Jackets raise Gaudreau banner on 'emotional night'

Johnny Gaudreau's Columbus teammates were given few options for how to handle their emotions during the Blue Jackets' home opener.

If you want to cry, cry.

If you want to laugh, laugh.

The only rule — play the game “Johnny Hockey” way and with him in mind.

Emotions were high in Columbus Tuesday night as the Blue Jackets paid tribute to their star and his late brother Matthew in their home opener against the Florida Panthers. Among the highlights: a banner was raised in Gaudreau's memory; Fans cheer, both teams tap ice sticks in traditional hockey salute; And his family looked on, their arms entwined.

And before the puck dropped, the teams were still as 13 seconds — Johnny Gaudreau's number — ran off the clock, and with his left-wing position vacant, the Blue Jackets sent four skaters on the ice instead of the usual five. The puck drops, and the Blue Jackets' Sean Monahan throws it to Florida's Sam Bennett.

Monahan and Bennett were teammates with Gaudreau in Calgary. It could not be more fitting.

“I don't want anyone to be sad,” Johnny's wife, Meredith Gaudreau, said in a recorded message shortly before the encounter. “I want you all to be inspired by the life John lived. That means love your family first and foremost, and when it's time to drop the puck, let's love the game John loved.”

Johnny Gaudreau, a Blue Jackets star entering his third season with the club and 11th NHL season overall, and his brother Matthew Gaudreau were killed Aug. 29 when police said they were struck by a suspected drunken driver. Their sister Katie was riding her bicycle down a rural New Jersey road on the eve of her wedding.

“It's such an unprecedented thing and something that obviously none of us wanted to go through, and no one ever wants to go through,” Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason said Monday, finalizing preparations for Goudreau's home-opener celebration. . “But we have to.”

Gaudreau, 31, wore the No. 13 jersey for the Blue Jackets. Matthew Gaudreau — who is 29 years old and has played five pro seasons in the American Hockey League, East Coast Hockey League and Sweden — wore the No. 21 jersey. All 32 NHL teams are wearing decals with the letters 13, 21 and G on their helmets through October 24. USA Hockey paid similar tributes to its teams at all levels this year.

On Tuesday, “13” tributes were everywhere. Both the Blue Jackets and Panthers took the ice for warmups wearing “Gaudreau” and No. 13 jerseys; Those sweaters will be auctioned off and raffled off to benefit the John and Matthew Gaudreau Foundation. There was a “13” on the ice behind the goal. All fans in attendance received a “13” patch on their jerseys this season, similar to the Blue Jackets.

“It's an emotional night for the hockey world,” Bennett said. “I'm glad I can be here and honor his legacy in any way I can.”

The Panthers, like the rest of the NHL, are mourning the Blue Jackets. Gaudreau was absolutely loved by the players, whether they were ever his teammates or not. Florida star Matthew Tkachuk, who missed the game due to illness, knows Gaudreau's affinity for purple Gatorade and bags of Skittles. So, every Panther player got off the bus in Columbus Tuesday afternoon with Gatorade and Skittles in hand.

“Johnny was a huge part of the hockey community, but to me he was so much more than that,” said Tkachuk, Gaudreau's teammate for six seasons in Calgary. “A great friend, teammate and family man. Not a day goes by without thinking about Johnny and Matthew.”

Johnny Gaudreau — 5-foot-9 and 165 pounds — was a star at Boston College before making it to the NHL, making his Finals debut with Calgary in the 2013-14 season. His first goal came on his first shot in his first game and his star only continued to shine from there.

Monahan was the player who fished the puck out of the net after Gaudreau's first goal.

“I saw it firsthand. He had an impact on a lot of people,” Monahan said. “I mean, the players that play against him are his fans and watch him and study his game and try to be like him.”

Monahan probably never wanted to be an ass. Going forward, the Blue Jackets will be called one.

“Johnny was a huge part of the hockey community but to me he was so much more than that. A great friend, teammate and family man. Not a day goes by without thinking about Johnny and Matthew.”

Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk

Johnny Gaudreau used the word — “ass” — freely and affectionately around friends and teammates. The Blue Jackets have held a celebration for nearly a decade in which the player in the game can wear a Civil War-style cap, chosen by the recipient's previous player recipient. KP is now retired. The game player now gets a donkey hat. Monahan was the first to get it.

“I'm really glad we kind of turned it around,” Blue Jackets defenseman Erik Gudbranson said. “I think it suits us. It was a great idea. And, you know, we wish the little guy would still call us here, but Moni is definitely the right guy to get it the first time.”

Guy Gaudreau, the late brother's father and longtime coach, was on the ice with the Blue Jackets for practice Monday in Columbus and returned for Tuesday morning's skate. There is no end to respect. They will continue, one way or another, for years to come.

“There are going to be some tough moments, no doubt,” Gudbranson said. “We still miss him.”

But they will cheer him on forever. As the banner with his name went up, fans chanted “Johnny Hockey” as some of his family couldn't help but smile in tribute. The game is played later. It seemed minor.

“The first half,” Panthers coach Paul Morris said, “is obviously the most important part of tonight's event.”