Darren McCarty's Claude Lemieux tribute was perfect: 'Godspeed my friend'

Claude Lemieux -- who died on Thursday at the age of 60 -- and Darren McCarty had one of the most heated battles on the ice in the 1990s, as Lemieux's Colorado Avalanche and McCarty's Detroit Red Wings created the NHL's best rivalry.

But with Lemieux dying and tributes pouring in from all over the NHL world, McCarty joined in on social media.

"This is extremely sad no matter what feelings from past or present you hold," McCarty wrote on X (formerly Twitter). "My thoughts and prayers to his family and friends and people who got to see the person off the ice wasn't the person on. As I've said and will always call it as I see it."

If you are struggling at all," he added, "please reach out and talk to someone. Godspeed my friend."

The history between Claude Lemieux and Darren McCarty

Things got very bloody between the two as other players from their respective teams got tangled up, and they'd later have a rematch off a faceoff in a November game.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Darren McCarty's Claude Lemieux tribute was perfect: 'Godspeed my friend'

Reporting by Charles Curtis, For The Win / For The Win

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This story was originally published May 29, 2026 at 11:44 AM.