Blue Jackets had awesome tribute to late Johnny Gaudreau

Dec 20, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Johnny Gaudreau (13) against the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

The Columbus Blue Jackets paid tribute to the late Johnny Gaudreau on Tuesday night.

The Blue Jackets lost 3-2 to the Florida Panthers in their first home game of the season at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. At the start of the game, the Blue Jackets played without a left winger for 13 seconds.

Gaudreau played left wing during his NHL career, and 13 was his jersey number.

Gaudreau and his younger brother Matthew were killed in August after the two were struck by a drunk driver while biking in their hometown of Oldmans Township, N.J. Johnny was 31 and Matthew was 29.

A fourth-round pick by the Calgary Flames in the 2011 NHL Draft, Gaudreau played 11 seasons in the NHL. He was with the Flames for nine seasons before signing a 7-year, $68.25 million contract with Columbus before the 2022-23 campaign.

In his final season with the Blue Jackets, Gaudreau recorded 12 goals and scored 60 points in 81 games played. He finished with 243 goals and 743 points in 763 career NHL games.

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