The hockey world was left shocked and devastated when news of an unimaginable tragedy broke early on Friday morning. Columbus Blue Jackets star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were both pronounced dead after being struck by a suspected drunk driver while bicycling. Gaudreau was one of the league’s brightest stars, loved for both his high level of play and strong character. The player aptly nicknamed “Johnny Hockey” made an undeniable impact on the ice everywhere he went.
Before dominating in the NHL, Gaudreau spent three seasons playing NCAA hockey with Boston College. In 119 games played, Gaudreau compiled a total of 78 goals and 97 assists in his college career. He quickly made an impact with the team, helping Boston College win the National Championship in his freshman year. Gaudreau scored one of the most memorable goals of his career in the championship game, unleashing a series of stick moves before burying a backhander. He was named the most valuable player of the tournament that year.
Although many thought he would be NHL-bound after being a Hobey Baker finalist in his sophomore season, Johnny stayed for one more year. It is heavily believed he stayed for this extra season because Matthew would be debuting as a freshman. It wound up being his career year in NCAA play as he scored 36 goals and 44 assists. He ended his NCAA career winning the Hobey Baker Award while getting to share the ice with his younger brother.
Gaudreau was the 104th pick in the 2011 NHL Draft, a pick that would prove to be an incredible value for the Calgary Flames. Once Gaudreau was ready to join the NHL ranks, he got off to a fast start. In the Flames’ 2013-14 regular season finale, Gaudreau made his debut and scored his first goal on a tip-in.
He wasted no time establishing himself as a star in the following season, scoring 24 goals and 64 points as a Calder finalist. This would also mark the first of his five straight appearances in the NHL All-Star game. Throughout the first seven seasons of his career, Gaudreau was an elite point producer who managed several seasons of 30+ goals. He won the Lady Byng Trophy in his 2017 season and finished 4th in Hart voting in his 2019 season.
Despite all the success that preceded him, nothing would compare to his 2021-22 season. In what would be his final season in Calgary, Gaudreau posted career numbers. Playing in all 82 games, he put up 40 goals and 75 assists for a whopping 115 points. That point total was tied with Jonathan Huberdeau for the second highest in the league. Gaudreau appeared in his sixth All-Star Game and finished 4th in Hart voting for the second time in his career that year.
While this alone would’ve marked a great season for Gaudreau, the best was yet to come. The Flames first round playoff series against the Dallas Stars was set to conclude in a game seven at the Saddledome. In the most dramatic fashion possible, the game went into a sudden death overtime. It was then that Gaudreau got a hold of a rebound and sniped in the series-winning goal. It’ll be forever remembered, along with the Boston College national championship goal, as one of his most iconic. This was also his career-best postseason performance, putting up 14 points between the first and second round.
Gaudreau hit the unrestricted free agent market after his monster 2021-22 campaign. Many thought he’d sign with the New Jersey Devils or Philadelphia Flyers as he sought a move closer to home. But when he did make his decision, he surprised just about everybody and signed a seven year deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets. It was a move that energized the Columbus fanbase for several reasons. It was a rare time that a marquee free agent chose to play for them and came during a stretch of several mediocre seasons.
Sadly, his Blue Jackets tenure only lasted two seasons, but they weren’t without highlights. He made his seventh and final All-Star Game appearance in his inaugural season, scoring 21 goals and 74 points. Among his 21 goals was a highlight reel wrap-around goal against the Vancouver Canucks, in which he handled the puck all the way from his own defensive zone to score it. In his final season he hit a career milestone, getting his 500th assist on the road against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Although his time in Columbus was short, he still managed to make a huge impression on the fanbase and deliver the kind of play that made him a star in the NHL.
Featured image courtesy of NHL.com
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