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Last Thursday, mournful, solemn silence replaced the normally vibrant atmospheres outside the Scotiabank Saddledome and Nationwide Arena. Instead of waiting excitedly for a match to begin, large crowds gathered to pay their respects to Johnny Gaudreau.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe 31-year-old died on August 29 near his New Jersey home after being struck by a car. Gaudreau was supposed to serve as a groomsman at his sister’s wedding the same week. The tragedy has left the NHL community reeling and deprived the sport of ice hockey of one of its most electric talents.
Though his life ended far sooner than anyone expected, Gaudreau leaves an exceptional legacy. To celebrate his indelible impact on the game, it is worth tracing his journey from the beginning.
Dubuque Fighting Saints – Johnny Gaudreau was very good, very early
Born on April 13, 1993, in Salem, New Jersey, Johnny Gaudreau was always surrounded by hockey. His father – Guy – had played the sport at the college level and later became a high school coach.
That early exposure helped Gaudreau stand out at a young age. At just 17, while representing Gloucester Catholic High School, Gaudreau totaled 48 points in just 14 games played.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe following year, he joined the United States Hockey League, the best junior league in the country. He didn’t miss a single beat, registering 72 points in 60 games for the Dubuque Fighting Saints. Named to the league’s all-star game, he powered his team to victory in the postseason Clark Cup.
NHL Draft- Johnny Gaudreau proved everyone wrong
Gaudreau’s strengths were easy to spot when he became eligible for the 2011 NHL Entry draft. As Hockey’s Future put it: “[Gaudreau had] quick hands, shifty moves and explosive speed.”
Unfortunately, his biggest weakness was perhaps even more evident: his size. Even in adulthood, Gaudreau would only grow to 5’9” and weigh just 74 kilograms. For context, that is four inches shorter than the average NHL player.
As a result of his stature, the NHL’s Central Scouting Bureau ranked him as the 193rd most promising US skater. When accounting for goalies and European-born skaters, evaluations placed him even lower.
When the draft rolled around, he fell into the fourth round. The Calgary Flames finally selected him with the 104th overall pick.
Gaudreau announced that he would enter the NCAA with the Boston College Eagles rather than join the Flames immediately. By spending time developing at a lower level, he demonstrate why people were so wrong to doubt him.
Boston College – Johnny Gaudreau was a national champion
Immediately, Gaudreau made the 29 teams that had passed on the opportunity to take him to regret their decision.
In his inaugural season of collegiate hockey, he tallied 44 points in 44 games, which was good enough for second most on the team. No other freshman was even within the top ten in points for Boston College.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe team finished atop the Hockey East regular-season standings before cruising to victory in the Hockey East Tournament. However, they weren’t finished, as their crowning triumph of that season wouldn’t come until the national tournament. The Eagles defeated Ferris State 4-1 to win the National Championship. Gaudreau scored his side’s third goal of the evening with just five minutes left in the match.
Hobey Baker Award – an all-time college great
Boston College wouldn’t reach the summit of college hockey again during Johnny Gaudreau’s tenure. However, his personal development would only accelerate.
In 2012-13, he improved his points to 51, taking just 35 games. That left Gaudreau as the most productive player in college hockey on a per-game basis. It also earned him a spot as a finalist for the prestigious Hobey Baker Award.
He followed that up by getting even better, ending the next year with a staggering 80 points in 40 games. It was the most productive season college hockey had seen in over a decade. After leading all players in goals, assists, and points, it was almost a formality that Gaudreau would finally win the Hobey Baker Award.
Embed from Getty ImagesCalgary Flames – size wasn’t an issue
Not wanting to risk losing the rights to sign Gaudreau, the Calgary Flames signed Gaudreau to an entry-level contract on the day he received his Hobey Baker Award.
On April 13, 2014, in his first ever NHL game, with his first NHL shot, Johnny Gaudreau scored his first NHL goal. It was a promising start to the professional career of a player who would be nicknamed ‘Johnny Hockey’.
Gaudreau’s time in Calgary was incredibly productive. He could use his lightning-quick acceleration and deft skating to avoid hits from larger players. At the same time, he could dance between defensemen with the puck seemingly glued to his stick. His elite shot and uncanny knack for anticipating a play led him to create prolifically for himself and others.
Embed from Getty ImagesAt home in the professional game, Gaudreau was named to the NHL All-Star Game in each of his first five full seasons. He looked to have become fully realised in the 2018-19 season, when he scored 99 points. In recognition of his play, the Professional Hockey Writers Association members placed him fourth for the Hart Trophy.
Playoff struggles – Johnny Gaudreau took the brunt of the blame
Gaudreau was unable to replicate his stellar play in that season’s playoffs. He registered just a single assist in a five-game loss to the Colorado Avalanche.
Unfortunately, that slump would persist for the next two seasons, as neither the Flames nor Gaudreau managed to live up to their high standards. Gaudreau’s 58 and 49-point campaigns in 2019-20 and 2020-21 seemed at odds with his reputation as one of the best wingers in the league.
His playoff woes also dragged on, falling in the first round again in 2020 before not even making the postseason in 2021.
Around this time, Gaudreau’s mediocre play saw him receive substantial criticism. Some even wondered if the Flames might be better off without their star and called for Calgary to trade him. As was always the case for Johnny, he was written off because of his size. Colton Pankiw of The Hockey Writers opined, “Standing at just 5-foot-9, [Gaudreau] often seems to shy away from the physical game, which gets ramped up in the postseason.”
Redemption – Johnny Gaudreau was one of the best players on the planet
Targeted by fans and pundits alike, Gaudreau sought revenge in 2021-22. On a line with young superstar Matthew Tkachuk, Gaudreau fired the Flames to the top of their division. This wasn’t just the best version of Johnny Hockey the league would ever see, it was possibly the greatest season in Flames franchise history.
He put a career-best 40 pucks in the opposing net and dished out 70 assists in 82 games. Again, he finished fourth in Hart Trophy voting and appeared in the NHL First All-Star Team. For that season, no left winger in the world was better than Johnny Gaudreau.
He even exorcised some of his playoff demons, putting up 14 points in 12 games to, at last, take the Flames past the first round. In the process, he scored an instantly iconic overtime game-winner in Game 7 against the Dallas Stars, writing himself further into Calgary folklore.
Columbus Blue Jackets – he left too soon
Not done with setting the hockey world alight, Gaudreau had one more surprise in store for everyone in 2022. Rather than re-signing with the Flames in free agency, Gaudreau accepted less money to sign with the Columbus Blue Jackets, a notoriously unpopular free-agent destination.
Embed from Getty ImagesHis decision instantly endeared him to Columbus’ fans. While they would never have the chance to see the organisation build a contending team around Gaudreau, he was easily their best player in both seasons.
Sadly, whatever might have been in Columbus will remain forever out of reach, as two years into his stay with the Blue Jackets, Johnny lost his life.
The outpouring of grief from around the sporting world was immense. Basketball superstar Lebron James tweeted, “My thoughts and prayers go out to the Gaudreau family! May Johnny and Matthew fly high, guide/guard, and bless their family/s from the heavens above.”
Columbus and Calgary released touching tributes to Gaudreau, highlighting the character that helped him develop beyond what pre-draft analysts could ever have imagined.
Beyond his on-ice achievements, Johnny Gaudreau left behind his wife Meredith, their two children and countless more fans inspired by the undersized winger who played the sport so skillfully. For the memories he gifted them, fans of Boston College, the Calgary Flames, the Columbus Blue Jackets and ice hockey will be forever grateful.