December 30th

LEMIEUX ANOTHER STEP CLOSER TO COMEBACK


The San Jose Sharks signed forward Claude Lemieux to a two-way contract on Monday, and per team policy terms of the deal weren't released.

A two-way contract allows the club to move a player to the AHL affiliate, where the player makes a different salary than with the NHL club.

The 43-year-old, who has not played in the NHL since the 2002-03 season, has been attempting a comeback and spent the last month playing for San Jose's AHL affiliate in Worcester and has two goals and four assists in 14 games.

Sharks General Manager, and Lemieux's longtime friend, Doug Wilson said "This is simply the next step in the evaluation process with Claude" and once he clears waivers will be assigned back to Worcester.

Once considered one of the biggest pests in the NHL, Claude played in 1,197 regular season games with Montreal, New Jersey, Colorado, Phoenix, and Dallas scoring 379 goals and 406 assists.

However it was in the playoffs where he shined winning four Stanley Cups, two with New Jersey and one each with Montreal and Colorado. In the 1995 playoffs with the Devils, Lemieux recorded 13 goals and three assists and was awarded the Conn Smythe as the playoff MVP.

In 233 playoff games over 17 postseason appearances he has scored 80 goals and tailed 77 assists.