Johnny Gaudreau signs with the Columbus Blue Jackets

Fire the cannon! In an absolute shocker, Johnny Gaudreau has decided to sign a seven-year deal worth $9.5M AAV with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1547355674874634242?s=20&t=pJzJ9arFIzQImdZaRtOPeg

Much of the day was coming down to whether or not the New York Islanders or the New Jersey Devils would sign Johnny Gaudreau. It came as a surprise to everyone.

Gaudreau, 28, is coming off a career year where he scored 115 points. 40 of those being goals. Columbus should expect much next season, with Gaudreau and Laine playing on the same team.

This is an elite signing by Jarmo Kekalainen. Gaudreau didn’t want to stay in Calgary for whatever reason, putting Columbus in an excellent position to compete. Columbus was 14th in the league with 3.15 goals/game, and we should expect to see a similar number next season.

By coming to terms with Gaudreau, what does this say about the city of Columbus? Hopefully, Laine will stay in town, and they can surround those two players with talent as required. You have to imagine that this will attract future free agents. When you bring in a player who finished fourth in Hart Trophy voting, it helps establish Columbus as a defined hockey market.

As for Calgary, does this mean they have to rebuild? It certainly doesn’t help to lose a franchise player. At this time, there is no way you can replace a player of that stature. In addition, the Flames lost Erik Gudbranson to fittingly enough, the Columbus Blue Jackets. Who is going to do the scoring for the Flames next season? By having Gaudreau sign with Columbus, it seems like the flame has been extinguished.

Stanley Cup Aspirations Cue’ the Duck Boats Pod

The boys are back after a long break but have plenty to talk about as the playoffs are in full swing. We go series by series, looking at how teams have fared so far and who will come out on top. Thanks for listening! Please rate and review our show on your favorite listening platform. Check out our partner's website at www.insidetherink.com for all your latest hockey news.
  1. Stanley Cup Aspirations
  2. The Final Countdown
  3. Here Come the Playoffs
  4. Home Stretch
  5. Kevy Cooks

Discover more from Inside The Rink

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Leave a Reply

Jack Nesbitt skating for the Windsor Spitfires

2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Jack Nesbitt

Jack Nesbitt is a 6-foot-4, 185-pound center from Sarnia, Ontario. Nesbitt was the 20th overall pick in the first round of the 2023 OHL Priority Selection by the Windsor Spitfires. The forward played two full seasons with Windsor. His first season, Nesbitt scored nine goals with nine assists in 58 games with a minus-32. But […]

Read More
Brady Martin skating for the Soo Greyhounds

Boston Bruins Eyeing Physical Forward in NHL Draft

The Boston Bruins are positioned to do something they haven’t done since 2011, select in the top ten of the NHL Draft. After missing the playoffs for the first time in nine years and having a prospect pool that is still among the worst in the league, it seemed reasonable to think that the Bruins […]

Read More
Benjamin Kindel skating for the Calgary Hitmen

2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Benjamin Kindel

Benjamin Kindel is a 5-foot-10, 180-pound right-wing from Coquitlam, British Columbia. Kindel played two full seasons with the Calgary Hitmen of the Western Hockey League from 2023-25 and totaled 50 goals and 109 assists in 133 regular season games and 15 points in 11 postseason contests. The forward was a first-team All-Star as well during […]

Read More