for letting me train with them, the China Sharks for the opportunity to play there and the Worcester Sharks organization for helping making this dream possible. I cannot say enough to thank Doug Wilson, my Sharks teammates and the entire San Jose organization for giving me the opportunity to bring this dream to fruition. In my heart, I will forever be a San Jose Shark.”

In 23 games with Worcester, Lemieux posted 11 points (three goals, eight assists), 24 penalty minutes and was a +2. He was signed by San Jose on Dec. 29 and played in his first game with San Jose on Jan. 20 vs. Vancouver.

“Claude had a tremendous career and his accomplishments speak for themselves,” said Wilson. “His love of the game was truly evident this year and completing a successful return to the NHL revealed his true passion for hockey. The players in our organization in San Jose and Worcester will reap the benefits of having him as a teammate for years to come.”

Lemieux became a naturalized U.S. citizen on June 26, 2009.

** per the San Jose Sharks