Sharks sign Lemieux to two-way deal

Dec 29, 2008 - 6:55 PM SAN JOSE, California (Ticker) -- Claude Lemieux is one step closer to returning to the NHL.

One of the great agitators in NHL history, Lemieux signed a two-way contract with the San Jose Sharks on Monday.

Financial terms of the deal were not released.

The 43-year-old Lemieux, who has not played in an NHL game since 2002-03 with the Phoenix Coyotes and Dallas Stars, had signed an AHL contract with the Worcester Sharks on November 25.

"This is simply the next step in the evaluation process with Claude," San Jose general manager Doug Wilson said.

Lemieux still must clear NHL waivers, which run through Tuesday at 3 p.m. EST. If he gets through waivers, he will be assigned back to Worcester.

In 14 games with Worcester, Lemieux has two goals, four assists and 12 penalty minutes.

Lemieux has won the Stanley Cup with three different teams. He captured his first with Montreal in 1986, added two with New Jersey (1995, 2000) and another with Colorado in 1996.

Prior to signing the AHL deal, Lemieux had been playing in Europe, but also skated in a pair of games with the China Sharks, San Jose's affiliate in Shanghai.

Lemieux won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1995 as most valuable player of the postseason and ranks ninth all-time with 80 playoff goals.