The coach of the Blue Jackets, Dean Evason, talked about that he had the prospect to spend over two hours with Johnny shortly after being employed on July 22.
“Upon getting the position, I conversed with [general manager] Don Waddell and proposed, ‘I believe it's crucial that I meet with one player, and that player being Johnny Gaudreau, so that he can familiarize himself with me and we can kickstart our relationship,'” Evason defined. “It's not that I did not need to set up connections with each different participant, however I felt it was essential to satisfy Johnny. He replied, ‘Absolutely. Arrange a flight.'
“Thus, I organized a flight to Philadelphia, phoned him, and knowledgeable him, ‘I plan on having lunch.' He had simply completed his session on the rink along with his father, came to visit, and we dined collectively. … We ended up spending two, two and a half hours conversing concerning the group. And that is one lesson I've internalized. It was a real privilege to satisfy him and have that private time, nevertheless, all through our prolonged dialog, he by no means spoke of his wishes to play with a particular particular person or how he envisioned the ability play. All he spoke of was the group, his perception that this group might succeed and the way he wished to contribute, totally invested, unbothered by his place or teammates. All he wished was to play hockey and obtain victory in Columbus.
“It was a tremendous honor. It was a genuine pleasure to have had that opportunity.”
The coach of the Wild, John Hynes, has coached Johnny on a number of events for the United States at worldwide competitions, most lately on the 2024 IIHF World Championship in Prague.
“Everything that has been said about him holds true,” Hynes affirmed. “He's an distinctive particular person. Even over the past World Championship, we discovered ourselves touchdown in Newark and each having to undergo safety. Without Global Entry, the three of us – me, him, and Meredith [Johnny's wife] – stood in line ready to re-enter the nation for about an hour. An excellent particular person. Meredith, a beautiful woman, each in look and character.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to coach him and get to know him. However, one also grasps the seriousness of the situation and I am appreciative that I had the chance for him to impact my life as well.”
Prior to the sport at Xcel Energy Center, there will likely be a pregame tribute for the Gaudreaus with each groups current on the ice. This will not be the ultimate occasion the place the Blue Jackets take part in honoring the siblings.
“We have continuously communicated with our team, and we will persist in doing so because each team will be organizing something to commemorate Johnny and Matthew, and we will welcome these gestures,” Evason said. “It will not be a state of affairs the place we expect, ‘Oh, one other tribute.' Of course, we are going to. We are honoring their legacies and what they achieved, not simply as hockey figures, however as human beings. Our group has accomplished a outstanding job of remembering Johnny and holding his spirit alive with us, his ardour for the sport.
“We will carry this with us into this initial game and throughout the whole season, and naturally, beyond.”
