On Thursday, New Jersey Devils fans learned the shocking news that Claude Lemieux passed away at the age of 60. Lemieux is one of the most consequential depth players of the late 1980s and 1990s. From 1986 to 2000, Lemieux won four Stanley Cups with three franchises. He was the type of player teams love to have on the ice.Â
He’d knock a guy into next week, then take the puck and score on the other side. His regular-season production wasn’t consistent, but his playoff scoring was on another level. He scored 80 playoff goals in 234 playoff games. Twice, he scored 13 goals to lead all players in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. That includes 1995, when he was named the Conn Smythe winner as playoff MVP.
Lemieux joined the Devils in 1990 when Lou Lamoriello sent Sylvain Turgeon 1-for-1 to get the grinder. The Devils didn’t miss the playoffs with Lemieux on the roster.Â
Prior to his arrival, the Devils rarely made the postseason in their first eight seasons. However, the pieces were falling into place. Martin Brodeur was developing, and Scott Niedermayer would be drafted in 1991. Brendan Shanahan left the organization, but that led to the acquisition of Scott Stevens.Â
The core was in place, and great complementary pieces were being built. John MacLean was becoming a team leader and a great scorer. Bill Guerin and Bobby Holik were young contributors.Â
Claude Lemieux built his legacy, and the Devils, in New Jersey
Lemieux brought everything together. While everyone remembers 1995, Lemieux was also great in the 1994 playoffs. He had seven goals as the Devils lost in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals to the New York Rangers.Â
After the ‘95 playoffs, Lemieux demanded a new contract, and that was as good as a one-way ticket out of Newark Airport. He landed with the Colorado Avalanche. They won the Stanley Cup. The Devils missed the playoffs.
New Jersey wouldn’t see playoff success again until Lemieux returned to the franchise during the 1999-2000 season. While he didn’t have the same success as ‘95, his 10 points in 24 games still made an impact, and the impact he left on his opponents meant even more.Â
We all know about Patrik Elias’s pass to Jason Arnott that sealed the 2000 Stanley Cup, but it was Lemieux and Niedermayer who helped them get there. In Game 6, the Devils scored just one goal, and it was shorthanded. Lemieux tied up his man on the blue line while killing the power play, and Jay Pandolfo got the puck and skated it out of the zone. When Pandolfo’s pass didn’t get to Niedermayer, Lemieux gave it a little tap, and the rest was inevitable.Â
That was Lemieux's impact in a nutshell. It didn't matter what his role was; he was going to do it at 100 percent. That type of mentality brought out the best in the Devils. While he was slowing down in 2000, Lemieux still impacted the game every night, and he helped his team make the Final.
Would the Devils have built a dynasty without him? We don't know. What we do know is he built the Devils legacy brick by brick with his play, and he's a direct reason for two Stanley Cup Championships. We'll never forget him for that.
Lemieux will be missed. We're saddened to hear of his passing, but we're happy to go back and remember how he made us feel as fans. He was truly a Devil. When he returned in 2000, it felt like he was coming home. We hope he felt that way, too.
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