Flames Quarter-Century First Team: Johnny Gaudreau

The NHL announced the Calgary Flames Quarter-Century team on Jan. 11, featuring several memorable names in franchise history.

Today, we want to look back at Johnny Gaudreau's tenure with the club and examine his credentials for being on the Flames' first team.

Initially drafted by the Flames in the fourth round (104th overall) at the 2011 Draft, Gaudreau would become the face of the team's offensive attack in the post-Jarome Iginla era.

After playing only one game in 2013-14, Gaudreau immediately became a 20-goal scorer in his first full season with the club. On top of being named to the NHL's All-Rookie Team, he finished third in Calder Trophy voting thanks to 64 points in 80 games.

In his sophomore season, at 22, Gaudreau scored 30 goals to lead the Flames with 78 points. Although he didn't rack up the points in 2016-17, finishing with 18 goals and 61 points, he won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for gentlemanly play before bouncing back in 2017-18 and 2018-19.

Not only did he become a point-per-game player in 2017-18 with 84 points in 80 games, but in 2018-19, he played all 82 games for the first time and scored a career-high 36 goals and 99 points.

However, the best was yet to come.

Gaudreau's numbers dipped slightly during the shortened campaigns of 2019-20 and 2020-21, down to 58 and 49, but when the NHL returned to a full slate of games in 2021-22, he almost won the league's scoring title.

In 82 games, Gaudreau scored 40 goals with 75 assists for 115 points, securing the second-best single-season point total in Flames history. Meanwhile, he finished second in the Art Ross race, losing out to Connor McDavid, who had 123 points.

Thanks to a magical regular season from several players, including Gaudreau, Calgary won the Pacific Division, setting up a first-round playoff match with the Dallas Stars.

In overtime of Game 7 at the Saddledome, Gaudreau would score his most memorable goal in a Flames sweater, tallying the game-winner to send his team to the second round for the first time since 2004.

Unfortunately for Flames fans, it would be his second to last goal for the club, as he only scored once in Game 5 against the Edmonton Oilers in the second round.

During Gaudreau's nine seasons with the Flames, these were his totals and ranks among players over the past 25 years:

• Games Played: 602 (7th)

• Goals: 210 (3rd)

• Assists: 399 (2nd)

• Points: 609 (2nd)

• Plus/Minus: Plus-85 (3rd)

• Penalty Minutes: 132 (62nd)

• Points-Per-Game: 1.01 (1st)

• Power-play Goals: 46 (5th)

• Power-play Points: 171 (3rd)

• Overtime Goals: 11 (1st)

• Game-Winning Goals: 41 (3rd)

• Hat tricks: Six

• Awards: Lady Byng Memorial Trophy (2017)

• All-Star Games: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022

• Honors: NHL All-Rookie Team - 1st Team (2015), NHL All-Star - 1st Team (2022)

After a memorable playoff run, Gaudreau opted to pursue a new deal in free agency, signing with the Columbus Blue Jackets on July 13, 2022. During his first season in a new city, Gaudreau was once again an NHL All-Star, scoring 21 goals with 74 points in 80 games.

During his second season, his production dipped to 12 goals and 60 points as the Blue Jackets found themselves in the Draft Lottery sweepstakes.

Tragically, Johhny and his brother Matthew were killed while riding their bikes in New Jersey on holiday in August 2024. In 763 career games, he tallied 243 games and 743 points.

Regarding his place in Flames history, in just 602 games, Gaudreau went on to become the franchise's fifth-highest scorer with 609 points, behind only Iginla (1,095), Theo Fleury (830), Al MacInnis (822), and Joe Nieuwendyk (616).

Related: Flames Quarter-Century First Team: Mark Giordano

Related: Flames Quarter-Century First Team: Matthew Tkachuk

Related: Flames Quarter-Century First Team: Robyn Regehr

Related: Flames Quarter-Century First Team: Miikka Kiprusoff