Johnny Gaudreau not delivering on Blue Jackets promise

Former Calgary Flames star Johnny Gaudreau is struggling in his second season in Columbus, scoring just one goal through the opening 11 games and being benched by Blue Jackets head coach Pascal Vincent for the last 16 minutes of a 2-1 loss against the Washington Capitals.

Video Transcript

JULIAN MCKENZIE: [? Johnny ?] Gaudreau out in Columbus having a really interesting season, not in a good way. Over the weekend was benched for the final 16 plus minutes of a 2-1 loss against the Washington Capitals. Pascal Vincent, the head coach of the Blue Jackets, saying this at the end of the game, "I'm coaching a team.

The guys are going to play are going to play. Everything is earned. When the game starts, it's not about your name, it's about what's on the front of your jersey and who we believe are going to give us a chance to win." That is such a cliche, it hurts.

- Yep.

JULIAN MCKENZIE: I just want that said. What do you guys think of Johnny Gaudreau not playing well in Columbus?

- Yeah, I mean, I just-- I don't think he is delivering on what was, quote unquote, promised. I think-- I think when he signed that deal, he probably knew that Columbus is probably going to have maybe like two or three years of, kind of, being like a [INAUDIBLE] team, kind of a bad team. And then, you'll be there for when it-- for when they turn it over.

But even still, when they're bad, you still kind of be like a leader, whether it's on the ice and off the ice. And Gaudreau is just not doing that. And even watching him play, especially this season, I just haven't noticed that same kind of flare, that same flash that he had in Calgary. And, I don't know-- I don't know, maybe it's just a mixed bag of like-- of like all the awkward stuff that that's happened so far this year.

But, I mean, hey, I'll give Columbus one thing, I mean, you hold the stars accountable, then it's a good trickle down effect. And they still have some young players probably-- probably, you know, looking to play games and such. So it's nice to see a coach hold his stars accountable and you know. And--

JULIAN MCKENZIE: Yeah, especially in Columbus.

- Yeah, especially-- especially in Columbus where, you know, holding on to stars has always been an issue. So on the bright side, at least you see that the coaching staff is taking things seriously. But like, yeah-- like, especially with Leon being out, like, you need that offensive weapon. And if this is something that Gaudreau kind of needs to kind of, I don't know, get like a little kick in the ass there to kind of play better, then hopefully it works out there. But I don't-- I, again, like just that same flare and flash, I haven't noticed-- noticed from him this year.