The news was leaked late Thursday night that NHL superstar Johnny Gaudreau of the Columbus Blue Jackets and his brother, Matthew, had tragically passed away. Sadly, the Blue Jackets confirmed this news Friday morning. For myself—and anyone else who hadn’t heard anything the night before—it was jarring news to wake up to.
Speaking from my own experience over the past few days, the disbelief and sadness come in waves. I have been a Calgary Flames fan since I first saw their logo as a child sometime in the late 1990s. I couldn’t pinpoint the exact year, let alone the day.
Needless to say, I’ve experienced my fair share of ups and downs from the team. Johnny Hockey entered the organization during one of the downs. The Flames were on the heels of missing the playoffs for the second straight season in 2010–11. This followed a four-year stretch of being bounced in the first round.
Gaudreau was a bright light for the organization during a dark time. At a time when the team was, frankly, not fun to watch, we could find excitement in watching him tear up the NCAA for Boston College. Gaudreau made his NHL debut for the Flames late in 2013–14 and scored his first career goal. The Flames were already set to miss the playoffs for the fifth straight year, but watching him on the ice gave me hope for the future of the Flames.
Naturally, Flames fans were upset with Gaudreau when he chose to sign with the Blue Jackets over the Flames following the 2021–22 season. We were hurt that a beloved player chose to leave. I’ve always been pro-Gaudreau, though. I always understood and supported his choice despite not wanting him to go. He signed a team-friendly six-year deal to stay with the team in October 2016. He owed us nothing else; we were privileged to watch him mature both on and off the ice over his 11 years in the organization.
I was out of town this weekend, visiting friends in the nation’s capital, Ottawa, Ontario. In honour of Gaudreau, I wore his jersey around the city Saturday evening. My interactions with random people that night opened my eyes to how many people were impacted. It’s not just fans of the Flames and Blue Jackets. Everyone’s mourning this devastating blow to the hockey community and the world at large.
Heartfelt condolences to their family and friends
Both Johnny and Matthew leave behind wives, children, parents, and siblings. The family was gathered for a happy occasion, as the brothers were supposed to stand in their sister’s wedding Friday afternoon. The loss and heartache they all must be feeling at this time is unimaginable.
But let’s not forget the lifelong friends Johnny and Matthew made along the way. Kevin Hayes and his brother Jimmy Hayes were close friends with the Gaudreau brothers, having played with them at Boston College. Sadly, Jimmy passed away on August 23, 2021. The anniversary of his passing would have been fresh in Kevin’s mind when this tragedy struck.
Sean Monahan, a long-time teammate of Gaudreau in Calgary—they played eight full seasons together for the Flames—recently signed as a free agent in Columbus to reunite with his friend. It’s crushing to know that he’ll never have that opportunity. As a fan, I was so excited to see them together again. If I were in Monahan’s shoes, I don’t even know that I’d be able to play for the team now.
Kevin and Sean, know that we’re thinking of you, too.
I send my sincerest condolences to Johnny and Matthew’s family and friends. They will be missed by many.
Gaudreau’s on-ice accolades
Drafted in the fourth round of the 2011 NHL Draft, Johnny Gaudreau was considered a long shot to make the NHL. He was always told he was too small. Boy, did he prove the doubters wrong.
Gaudreau was coming off a 36-goal, 72-point season in 60 games in the USHL when the Flames drafted him. He moved on to Boston College for three years, where he scored 78 goals and 175 points in 119 games. Gaudreau had just completed a 36-goal, 80-point season in 40 games when the Flames finally convinced him to make the jump to the NHL.
Gaudreau would make his NHL debut in the Flames’ final game of the 2013–14 season. His first career goal would stand as the team’s lone goal in a 5–1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks. From there, his NHL career took off. Gaudreau scored 24 goals and 64 points as a rookie in 2014–15. He finished third in Calder Trophy voting for Rookie of the Year, behind only Aaron Ekblad and Mark Stone.
Gaudreau was nothing short of a superstar in Calgary. He was electric… elusive… fun. In 602 games as a Flame, he scored 210 goals and 609 points in 602 games, playing primarily in a top-line role. He made the game look so easy.
Gaudreau’s name was in the mix for the Lady Byng trophy—awarded to the player who showed the best “sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability”—every year in Calgary (and his first season in Columbus). He won the trophy in 2016–17 after recording 18 goals, 61 points, and four penalties in minutes.
He received votes for the NHL All-Star Teams six times. He finished as high as third in voting twice before finally earning a First Team All-Star nod in 2021–22 following a 40-goal, 115-point season. That season, he also received votes for the Selke Trophy, which is awarded to the league’s best defensive forward.
Gaudreau was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team in 2014–15. He also finished fourth in voting for the Hart Trophy—awarded to the NHL’s Most Valuable Player—twice. He represented the Flames at the NHL’s All-Star Game six times and the Blue Jackets once. Primarily a playmaker, Gaudreau scored six career hat tricks (all for the Flames).
Gaudreau’s name is high in the Flames’ all-time records. Per QuantHockey, his 602 games played is 12th; 210 goals is eighth; 399 assists is fifth; 609 points is fifth; 41 game-winning goals is fifth; overtime goals is tied in first with Monahan; 171 power play points is ninth; 109 game-winning points is second; and his 28 overtime points is first.
How should the NHL honour Johnny Hockey?
We’ve already seen an amazing show of support from the hockey community. Fans gathered at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary and the Nationwide Arena in Columbus Friday afternoon, leaving flowers, jerseys, notes, and sticks to support the fallen star.
It’s hard to express in words just how extraordinary the response has been all around. In addition to the fans’ response, the Flames organization shared this emotional Johnny Gaudreau tribute video, which perfectly captures who he was:
In the short term, I would love to see everyone in attendance for the Flames’ home opener against the Philadelphia Flyers on October 12 wearing a Gaudreau shirt or jersey. That would be an incredible sight.
In the long term, I want to see the Flames retire number 13 in honour of Gauderau and build a statue in front of the new arena in Calgary. Gaudreau should be immortalized in the city’s hockey history.
Rest in paradise, Johnny and Matthew.
Photo by Chase Agnello-Dean/NHLI via Getty Images
