Matthew Tkachuk estimated he tells a story about Johnny Gaudreau’s exploits, both the on-ice and off-ice variety, to somebody at least once a week.
And he’s not going to stop.
Tkachuk spoke Wednesday about the death of his longtime friend and former teammate, calling Gaudreau “the most offensively talented player I’ve ever seen.” Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, were killed on Aug. 29 when police said they were struck by a suspected drunken driver while they were riding bicycles on a rural road in New Jersey.
“It was such an honour to play with him,” Tkachuk said at Florida’s media day in Fort Lauderdale, the first formal event of the new season for the Panthers as they prepare to open defense of the Stanley Cup.
“And you guys all saw what he did on the ice. I was the lucky one out of everybody in this room to have a great relationship with him off. So those are the memories I will take. But it’s been terrible. It really has.”
Gaudreau and Tkachuk were teammates in Calgary for six seasons. Tkachuk was traded to Florida in the summer of 2022, the off-season in which Gaudreau left the Flames to play for the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Gaudreau and his younger brother were killed near their childhood home in South Jersey the evening before they were set to serve as groomsmen at their sister Katie’s wedding. The driver who police say struck them is charged with two counts of death by auto, along with reckless driving, possession of an open container and consuming alcohol in a motor vehicle.
“It’s been terrible,” Tkachuk said. “It really has.”
WATCH | NHL mourns Johnny Gaudreau’s death:
NHL player Johnny Gaudreau, a 31-year-old forward for the Columbus Blue Jackets, and his younger brother Matthew were killed Thursday night when they were hit by a car while riding bicycles in their home state of New Jersey.
The tributes for Gaudreau and his brother have been constant since their deaths and won’t end anytime soon. Tkachuk and the Panthers will be the opponent in Columbus on Oct. 15 when the Blue Jackets play their first regular-season home game since Gaudreau was killed, a game certain to be incredibly emotional.
“Johnny is one of my favourite teammates that I’ve ever played with. Such a great friend,” Tkachuk said. “It doesn’t matter if you knew them or played against them or even if you just have a sibling, everybody can relate to this. And it’s been terrible. I’m always going to carry something around where he’s always with me.”
Tkachuk was one of many in the hockey world who attended the services for the Gaudreau brothers earlier this month. He said he constantly has been thinking about Johnny Gaudreau’s wife, Meredith, their children who lost their father and the parents who lost their sons.
“I think everybody has an amazing job of telling stories and keeping him present, because that’s exactly what he would want is for us to smile about him and tell the fun stories about what a great player and teammate he was — and a better guy,” Tkachuk said. “My memory of him will go on forever.”
Blue Jackets to wear stickers on helmets
The Columbus Blue Jackets plan to remember Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau throughout the upcoming NHL season.
Johnny Gaudreau played with the Blue Jackets the past two campaigns following eight-plus seasons with the Calgary Flames. His younger brother was a hockey teammate at Boston College.
Blue Jackets players will wear a sticker on their helmets starting Monday in the team’s pre-season opener at the Buffalo Sabres and through the 2024-25 season. The blue decal with gray trim will have their last name surrounded by two doves and Johnny’s jersey No. 13 and Matthew’s college number, 21, in white.
When the Blue Jackets meet the St. Louis Blues two days later at their first pre-season home game, a moment of silence will be held.
And when the regular season begins on Oct. 10 at the Minnesota Wild, and throughout the season, the Blue Jackets will wear Johnny’s No. 13 on their jerseys.
Additional activities to honour the brothers are expected to be announced at a later date.