The Columbus Blue Jackets honored their late left wing Johnny Gaudreau during their first home game of the 2024-25 season. Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, were tragically killed in a bike accident caused by an allegedly drunk driver in their hometown in New Jersey. The team paid tribute to Gaudreau with a video tribute on the Nationwide Arena scoreboard, followed by 13 seconds of silence to match his uniform number. Gaudreau, who played nine seasons for the Calgary Flames before signing with the Blue Jackets in 2022, was beloved by his teammates and fans.
The Blue Jackets went on to defeat the St. Louis Blues 3-0 in their second preseason game with over 10,000 fans in attendance. The team plans to honor Johnny and Matthew throughout the season by wearing helmet stickers with their names and uniform numbers, as well as adding a commemorative patch to their uniforms. Johnny’s jersey still hangs in the Columbus locker room as a reminder of his impact on the team. The Blue Jackets will also postpone their traditional opening night festivities to their second home game in order to pay further tribute to the Gaudreau brothers.
The loss of Johnny Gaudreau has been deeply felt by his teammates, with many struggling to come to terms with his absence. Sean Kuraly, a player for the Blue Jackets, expressed his emotions about not having Johnny around and how it has affected the team. Gaudreau, known as “Johnny Hockey,” was a star player for the Flames before joining the Blue Jackets and making an immediate impact. He was named an NHL All-Star seven times and earned his first NHL First All-Star Team honor in his first season with Columbus.
The Blue Jackets will play their first regular season home game against the Florida Panthers on October 15, with their traditional opening night festivities postponed to honor Johnny and Matthew. The team plans to continue to remember and honor the Gaudreau brothers throughout the season as they try to cope with the loss of a beloved teammate and friend. Despite the tragedy, the Blue Jackets are determined to play in honor of Johnny’s memory and carry his spirit with them throughout the season.
