SAN JOSE, Calif., Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Claude Lemieux's attempt to make it back to the NHL moved a step forward Monday when the San Jose Sharks signed the 43-year-old forward to a two-way contract.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed but it allows San Jose to bring him up to the NHL club if he isn't claimed by another team before noon Tuesday.
Lemieux has not played in the NHL since the 2002-03 season. He has two goals and four assists in 14 games for San Jose's American Hockey League affiliate in Worcester.
"This is simply the next step in the evaluation process with Claude," said San Jose General Manager Doug Wilson.
Lemieux has 379 goals and 406 assists in 1,197 regular-season games with Dallas, Phoenix, New Jersey, Colorado and Montreal. He played on four Stanley Cup teams, twice with New Jersey and once each with Montreal and Colorado.
He scored 13 goals and three assists for the Devils in 1995 when he was the MVP of the playoffs. He has a total of 80 goals and 77 assists in 233 playoff games over 17 post-season appearances.
