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What to know about Columbus Blue Jackets star Johnny Gaudreau after tragic death
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- What to know about Columbus Blue Jackets star Johnny Gaudreau after tragic death
The Columbus Blue Jackets and the NHL world suffered a tragic loss Thursday.
According to the Blue Jackets, star forward Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, were killed in Oldmans Township, New Jersey . There are reports they were killed while biking Thursday night in Oldmans Township, New Jersey , close to their hometown in Salem County, New Jersey.
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More on Johnny Gaudreau: Columbus Blue Jackets forward Johnny Gaudreau dead in New Jersey bike accident
Here's a look at the impact Gaudreau made in his two seasons with the Blue Jackets.
Johnny Gaudreau joined Columbus Blue Jackets as an NHL All-Star
Gaudreau already had a storied career when he first joined the Blue Jackets in 2022-23.
He spent nine seasons with the Calgary Flames where he was a two-time All-Star starter in the 2014-15 and 2021-22 seasons. Gaudreau had 210 goals and 399 assists during his Flames career, including a career high in both goals (40) and assists (75) in a 2021-22 season where he led the NHL in plus/minus (+64).
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Gaudreau played in seven All-Star games.
In two seasons with the Blue Jackets, Gaudreau had 33 goals and 101 assists in 161 games.
Johnny Gaudreau led Columbus Blue Jackets in scoring
Gaudreau was expected to be one of the key pieces of the Blue Jackets' future.
On July 13, 2022, Gaudreau signed a seven-year, $68.25 million deal with the Blue Jackets as an unrestricted free agent. According to reports, he chose the Blue Jackets after receiving an eight-year contract at $10.5 million per season to remain with the Flames.
He led the team with 60 points, scoring 12 goals and 48 assists in 81 games. Gaudreau's 48 assists last season were a team-high. However, his combined plus/minus in his two seasons with the Blue Jackets is -60.
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"Hockeywise, it's been tough," Gaudreau said . "Outside of hockey, we love it. I love the city, love being here. It's a special place, but the hockey part's been tough. I have five more years here, so hopefully we get to build something, try to make it back to the playoffs and do some special things, because I've really enjoyed my time here away from the rink. It'd make it a lot more enjoyable starting to win games and playing into May and June."
Johnny Gaudreau was known for his sportsmanship
Gaudreau developed a reputation for his sportsmanship across his NHL career.
He won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy in 2016-17, which is given to the NHL player who "exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability."
In February, Gaudreau was at the front of a Blue Jackets effort to donate $1,000 a point for men's mental health awareness through the "Laine Gives Back" program to support in Columbus after former Blue Jacket Patrik Laine received verbal attacks for personal mental health struggles on social media.
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Matthew Gaudreau, Johnny's brother, was a minor league hockey player
Matthew Gaudreau played four seasons of minor league hockey from 2017-22 with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, the Worchester Railers, the Reading Royals and the Stockton Heat. Per HockeyDB, he had 36 goals and 68 assists in 148 games.
Both Gaudreau brothers played at Boston College.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Johnny Gaudreau dead after tragic bike accident. 3 things to know
