Johnny Gaudreau was one of many few NHL gamers whose star energy transcended the hockey world. Even in case you didn’t cheer for the Calgary Flames or, extra not too long ago, the Columbus Blue Jackets — even in case you didn’t observe the NHL — you’d in all probability heard of Johnny Hockey.
The nickname simply labored. Gaudreau performed the sport with dazzling, darting quickness and get-out-of-your-seat ability. And there was a Hollywood facet to his profession: the too-short, too-small participant who many doubted may make it to the NHL a lot much less be one of many league’s prime gamers.
The 5-foot-7, 160-pound left winger touched and impressed an infinite variety of lives.
That’s why so many have been grieving Friday when the Blue Jackets and the NHL confirmed that Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew Gaudreau, have been killed late Thursday when a person driving an SUV struck them whereas they have been using bicycles, in keeping with New Jersey State Police. Johnny was 31 and Matthew 29.
The Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, prolonged condolences. NBA star LeBron James and baseball star Mike Trout did the identical. NHL golf equipment and followers took half in an outpouring of sympathy. Followers in Columbus left flowers beneath Gaudreau’s billboard-sized likeness exterior the doorway to Nationwide Enviornment, and a candlelight vigil was deliberate for Friday night. Ohio State will maintain a second of silence Saturday earlier than its soccer season opener towards Akron. Gaudreau would have performed in Ohio Stadium within the Stadium Collection recreation on March 1.
For a lot of, appropriately, the primary ideas went to the tight-knit Gaudreau household.
Immediately, Man and Jane Gaudreau misplaced two sons. Sisters Katie and Kristen Gaudreau misplaced their brothers. Johnny Gaudreau’s spouse, Meredith, misplaced her husband. Gaudreau’s youngsters, daughter Noa and son Johnny — each underneath 2 years outdated — misplaced their father.
Friday was imagined to be Katie Gaudreau’s wedding ceremony day. Johnny and Matthew have been to be groomsmen, whereas Meredith and Matthew’s spouse, Madeline, have been to be bridesmaids. Madeline, now a widow, is pregnant with the couple’s first little one.
Utter devastation. Unimaginable grief.
“I acquired so immediately down and unhappy after studying the story,” James posted on X. “My ideas and prayers exit to the Gaudreau household! Could Johnny and Matthew fly excessive and bless their household from the heavens above.”
“I’m sick to my abdomen,” Minnesota Wild coach John Hynes stated. “I had the chance to teach Johnny a number of occasions with USA Hockey. Johnny was a fantastic child. Personable. Had an enormous coronary heart. Teammates beloved him.”
The Blue Jackets — gamers and administration — have been understandably quiet Friday after the membership issued its early-morning assertion confirming the Gaudreaus’ passing. On a day when everyone is looking for a solution to course of an insufferable grief, what may probably be stated?
The legend of Johnny Hockey began when he was, oh, 8 or 9 years outdated, weaving via and round gamers twice his measurement in native rinks round New Jersey and Philadelphia. He continued to dazzle via his teen years at the same time as he was handed over repeatedly in tryouts for elite packages.
He later spent one 12 months (at age 18) enjoying in Dubuque, Iowa, in the USA Hockey League earlier than heading to Boston School. Longtime NHL scout Brian Bates scouted him a number of occasions in Dubuque.
“Each pregame warm-up I’d marvel why that they had a very younger child on the market; he was so small,” Bates stated. “That was my first thought each time … till he touched the puck and began skating. So small, however so expert, and a lot stronger than his fragile-looking construct.”
Gaudreau was listed at 5-6, 137 kilos on the NHL scouting mix in 2011, his draft 12 months, however that measurement may not have been actual. Man Gaudreau as soon as advised The Athletic’s Hailey Salvian that they put two or three pucks in his jock strap so as to add a couple of kilos earlier than his weigh-in on the mix.
When the Flames drafted him within the fourth spherical that 12 months — No. 104 — it was a shock to many, together with Gaudreau, who stayed residence to play in a event organized by his dad moderately than attend the draft in St. Paul, Minn.
After three dominating seasons at Boston School — he received the Hobey Baker Award as faculty hockey’s prime participant in 2014 — Gaudreau turned professional. Extremely, he by no means spent a day within the minor leagues.
“His entire life he has been advised he’s too small and would by no means play excessive ranges of hockey. (He) actually earned the whole lot he acquired as a result of he by no means give up,” Man advised The Athletic a number of years in the past. “Lots of people don’t understand all of the occasions he’s been minimize and advised he’s too small and he fought via all that to get to the place he’s at.”
Gaudreau was a star with the Flames for eight seasons — one of the beloved athletes ever in that metropolis — earlier than signing with the Blue Jackets as a free agent two years in the past.
The transfer rankled many in Calgary — he picked Columbus? — however he made the selection for all the correct causes. As he grew older, his household took on elevated significance in his life, a sense that was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which made journey between the USA and Calgary tougher than ever.
Now his household was a day’s drive away, not a full day of flying with border restrictions. Man Gaudreau was a near-constant presence. He attended extra morning skates the previous two seasons than some native media members. Very like his son, he by no means stopped smiling.
The Blue Jackets largely struggled in Gaudreau’s two seasons with Columbus, however he was the main scorer each seasons and appeared poised for an enormous season in 2024-25. The staff signed Gaudreau’s good pal, Sean Monahan, to a free-agent contract to be his linemate on Columbus’ prime line.
The Gaudreaus and Monahans had deliberate to lift their youngsters collectively — to spend time collectively as households, to benefit from the primes of their careers collectively. Sure, there’s one more degree of disappointment to this.
Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan have been going to be reunited in Columbus this season. (Derek Cain / Icon Sportswire through Getty Photos)
By means of his unimaginable ability and memorable nickname, Johnny Hockey had an aura. Younger gamers within the dressing room would take a look at him and communicate with a way of awe. Followers would stand mouth agape as Gaudreau walked by them on his approach out of the rink.
However Gaudreau by no means carried himself in that approach. He may very well be instantly disarming with followers. His least favourite matter to debate was Johnny Gaudreau.
And in a dressing room filled with millionaires, most of whom dressed accordingly, Gaudreau would get spiffy for recreation nights and staff capabilities. However on off days, he’d most certainly be seen in a T-shirt that ought to have been was a mud fabric years in the past. His most well-liked footwear was flip-flops.
All of this made it simple for followers in Columbus to embrace him.
Fact be advised, Gaudreau’s willingness to signal with Columbus as a free agent was a shock to the Blue Jackets, too. When his agent, Lewis Gross, first reached out to administration, the staff believed it was an try and drive the worth increased in negotiations along with his extra probably locations, New Jersey and Philadelphia.
As soon as former Blue Jackets common supervisor Jarmo Kekalainen realized he was critical, the Jackets pounced, signing him to the most important free-agent contract in franchise historical past.
Gaudreau’s need to signal with the Blue Jackets got here on the heels of the noteworthy departures of Sergei Bobrovsky, Artemi Panarin, Seth Jones and others, additional saddling the franchise with a repute for being one gamers averted.
By selecting Columbus when others have been selecting to go away, Gaudreau instantly endeared himself to Blue Jackets followers, and the No. 13 sweaters began flying off the cabinets.
On Friday, these sweaters have been held on stickhandles and positioned exterior doorways throughout central Ohio, a tribute to the Gaudreaus.
This can be a franchise that has identified largely lengthy seasons and continual losses. And it has endured greater than its share of tragedies.
On March 16, 2002, through the Blue Jackets’ second season, a younger fan, Brittanie Cecil, was struck within the head with a puck whereas celebrating her twelfth birthday celebration in Nationwide Enviornment. She died two days later of inside bleeding, prompting the NHL to equip all of its rinks with netting above the tip of the rinks.
In July 2003, Blue Jackets’ minor-leaguer Trevor Ettinger died by suicide.
On July 4, 2021, goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks died after a fireworks mishap on the residence of then-Blue Jackets goaltending coach Manny Legace.
There was a way of shock when the Blue Jackets arrived for coaching camp simply two months after Kivlenieks’ dying — nearly a second wave of grief. They remembered the place Kivlenieks sat within the dressing room, how he smiled, his pleasant disposition.
The Blue Jackets are processing a brand new wave of grief now, simply three weeks forward of coaching camp. Many gamers are already on the town getting ready for the season. Many extra will arrive early subsequent week.
The lack of Gaudreau is so profound, so piercing, you possibly can solely marvel how the gamers within the dressing room can course of this — how new GM Don Waddell and coach Dean Evason might help them via the method.
“The impression he had on our group and our sport was profound,” the staff stated in a press release, “however pales compared to the indelible impression he made on everybody who knew him.”
— Hailey Salvian contributed to this story.
(Prime photograph: Jaylynn Nash / Getty Photos)
