Johnny Gaudreau returned to the NHL metropolis that catapulted him to league stardom for the primary time since leaving.
As a Calgary Flame in his first eight seasons {of professional} hockey out of Boston School, the left wing stepped again onto Saddledome ice Monday in Columbus Blue Jackets colours.
His Blue Jackets teammates gave Gaudreau a style of what to anticipate at evening in his first sport again in Calgary by booing him when he hit the puck within the morning skate.
“It was humorous,” Gaudreau stated after the pregame skate. “Simply lightened the temper a bit. I may barely maintain on, I used to be laughing so arduous up and down the ice.”
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The 29-year-old from Salem, NJ, who left Calgary as an unrestricted free agent for a US market final July, was much less shocking than his selection of vacation spot.
The Blue Jackets missed the playoffs by 19 factors final season and had been in final place within the NHL heading into Monday’s sport at 14-30-2.
“We have struggled with numerous accidents this season,” Gaudreau stated.
“Some youngsters are referred to as that I did not actually know effectively. It has been nice attending to know them, offers me the chance to type of get to know much more folks within the group.”
Gaudreau and the Blue Jackets agreed to a seven-year, US$68.25 million contract.
The Flames then signed left wing Jonathan Huberdeau to eight years and $84 million, suggesting Gaudreau left cash on the desk to signal with Columbus.
“I would not change a factor,” Gaudreau stated. “I knew how particular this place was to me. It took a very long time to determine what I used to be going to do. It was tremendous, tremendous arduous on me. An extended month there to seek out out if I am going or not.”
Gaudreau led the Flames in factors in all however two of his eight years in Calgary.
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He posted profession numbers final season with 40 targets and 75 assists in 82 video games.
His 115 factors are tied with Huberdeau for second within the league behind Edmonton’s Connor McDavid.
Gaudreau added three targets and 11 assists in a dozen playoff video games.
His Sport 7 time beyond regulation winner in opposition to the Dallas Stars electrified the Saddledome and despatched the Flames into the postseason’s second spherical for the primary time in seven years.
“I used to be dissatisfied to lose Johnny,” Flames head coach Darryl Sutter stated Monday. “I loved teaching him and loved watching his progress final yr.
“He is a puck possession man. Not only a provider, however he is a man who has performed loads to alter the tides of video games.”
The burning query after Calgary’s second spherical exit by the hands of the Oilers was would “Johnny Hockey” keep or go?
Because the gamers headed into the offseason, Gaudreau stated “all the pieces about this metropolis that I like.”
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Gaudreau’s need to finally play in an American market nearer to his East Coast household was recognized, Flames teammate Mikael Backlund stated.
“The entire time he was right here he at all times stated he needed to play within the U.S. in some unspecified time in the future and it’s important to respect that,” Backlund stated.
“When he went into free company final yr, it appeared like he was extra constructive about staying and possibly desirous to re-sign, however on the similar time, you at all times knew he needed to return to the US and play there in some unspecified time in the future.”
Gaudreau, whose spouse Meredith had a child lady in October, stated Columbus was merely the best match for his life circumstances.
“I’ve a rising household now,” he stated. “We now have that distance the place we are able to type of do our personal factor, however shut sufficient the place our households can simply stroll within the door.
“I do not know what number of occasions I’ve seen my father stroll via the door. Did not know he was going to indicate up and simply present up out of the blue. He loves it. It was essential to me.”
Blue Jackets head coach Brad Larsen admitted Gaudreau might be an emotional evening.
“Your first one quarterback is at all times the toughest, regardless of if it is hostile, not hostile,” Larsen stated. “It at all times has particular that means it doesn’t matter what.
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“The participant has the best to decide, whether or not we prefer it or not. That is what the (collective bargaining settlement) says.”
Each Gaudreau and Huberdeau had been effectively behind their 115 factors from final season.
Gaudreau had 13 targets and 31 assists in his forty seventh sport Monday, whereas Huberdeau had 9 targets and 23 assists in 44 video games.
In contrast to Columbus, Calgary was in playoff rivalry going into Monday’s sport, regardless of struggling to remain within the wild-card place within the Western Convention.
© 2023 The Canadian Press
