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.
==Awards and achievements==
*Stanley Cup Champion (1986, 1995, 1996, 2000)
*Conn Smythe Trophy winner (1995)
*QMJHL Playoff MVP (1985)
*QMJHL First All-Star Team (1985)
*QMJHL Second All-Star Team (1984)
*Inducted into Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Hall of Fame (2005)
*9th all-time in Stanley Cup playoff goals with 80
==Career statistics==
  	  	  	 	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	 	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs
Season 	Team 	League 	 	GP 	G 	A 	Pts 	PIM 	 	GP 	G 	A 	Pts 	PIM
1982–83 	Trois Rivieres Draveurs	QMJHL 	 	62 	28 	38 	66 	187 	 	4 	1 	0 	1 	30
1983–84 	Montreal Canadiens 	NHL 	 	8 	1 	1 	2 	12 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1983–84 	Verdun Juniors 	QMJHL 	 	51 	41 	45 	86 	225 	 	9 	8 	12 	20 	63
1983–84 	Nova Scotia Voyageurs 	AHL 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	 	2 	1 	0 	1 	6
1984–85 	Montreal Canadiens 	NHL 	 	1 	0 	1 	1 	7 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1984–85 	Verdun Junior Canadiens	QMJHL 	 	52 	58 	66 	124 	152 	 	14 	23 	17 	40 	38
1985–86 	Sherbrooke Canadiens 	AHL 	 	58 	21 	32 	53 	145 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1985–86 	Montreal Canadiens 	NHL 	 	10 	1 	2 	3 	22 	 	20 	10 	6 	16 	68
1986–87 	Montreal Canadiens 	NHL 	 	76 	27 	26 	53 	156 	 	17 	4 	9 	13 	41
1987–88 	Montreal Canadiens 	NHL 	 	78 	31 	30 	61 	137 	 	11 	3 	2 	5 	20
1988–89 	Montreal Canadiens 	NHL 	 	69 	29 	22 	51 	136 	 	18 	4 	3 	7 	58
1989–90 	Montreal Canadiens 	NHL 	 	39 	8 	10 	18 	106 	 	11 	1 	3 	4 	38
1990–91 	New Jersey Devils 	NHL 	 	78 	30 	17 	47 	105 	 	7 	4 	0 	4 	34
1991–92 	New Jersey Devils 	NHL 	 	74 	41 	27 	68 	109 	 	7 	4 	3 	7 	26
1992–93 	New Jersey Devils 	NHL 	 	77 	30 	51 	81 	155 	 	5 	2 	0 	2 	19
1993–94 	New Jersey Devils 	NHL 	 	79 	18 	26 	44 	86 	 	20 	7 	11 	18 	44
1994–95 	New Jersey Devils 	NHL 	 	45 	6 	13 	19 	86 	 	20 	13 	3 	16 	20
1995–96 	Colorado Avalanche 	NHL 	 	79 	39 	32 	71 	117 	 	19 	5 	7 	12 	55
1996–97 	Colorado Avalanche 	NHL 	 	45 	11 	17 	28 	43 	 	17 	13 	10 	23 	32
1997–98 	Colorado Avalanche 	NHL 	 	78 	26 	27 	53 	115 	 	7 	3 	3 	6 	8
1998–99 	Colorado Avalanche 	NHL 	 	82 	27 	24 	51 	102 	 	19 	3 	11 	14 	26
1999–00 	Colorado Avalanche 	NHL 	 	13 	3 	6 	9 	4 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1999–00 	New Jersey Devils 	NHL 	 	70 	17 	21 	38 	86 	 	23 	4 	6 	10 	28
2000–01 	Phoenix Coyotes 	NHL 	 	46 	10 	16 	26 	58 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2001–02 	Phoenix Coyotes 	NHL 	 	82 	16 	25 	41 	70 	 	5 	0 	0 	0 	2
2002–03 	Phoenix Coyotes 	NHL 	 	36 	6 	8 	14 	30 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2002–03 	Dallas Stars 	NHL 	 	32 	2 	4 	6 	14 	 	7 	0 	1 	1 	10
2003–04 	Zug 	Swiss-A 	 	7 	2 	3 	5 	4 	 	5 	1 	3 	4 	8
2008–09 	China Sharks 	AL 	 	2 	0 	1 	1 	4 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2008–09 	Worcester Sharks 	AHL 	 	23 	3 	8 	11 	24 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2008–09 	San Jose Sharks 	NHL 	 	18 	0 	1 	1 	21 	 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0
NHL totals 	NHL totals 	NHL totals 	 	1215 	379 	407 	786 	1777 	 	234 	80 	78 	158 	529
AHL totals 	AHL totals 	AHL totals 	 	81 	24 	40 	64 	169 	 	2 	1 	0 	1 	0
QMJHL totals	QMJHL totals 	QMJHL totals	 	165 	127 	149 	276 	564 	 	27 	32 	29 	61 	131
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
==Transactions==
*June 8, 1983 - Montreal Canadiens' 2nd round draft choice (26th overall) in the the 1983 NHL Entry Draft.
*September 4, 1990 - Traded by the Montreal Canadiens to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Sylvain Turgeon.
*October 3, 1995 - Traded by the New Jersey Devils to the New York Islanders in exchange for Steve Thomas.
*October 3, 1995 - Traded by the New York Islanders to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Wendel Clark.
*November 3, 1999 - Traded by the Colorado Avalanche, along with Colorado's 1st round draft choice (David Hale) and 2nd round draft choice (Matt DeMarchi) in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Brian Rolston and New Jersey's 2nd round draft choice (Martin Samuelsson) in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.
*December 5, 2000 - Signed as a free agent with the Phoenix Coyotes.
*January 16, 2003 - Traded by the Phoenix Coyotes to the Dallas Stars in exchange for Scott Pellerin and Dallas' 4th round draft choice (Kevin Porter) in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.
*December 29, 2008 - Signed as a free agent with the San Jose Sharks.
==External links==
*
*
*Lemieux Phoenix Roadrunners bio
Category:Born in 1965
Category:Canadian ice hockey players
Category:Colorado Avalanche players
Category:Conn Smythe Trophy winners
Category:Dallas Stars players
Category:Montreal Canadiens players
Category:New Jersey Devils players
Category:Nova Scotia Voyageurs players
Category:Phoenix Coyotes players
Category:San Jose Sharks players
Category:Sherbrooke Canadiens players
Category:Stanley Cup champions
Category:Trois-Rivières Draveurs alumni
Category:Verdun Junior Canadiens alumni
Category:Verdun Juniors alumni
Category:Worcester Sharks players
Category:Retired in 2009
Category:EV Zug players