The Johnny Gaudreau Tragedy a Reminder that Life Is Bigger than Hockey

Columbus Blue Jackets star Johnny Gaudreau was tragically killed in a biking accident in New Jersey on Thursday night. The horrific accident occurred the night before Gaudreau’s sister’s wedding was set to take place.

According to reports, a drunk driver was suspected in the incident. Johnny Hockey’s brother also perished in the accident.

This untimely situation is a reminder that life is much bigger than hockey. Sure, we comment about bad plays, poor performance, and miscues on the ice. We nitpick about front-office moves, contracts, and bone-headed trades.

But at the end of the day, we’re all human. It’s too bad that tragedies like such as this serve as a wake-up call to what truly matters in life.

There is no question that we all hate things like this incident to happen. It seems so unfair that a vibrant, 31-year-old, father-of-two would leave so suddenly.

Meanwhile, the hockey world is left with a gaping hole that will never be filled. Those who watched Johnny Hockey play in Calgary and Columbus will forever remember an electrifying player who drew admiration from fans and ire from opponents.

It’s no understatement that New York Islanders fans will forever miss division rival Johnny Hockey.

Remembering Johnny Gaudreau's Lasting Legacy

Johnny Gaudreau was a fourth-round pick of the Calgary Flames in 2011. Gaudreau was the Hobey Baker Award winner in 2014 while at Boston College. After winning the gold medal at the 2013 World Juniors with the US, Johnny Hockey made the jump to the NHL.

He was a Calder Trophy Finalist in 2015 after racking up 64 points in 80 games for Calgary. His best year came in 2021-22 where he notched 40 goals and totaled 115 points in all 82 games.

That offseason, Gaudreau signed a lucrative seven-year, $68.25 million deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Gaudreau was earmarked to be the franchise’s face as the team looked to become a contender in the Eastern Conference.

However, Gaudreau significantly regressed in his two seasons with the Blue Jackets. After the 115-point campaign, he scored 21 goals and 74 points in his first season. Last year, his numbers dipped again to 12 goals and 60 points in 81 games.

This upcoming season marked a potential turnaround for Gaudreau. Sadly, we will never know if Johnny Hockey would have been able to regain the form that made him one of the league’s most dynamic stars.

All told, Gaudreau registered 743 points in 763 NHL games. Gaudreau was one of the most gentlemanly players in the league, capturing the Lady Byng Trophy in 2016-17 when he tallied a grand total of four penalty minutes the entire season.