Blue Jackets pay tribute to Johnny Gaudreau at home opener

It was a somber moment in remembering one of the game’s exciting players.

The Columbus Blue Jackets opened the home portion of their 2024-25 schedule on Tuesday night against the Florida Panthers. Prior to the game, the Blue Jackets held a ceremony to pay tribute to Johnny Gaudreau, who, along with his brother Matthew, was killed in a bicycle accident in late August.

Part of the ceremony featured Columbus retiring Gaudreau’s No. 13, the number he wore throughout his 10-plus year NHL career. Members of Gaudreau’s family, including his parents and wife, Meredith, came out onto the ice. Sean Monahan, Gaudreau’s friend and former teammate with the Calgary Flames, joined the family, holding Gaudreau’s son, Johnny.

Then, on the opening faceoff, the Blue Jackets lined up with just four players, leaving the left wing, Gaudreau’s wing, empty. When the puck dropped, Monahan won the draw over to Sam Bennett, another former teammate from their days in Calgary. The players then stood still as 13 seconds ticked off the clock.

The fans responded by chanting “Johnny Hockey” after the play stopped. The Blue Jackets also released a tribute video showing Gaudreau’s impact on the team.

Johnny Hockey played two seasons in Columbus, bringing attention to a franchise that had been often overlooked for most of its history. In 161 games with the Blue Jackets, the New Jersey native scored 33 goals and 101 assists for 134 points. In 763 NHL appearances, featuring over eight seasons with the Flames, Gaudreau scored 243 goals and 500 assists for 743 points. He also registered 33 points in 42 Stanley Cup Playoff games, all coming with Calgary.

Since the 2024-25 NHL season began, teams across the league have paid tribute to Johnny and Matthew, all holding some form of remembrance for the brothers. When the Flames held their home opener last Saturday night, they also had an extended ceremony for their former star.