Matthew Tkachuk sends heartfelt message for Johnny Gaudreau and family after injury forces him to miss Blue Jackets game

By Nestor Quixtan

Modified Oct 16, 2024 00:11 GMT

Florida Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk, former teammate of the late Johnny Gaudreau, sent a heartfelt message to the Gaudreau family.

The message comes in light of Tkachuk missing Tuesday night’s Columbus Blue Jackets-Florida Panthers matchup at Nationwide Arena. During the pre-game warmups, both teams are expected to wear #13 Johnny Gaudreau jerseys to honor the late Blue Jackets star.

Here’s a look at Tkachuk’s message:

Matthew Tkachuk and Johnny Gaudreau were teammates during their tenure with the Calgary Flames. Both were drafted and developed by the Flames.

They played their best season together in 2021-2022 when Gaudreau posted a career-high 115 points.

Gaudreau left Calgary as a free agent following the season. He signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets in the summer of 2022, while Tkachuk was traded to the Panthers that same offseason.

However, the bonds that held Tkachuk and Gaudreau together have not been broken even with Johnny Hockey’s untimely demise. Meanwhile, Tkachuk has been sidelined by what the Panthers call an illness, according to The Hockey News.

Tkachuk also missed the Panthers’ last game against the Boston Bruins. The Panthers could expect to have Tkachuk back in the lineup at some point next week.

Columbus Blue Jackets’ home opener to honor Johnny Gaudreau

Tuesday night’s game against the Florida Panthers marks the Blue Jackets’ 2024-25 home opener. While the game would otherwise be cause for celebration, the festivities are dampened by the sadness of Gaudreau’s death.

In addition to the pre-game jersey demonstration, Nationwide Arena will be decorated as a homage to the Gaudreau brothers. Fans in attendance will receive a “13” patch to honor Johnny, while puck drop is scheduled for 7:13 pm.

The Blue Jackets’ home opener is just one of the many tributes for the Gaudreau brothers. ESPN aired a touching tribute during its season-opening broadcast. Meanwhile, the Calgary Flames also held a special ceremony before their home opener last Saturday.

Other clubs around the league have paid their respects to Johnny Hockey with some players like the Montreal Canadiens’ Cole Caufield switching to the number 13 in honor of Gaudreau.

The entire 2024-25 is expected to be filled with touching tributes to one of the league’s most memorable stars. The tragic loss of Johnny Hockey will take quite some time for fans to get over, not just in Columbus and Calgary, but all over the NHL.