Claude Lemieux Claude Percy Lemieux ( born July 16 , 1965 in Buckingham , Quebec ) is a retired Canadian - American professional player who last played for the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League ( NHL ) . He is one of only eight players in NHL history to win the Stanley Cup with three different teams and his 80 career playoff goals are the ninth most in NHL history . Lemieux is also a former president of the ECHL ' s Phoenix Roadrunners . Playing career . Lemieux was drafted in the second round of the 1983 NHL Entry Draft by the Montreal Canadiens . He played with the Canadiens from 1983 to 1990 , winning the Stanley Cup with the team in 1986 . In September 1990 , Montreal traded Lemieux to the New Jersey Devils for Sylvain Turgeon . Lemieux won his second Stanley Cup in 1995 as New Jersey defeated the Detroit Red Wings . Completing the post - season with 13 goals , he also won the Conn Smythe Trophy that year as the playoff MVP . Shortly before the beginning of the 1995 – 96 season , Lemieux was traded to the Colorado Avalanche in a three - team deal that also involved Wendel Clark and Steve Thomas . When the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup in 1996 , Lemieux became only the fifth player in NHL history to win back - to - back Stanley Cups with different teams . In November 1999 , Lemieux was traded back to New Jersey in a deal that sent Brian Rolston to Colorado . He won his fourth and final Stanley Cup with the Devils in 2000 . In that off - season , Lemieux signed as a free agent with the Phoenix Coyotes . In January 2003 , the Coyotes traded him to the Dallas Stars for Scott Pellerin and a conditional draft pick . Lemieux ended his NHL playing career with Dallas at the conclusion of the 2002 – 03 season . He played briefly the following season for EV Zug of the Swiss Nationalliga A . Throughout his career , Lemieux was noted for playing his best games during the postseason . On three occasions , he scored more goals during the playoffs than he did during the regular season ( 1985 – 86 with Montreal , 1994 – 95 with New Jersey , and 1996 - 97 with Colorado ) . Lemieux retired with 80 career playoff goals , ninth all - time in the NHL . On November 24 , 2008 , Lemieux , at age 43 , signed a tryout contract with the San Jose Sharks in hopes of returning to the NHL after a five - year absence . Lemieux is a longtime friend of Sharks general manager Doug Wilson , who has taken a chance on veteran players before . Lemieux played a two - game stint with the China Sharks ( vs Anyang Halla ) , San Jose ' s affiliate in Shanghai , while gauging his ability to make a full comeback . Lemieux also had a reputation as one of the league ' s dirtiest players ; in fact , an ESPN special entitled " The Top 10 Most Hated NHL Players of All Time " ranked Claude first . While playing for Montreal , during a playoff game against the Calgary Flames , Claude Lemieux bit Calgary ' s Jim Peplinski on the finger during a scuffle , prompting the Calgary winger to say , " I didn ' t know they allowed cannibalism in the NHL . " Lemieux ' s title of being a dirty player was solidified in a 1996 incident with the Avalanche when he violently checked Kris Draper of the Detroit Red Wings into the boards from behind during a playoff series , causing Draper to suffer a concussion , broken jaw , broken nose and broken cheekbone , all of which all led to Draper having reconstructive surgery on his face having his jaw wired shut for several weeks . This incident is generally believed to have sparked an often - bitter rivalry between the two teams that continues to this day . Unhappy with his actions , the NHL suspended him two games , despite outcry from some fans who felt that Lemieux deserved a harsher penalty . Red Wings player Dino Ciccarelli famously quipped after the series " I can ' t believe I shook his freakin ' hand " . Tensions between the two teams would continue to rise , reaching a breaking point the next season . During a fight in a Red Wings – Avalanche brawl , Wings enforcer Darren McCarty dropped Lemieux with a right hook to the face . Lemieux attempted to shield himself by " turtling " ( which is considered cowardly ) but was repeatedly punched before the officials could remove McCarty from him . Several fights erupted around the two as both teams , including the goalies , fought . Retirement . In 2005 , Lemieux became president of the current incarnation of the Phoenix Roadrunners . 2008 Comeback . In September 2008 , on television , Lemieux expressed an interest in making a comeback to the NHL . He began the season with the China Sharks of the Asia League Ice Hockey before signing a contract with the Worcester Sharks on November 25 . After scoring 2 goals and 6 points in 14 games with Worcester , Lemieux signed a two - way contract with the San Jose Sharks on December 29 , 2008 . The following day , he cleared waivers and continued to play for Worcester . On January 19 , 2009 , the San Jose Sharks recalled Lemieux to the NHL and , on February 19 , he recorded the first NHL point of his comeback , assisting on Milan Michálek ' s second - period goal against the Los Angeles Kings . He retired following the 2008 - 09 season .