Pierre Lacroix (ice hockey, born 1948)

For the former Quebec Nordique and Hartford Whaler, see Pierre Lacroix (ice hockey, born 1959).

Pierre Lacroix (August 3, 1948 – December 13, 2020) was a Canadian ice hockey executive. He was the president and general manager of the Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche from 1994 to 2006. After the Nordiques moved to Colorado in 1995, he built teams that won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1996 and 2001. He will be posthumously inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2023 as a builder.^[1]

Pierre Lacroix
Born	(1948-08-03)August 3, 1948 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Died	December 13, 2020(2020-12-13) (aged 72) Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Occupation	general manager of the Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche
Awards	Hall of Fame 2023 (Builder)

Executive and Management career

Lacroix became president and general manager of the Quebec Nordiques in 1994,^[2] and followed the team to Denver a year later.^[3] He was known for his astute trades, such as his acquisition of Patrick Roy during the 1995–96 NHL season that led to a Cup that season and his trades for star defensemen Ray Bourque during the 1999–2000 NHL season^[4] and Rob Blake during the 2000–01 NHL season that also led to a Stanley Cup in 2001.^[3]

On March 8, 2006, a day before the NHL trade deadline, Pierre Lacroix traded goalie David Aebischer for 2002 Hart and Vezina trophy winner José Théodore.^[5] This trade was criticized in the local media at the time because Théodore was having a very bad season and was injured at the time of the trade.^[6] This criticism from media and fans continued at varying degrees throughout Théodore's short tenure with the Avalanche.

On May 12, 2006, Lacroix announced that he would be giving up his general manager duties and focusing solely on a new role as team president.^[7] On May 10, 2013, Lacroix announced that he was stepping down as president and would serve in an advisory role for the club.^[8]

On April 8, 2008, Lacroix was inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame for his contributions to the Colorado Avalanche organization.^[3][9]

Personal life and death

Lacroix was the father of two sons, including former NHL player Eric Lacroix.^[10]

He died from complications of COVID-19 in Las Vegas, on December 13, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nevada.^[11]

See also

• Notable families in the NHL

References

1. Nicholas J. Cotsonika (June 21, 2023). "Barrasso, Lundqvist, Vernon voted to Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2023". NHL.com. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
2. "Nordiques Replace Page With Lacroix". The New York Times. May 25, 1994. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
3. Frei, Terry (June 2, 2013). "Two Stanley Cups only part of why "Pierre's a champion"". Denver Post. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
4. Farber, Michael (March 20, 2000). "Ray of Hope". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
5. "Theodore traded to Avs, Aebischer goes to Canadiens". USA Today. March 8, 2006. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
6. "In Roy's shadow? Theodore will dictate Avs' success". ESPN. April 14, 2006. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
7. "Lacroix resigns as Colorado GM". CBC News. May 12, 2006. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
8. "Avs' Pierre Lacroix steps down". ESPN. May 10, 2013. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
9. "Pierre Lacroix bio". Colorado Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
10. "Eric Lacroix leaves Colorado Avalanche in shake-up after Sacco fired". Denver Post. April 28, 2013. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
11. Agence QMI (December 13, 2020). "Pierre Lacroix est décédé des suites de la COVID-19" [Pierre Lacroix died of COVID-19] (in French). Le Journal de Québec. Retrieved December 13, 2020.

Preceded by Pierre Pagé (Quebec Nordiques)

General Manager of the Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche 1994–2006

Succeeded by François Giguère