Johnny Gaudreau is no longer here, but he will clearly never completely disappear.
Published at 3:43 p.m.
The Columbus Blue Jackets paid tribute to their star player Wednesday afternoon, just days after his tragic death at the hands of a drunk driver in New Jersey, a tragedy that also claimed his brother Matthew.
In a very sober manner, and one after the other, members of the Blue Jackets paid tribute to him.
He played hockey with great joy. Talking to the guys in the organization, it became clear how special Johnny was, and how much his loss affects all of us here. There’s a big hole in our lineup, and there’s an even bigger hole in our hearts.
Don Waddell, general manager of the Columbus Blue Jackets
Then, a few Blue Jackets players also spoke on camera, and on several occasions, voices became choked. This was the case, among others, of captain Boone Jenner, who was clearly choked with emotion.
“Johnny played with passion wherever he went,” he explained. “I was so lucky to have him go with us. He was a close friend and someone I felt like I had known my whole life…”
“I don’t think I’ve ever met a more competitive person than Johnny. He was good at everything, he rarely lost, and when he did, he always wanted a rematch afterwards to make up for it… He and his brother will remain in our hearts forever. Rest in peace, John and Matty.”
As National Hockey League teams prepare for a new season, the death of Johnny Gaudreau continues to send shockwaves through the NHL. For the Canadiens, Cole Caufield has already announced that he will now wear the number 13 jersey in tribute to Gaudreau.
Don Waddell acknowledged that he and the Blue Jackets will have to get back to work soon, but he stressed the importance of allowing the players to honor their fallen teammate.
“There are questions about our team, how we’re going to continue without Johnny,” the general manager admitted. “There are questions about the impact his loss will have on our team. But those are questions for another day.”
