It’s hard to believe it’s been 2 years since Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew tragically passed away.
It’s still a slow-healing wound for fans of the Calgary Flames, the Columbus Blue Jackets, and, more importantly, his family and friends.
The Blue Jackets notably held a ceremony for their home opener to remember the life and career of Johnny, raising a banner with the number 13 and leaving the number out of circulation in the future.
There has been a lot of push from Flames fans to officially retire Johnny’s number 13, despite it also being left out of circulation by the club.
Right after the incident happened, it was still too fresh a wound. It wasn’t the right time.
Here is what the right time would look like.
Should His Number Be Retired?
It’s a sensitive subject, but some out there don’t think Gaudreau should have his number retired by Calgary due to him not being an active member of the team at the time of his passing.
This sentiment is a bit hard to understand, as it’s rare for an active member of any team to have their jersey retired. Usually it’s years down the road when the player’s career is said and done.
Unfortunately, Johnny doesn’t get that chance.
The contributions Johnny Gaudreau made for the Flames organization and the city of Calgary are larger than any game.
Johnny spearheaded a personal goal-scoring fundraising challenge during his time in Calgary, donating $1,000 for each goal scored in a season, matched dollar-for-dollar by the Calgary Flames Foundation.
Johnny took every fan picture, signed every autograph and was the true epitome of a Calgarian.
Even after Johnny signed with the Blue Jackets in free agency back in the summer of 2022, he still was contributing to a Calgary-based charity he was partnered with.
As for his on-ice contributions, Gaudreau posted 609 points as a member of the Flames and was the face of the franchise for nearly 9 years.
Gaudreau is 5th all-time in points for the Calgary Flames franchise, a Hobey Baker Award winner and a seven-time NHL All-Star.
A comparable would be Miikka Kiprusoff.
Kiprusoff was a Flame for 9 seasons, winning the Vézina in 2005-06. That said, he never brought a Stanley Cup home to Calgary, and didn’t play his entire career as a Flame.
Kiprusoff had his jersey retired in March 2024.
Johnny Gaudreau did enough to warrant his jersey being sent to the rafters. For both his contributions on the ice and the character of the man off the ice.
When Should It Happen?
The Flames should officially retire Johnny Gaudreau’s number 13 in October 2027.
Specifically, the Flames home opener.
The home opener for the 2027-28 season will also be the first game played in the brand new Scotia Place. This would be a perfect time to retire Johnny’s number.
Johnny’s daughter Noa will be five years old, old enough to remember the ceremony. Johnny’s sons Johnny Jr. and Carter will be able to attend as well.
This would be an ideal opportunity to welcome the Gaudreau family to the brand new Scotia Place, and to formally celebrate the life and career of one of Calgary’s greatest.
Having the number 13 as the first jersey raised to the rafters in Scotia Place would be fitting. This would give Flames fans closure on the still-fresh wound of losing Johnny, and allow him to be remembered for decades whenever you look up inside the Flames’ new home.
The Flames newest rookies will be able to look up into the rafters, see that banner and truly appreciate what it means to be a Calgary Flame.
This also presents an opportunity for the Calgary Flames to formally partner up with The John and Matthew Gaudreau Foundation.
The John and Matthew Gaudreau Foundation was founded by Johnny’s wife Meredith and Matthew’s wife Madeline in 2025.
The foundation funds projects that provide hockey opportunities for youth in low-income areas, support hockey families facing tragedies, and help families that are impacted by drunk driving.
Johnny’s number 13 should be retired, and this would be the perfect scenario to do so.
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