Former NHL great Claude Lemieux tragically hanged himself, authorities told The Post on Friday – as loved ones gathered in Florida to mourn the four-time Stanley Cup champ a day after his death.

The body of the 60-year-old New Jersey Devils hockey legend was found by one of his sons in the back of the warehouse of his family’s home-design business in Lake Park, Fla., at 3:32 a.m. Thursday after he never returned home, according to a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office statement.

“He was a hockey guy — hockey people are a different breed,” said fan Bill Rodgers, 57, a Boston native who now lives in Lake Park.

“These guys beat the s–t out of each other then they shake hands after. … We brought flowers out of respect.”

Claudia wrote on her Instagram story late Thursday, “No words to express the level of devastation we feel.

“I love you forever daddy. Forever your only girl.”

It wasn’t clear which of Lemieux’s three sons, Brendan, Michael or Christopher, discovered his body at the shop, Andros Home, which sells “refined furnishings and architectural elements” in the seaside city, according to its website.

Brendan, 30, a professional ice-hockey player for HC Davos in Switzerland, had also paid heartfelt tribute to his dad on Instagram.

“I love you dad! My son’s favorite person is going to watch from above for a while. We will see you,” he wrote.

He shared the post with a photo, taken on the ice, of Claude beaming as he held his grandson. 

Claudia’s husband, Hunter Bishop, also paid respect to his late father-in-law  on social media, writing, “Rest in peace to a truly amazing man.

“Words can’t even begin to describe how much you meant to everyone. Love you big man,” he posted on Instagram, along with an image of them golfing.

The tragic retired NHL champ — nicknamed “Pepe” after the suave but pesky cartoon skunk Pepé Le Pew —  won a 1995 Conn Smythe Trophy with the Devils, ranked ninth all-time with 80 postseason goals and was known for being an “enforcer” on the ice.

Lemieux was a beast in skates but a teddy bear inside, former NHL player Brendan Shanahan told the New York Times. 

“[He was] a big crier. A big softie,” the grieving buddy said.

“Sort of hidden behind that reputation on the ice, he was a very sweet and sensitive man,” said Shanahan, who led the Detroit Red Wings through a bloody rivalry with Lemieux and the Colorado Avalanche in the 90s.

Rogers said, “The way things are now with mental illness, you never know.

“It’s horrible, and it sucks.

“I just went to the shop, rang the bell and said, “Can you make sure the family gets my flowers?” the fan said.

“Then [the workers] invited me in, and we hugged and cried,” Rogers said, noting that no family was there at the time.

Lemieux’s suicide came just days after he carried the torch in Montreal’s Bell Centre to kick off Game 3 of the NHL’s Eastern Conference finals Monday.

Known as a ruthless “agitator,” Lemieux won the first of his four Cups with the Montreal Canadiens in 1986, then earned two more with the  Devils in 1995 and 2000 and one with the Avalanche in 1996.

“I’m proud of the way he played, how hated he was,” son Brendan told USA Today in 2014. “I just love that about him. I definitely want to follow in his footsteps. I want to be the guy that can step up and be that playoff performer.”

The Devils said in a statement Thursday, “A clutch player on the ice and greatly appreciated by Devils’ fans off it, Claude’s impact in bringing the first-ever Stanley Cup to New Jersey will forever be remembered as one of the paramount performances in team history.”

“Widely respected throughout the NHL, both as a trusted agent and a valued colleague, Claude leaves behind a lasting legacy within our game that he gave so much to.”

Off the ice, records show Lemieux was cited for driving with a suspended license in Palm Beach Gardens in April 2025 and for speeding in January 2024 and paid fines.

-Additional reporting by Zak Bennett

If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis, you can call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org for free and confidential crisis counseling.