Remembering Johnny Gaudreau: A Vibrant Spirit on the Ice

Columbus Blue Jackets winger Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were killed Thursday in biking accident according to New Jersey State Police in a release Friday.

Both brothers were New Jersey natives and had been home as they were getting ready to be groomsmen in their sister Katie's wedding that was scheduled for Friday.

The Blue Jackets put out a statement saying that the organization was "shocked and devastated" by the Gaudreau's deaths and that it is "an unimaginable tragedy."

The Calgary Flames also put out a statement saying that "Johnny was and always will be a member of the Flames family loved by all in Calgary."

Johnny was a fan favourite in both Calgary and Columbus for being a player who enjoyed being out on the ice each and every night. He was known for his nickname "Johnny Hockey" and fans got to know him through his many charitable causes like when he pledged to donate $1,000 for every point he recorded last season to men's mental health initiatives in honor of his teammate Patrik Laine.

Johnny also left an impact on the ice as he finished top five in Flames history in assists (399) and points (609) as well as leaving a legacy in Columbus that saw him sustain a 0.86 point-per-game average, which was third-best in team's history.

His brother Matthew also played professionally but spent most of his career in the ECHL, where he was a difference making player with 35 goals and 65 assists for 100 points in 127 games over four seasons.

This tragedy leaves many question marks in terms of the Columbus Blue Jackets next season and how they will perform with this tragic loss weighing on the team. We will further examine on a later date when it is appropriate to do so.

We've covered Johnny Gaudreau on this site several times and got to see first hand how great of a player he was as well as hear stories of how great of a person he was off the ice. His playing style and ability made him one of many players who helped break new ground for players 5-foot-9 or shorter.

Gaudreau's sensational skating and passing ability made him one of the best American-born hockey players of his generation. He brought joy to many hockey fans who enjoyed watching him play while also having a smile on his face. Johnny and Matthew will be missed and our thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Gaudreau family.