Johnny Gaudreau sheds light on Columbus signing
Posted Jul 15, 2022 9:37 am.
Last Updated Jul 15, 2022 2:00 pm.
A day after Calgary Flames fans were told that superstar forward Johnny “Hockey” Gaudreau wasn’t coming back, they were hit with the puzzling news that he signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
There were strong rumours about Gaudreau heading to his hometown team in Philadelphia, or one of the many teams in the vicinity, but Columbus wasn’t on anyone’s radar.
CityNews sports anchor Sandra Prusina says there was collective shock from the hockey world when news of the signing broke.
“For Flames fans, it’s kind of hard to comprehend when (Flames GM) Brad Treliving said, ‘OK, he’s not coming back because of family reasons,'” Prusina said. “Well if you look at a map, I don’t think it’s that close geographically.”
Gaudreau, speaking with reporters Thursday wearing his new Blue Jackets jersey, was asked about his decision to leave Calgary.
“It was a tough decision — I mean, it went right down to probably 11 o’clock the night before free agency where I decided I wasn’t going to go back,” Gaudreau said.
Throughout the entire will-he won’t-he saga with Gaudreau, Flames fans knew that his family would be a key player in where he ended up. And while Columbus is still a two-hour plane ride away from his relatives, it’s a lot closer to his family than Calgary is.
Gaudreau’s sister, Katie, thanked Calgary in a tweet, but also shined light on the fact that the past decade has been tough on the Gaudreau family.
“I love you Calgary,” the post reads. “I remember being destroyed 11 years ago when my big brother was going so far away… but this city and the fans are so special. Thank you for letting the Gaudreau Family be apart of your family. I am so honored the Flames were/are apart of our family.”
I love you Calgary.
I remember being destroyed 11 years ago when my big brother was going so far away… but this city and the fans are so special. Thank you for letting the Gaudreau Family be apart of your family. I am so honored the Flames were/are apart of our family.
https://t.co/SbHF12m2zW
— katie gaudreau (@katie_gaudreau) July 14, 2022
When asked about why he chose Columbus as his destination, Gaudreau said he needed a change. He said he thinks the team has a nice core group, adding he and his wife Meredith both agree Columbus was the right decision for their family.
Thank you Calgary
— Meredith Gaudreau (@meredithmo1007) July 14, 2022
“It didn’t matter where I was signing. I think our decision was: It was best for us not to go back to Calgary,” Gaudreau said.
“Then we decided to figure out what was the best option for us and Columbus was right up on the top of the list there. It had no reason on whether it was close to home or not, they were a team that I was really excited about.”
Sportsnet’s Eric Francis made some divisive comments about Gaudreau’s departure.
“I think it’s embarrassing, I think Johnny Gaudreau embarrassed himself,” Francis told Sportsnet 650 The Fan.
“When asked about why he left Calgary he basically said, ‘you know it was time for a change and I’ll leave it at that.’ What do you mean you’ll leave it at that?” Francis said. “I think you owe the city a little bit more than that.”
Francis said he understands why Calgarians may sound like “a jilted lover” when expressing their disappointment over Gaudreau’s signing with Columbus.
"I think you owe the city a little bit more than that."@EricFrancis joined The People's Show to discuss Johnny Gaudreau's move to Columbus. @BikNizzar | @RandipJanda
????https://t.co/SrxeeEXwp6
????https://t.co/mVn64gPx4i pic.twitter.com/ArLdXFSn84— Sportsnet 650 (@Sportsnet650) July 14, 2022
“It’s just because of the disrespect — I think — that he afforded the organization, that I think deserved a little bit better,” Francis said. “They were willing to make him one of the highest paid players in the world, and he in turn, turned around at the eleventh hour and I think stabbed them in the back. That, to me, is why people in this city are absolutely furious and I don’t think they are out of line.”
Reaction to Francis’ comments on social media is mixed — with some agreeing they didn’t appreciate how Gaudreau handled things — and others saying he was a free agent who had the right to make any decision he wanted.
–With files from Chris Bowen
