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RIP Johnny Gaudreau

August 30, 2024, 12:41 PM ET [42 Comments]
Zak MacMillan
Columbus Blue Jackets Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Rest in Peace and Power Johnny and Matthew Gadureau

11:30am - Columbus opens NWA honoring Johnny Gaudreau and jerseys flying off the shelves for the seven time all star and team USA rep.



The hockey world mourns including all pro teams







Waking up to this news this morning…

The hockey world and Team USA mourn the loss of one of their top forwards from the result of a drunk driver who hit him and his brother Matthew while cycling in their suburban New Jersey hometown.

Gaudreau was 31 years old and leaves behind his daughter; son; and wife.

Gaudreau was a winner, having a USHL title; the Hoeby Baker Trophy with Boston College; and the Lady Byng during his time with Calgary. He earned 243 goals, 500 assists, for 743 goals in 763 career NHL games with both Calgary and Columbus.

Columbus became home to Gaudreau when his interest in the club became known to Kekalainen during the free agent frenzy and took the discount to be here in Ohio when other teams were offering more money for the American.

Johnny Hockey also had the viral video of him at on the back of Sens’ forward Brady Tkachuk back during best bud Kevin Hayes’ wedding in the middle of a Sammy Adams “All Night Longer” performance.

A dear friend too many in the hockey world with a kind and pure soul.

A young man at 31 getting ready for this rebound season to reunite with his Calgary kid teammate in Sean Monahan.

Johnny Gaudreau was born on August 13, 1993. A young 31 year old only turning that age 16 days ago. He represented the US in Hershey, PA and the Junior AAA Flyers against the Junior PeeWee Quebec Team in 2006. His only year in the USHL he won the championship and committed to Boston College and was drafted to the Calgary Flames in the same year.

Gaudreau won best player in college hockey his junior year he was there and had his rookie games in Calgary shortly after. He played with Calgary from 2013-2022. Gaudreau signed here for 7 years at $9.75M per season.

All 32 teams; Cleveland and Hershey; the league and Gary Bettman; and LeBron James have all reacted to the news.





The drunk driver has been arrested while his death report has been unfortunately leaked in a private social media group chat post. So much mess and things wrong with this.

Worse, today was his sister’s wedding day and he was scheduled to be one of the groomsmen with his brother Matthew. The former Islander was also killed alongside his brother at 8:19pm at the age of 29 in Salem County, NJ.

I will leave it to you the hockey world to react and share your thoughts.

Heartbroken and devastated here are an understatement. This was the guy that chose our city. Ohio. As his home. It’s too early to call for retiring number 13 but this could be that moment.
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