Sean Monahan grieving Gaudreaus, loving Columbus: 'I'm proud to be a Blue Jacket'

The loudest cheers are usually reserved for the longest-tenured Blue Jackets.

Sean Monahan , however, just signed July 1 as an unrestricted free agent and played in a Blue Jackets uniform for the first time Saturday when he was greeted by roaring Columbus fans at Nationwide Arena. Monahan’s two goals in the third period then sparked a 6-3 exhibition victory over the Buffalo Sabres.

“To be honest, from Day 1 I’ve felt good,” Monahan said. “We have a real good group of guys here, and the organization is as well. It feels kind of like home right away. I’m proud to be a Blue Jacket.”

That first cheer for him felt like a hug.

Monahan, 29, partly signed with the Blue Jackets to reunite with Johnny Gaudreau , a close friend and former teammate with the Calgary Flames who was killed along with his brother, Matthew, on Aug. 29 while riding bicycles in New Jersey . It was a tragedy that rocked the NHL , particularly in Columbus and Calgary, and left players across the league gutted.

Monahan, meanwhile, bonded with his new teammates, in a new NHL city, in a way that is unimaginable and unbreakable. His stall in the Blue Jackets’ locker room is still situated right next to Gaudreau’s, where a blue No. 13 jersey now hangs as a memorial that will be with this team – home and road – all season.

The Jackets will also wear stickers bearing both Gaudreau brothers' numbers, and the home opener Oct. 15 against the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers will be preceded by a ceremony to honor the Gaudreaus, who each played at Boston College before advancing into professional hockey.

Seeing Johnny Gaudreau's jersey in its stall for the first time “hit different,” for Monahan, who also bought a home down the street from Gaudreau after signing his five-year contract. It took a couple periods to get the feel of playing an actual game back, but Monahan and his linemates – captain Boone Jenner and Kirill Marchenko – showed in the third what they can do together.

More: Columbus Blue Jackets to start first season bonding with new center over loss of Gaudreau

“It’s the first game ... new organization, new linemates, new system,” Monahan said. “There’s a lot that goes into it. I’m not going to lie. It was a pretty heavy night, walking in to see Johnny’s jersey hanging there for the first time, too. It was nice to get out there and play, so we got the first one out of the way and go from there.”

As time passes, Gaudreau’s jersey and other reminders will become welcome sources of motivation. Through their first two preseason games, all postgame player interviews took place with Gaudreau’s jersey in the background. That will likely become a common visual.

“I look at it, and it brings back a lot of memories,” Monahan said. “Smiles. Laughs. I mean, today was the first time seeing it. It obviously hit a little bit different, but anytime I see his stuff around the locker room and whatnot, it brings back good memories for me.”

Making the Jackets’ goal cannon fire might, too, eventually. Like Gaudreau, who’d often duck as a visiting player when the cannon fired, Monahan is still warming to it. Setting it off, like he did twice against Buffalo, will help with the adjustment.

“It was good,” Monahan said, smirking. “It still scares me a little bit, but I’ll get used to it, I’m sure.”

bhedger@dispatch.com

@BrianHedger

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Sean Monahan grieving Gaudreaus, loving Columbus: 'I'm proud to be a Blue Jacket'