Longtime Colorado Avalanche general manager Pierre Lacroix has passed away at the age of 72. The devastating news came out on Sunday, and the cause of his death is unknown at this point.
It's with horrible sadness that I confirm that longtime Avs general manager Pierre Lacroix has passed away at age 72. I'm gutted. He was a very good man who taught me a ton about hockey and life. He was a legend who will be greatly missed— Adrian Dater (@adater) December 13, 2020
Lacroix started out as a player agent, but he made the transition to become a GM in 1994 when the Quebec Nordiques hired him to the position. He then followed the franchise when they were relocated to Denver, Colorado, and he saw plenty of success.
He is the only general manager in pro sports history to win nine straight division titles, and also led the Avalanche to two Stanley Cups. Lacroix was known for making blockbuster moves that paid off mightily for his team. The two Stanley Cup Championships were won in 1996 and 2001 and sent the team to the Western Conference Finals in six of its first seven seasons.
Lacroix retired from the Avalanche GM spot in 2013 and moved to Las Vegas where he lived out the rest of his life. He will be missed dearly and is survived by his wife, Colombe, and his two sons, Eric and Martin.
