Former NHL player Claude Lemieux dies at 60

The NHL and the wider sports world are mourning the death of two-time Stanley Cup champion Claude Lemieux, who died Thursday. He was 60.

Lemieux's death came as a surprise. He had carried the torch at the Montreal Canadiens' home arena on Monday before the team's Game 3 matchup against the Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference final. Wearing a red and blue Canadiens sweater with the number 32, Lemieux smiled as he carried a flame toward a darkened rink.

Tributes poured in quickly after news of his death spread. His daughter was among those who remembered one of hockey's most respected and polarizing figures.

After reposting a New Jersey Devils tribute to her father on Instagram Stories, Claudia Lemieux shared her own message. "No words to express the level of devastation we feel. I love you forever daddy. Forever your only girl."

Claude Lemieux's son, Brendan, also honored his father by sharing a photo of three generations of the family on social media. "I love you dad! My son's favorite person is going to watch from above for a while. We will see you," he wrote along with a red heart emoji. Brendan followed his father into hockey and spent a decade in the NHL, most recently with Carolina during the 2023-24 season.

Lemieux scored one of the most famous goals in Canadiens history as a rookie in 1986, beating Hartford goaltender Mike Liut with a backhander into the top corner in Game 7 of the second round.

He grew up in Mont-Laurier in western Quebec.

Former Canadiens center Doug Gilmour said Lemieux had the rare ability to frustrate opponents while earning the respect of teammates, a trait that stood out during the 1989 Stanley Cup Final. "He was a pain in the a-- to play against, but you wanted him on your team."