This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
According to an incident report accessed by TMZ Sports, on the night before his death by suicide, Claude Lemieux revealed that he had relapsed after 12 years of being sober. His family had sensed a shift in his behavior over the past year, leading his wife, Deborah, to confront him about it.
Following this confrontation, Deborah asked Lemieux to leave their home around 10:30 p.m. ET. Tragically, approximately five hours later, their son Brendan discovered Deborah unresponsive in the family’s furniture store.
After his mother reached out, Brendan came over to see how he might help Lemieux. When he checked on his father, he found Lemieux at the store. Upon arrival, Brendan noticed his father’s truck in the parking lot and removed a firearm from it, knowing it was kept there due to the intensity of the situation. The report also mentioned that messages were found on Lemieux’s cell phone.
Attempts to contact the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office for further details did not yield a response.
Lemieux began his NHL career with the Montreal Canadiens, winning a Stanley Cup with them in 1986. Over his time in the league, he captured four Stanley Cups, becoming the tenth player in NHL history to win consecutive championships with different teams, first with the New Jersey Devils and later with the Colorado Avalanche in 1995 and 1996.
In addition to his four cups, he was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy after the 1995 Stanley Cup Final. Throughout his postseason career, Lemieux participated in 234 games, amassing 158 points (80 goals and 78 assists).
He last played in the NHL for the San Jose Sharks and retired in 2009, having participated in a total of 1,215 NHL games across several teams, including the Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils, Colorado Avalanche, Phoenix Coyotes, Dallas Stars, and San Jose Sharks. After his playing career, he became a player agent, representing goaltender Frederik Andersen of the Carolina Hurricanes.
Lemieux’s passing occurred just days after he was involved in the Eastern Conference Finals between the Hurricanes and Canadiens, where he participated in carrying the ceremonial torch for the Canadiens prior to Game 3.
