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Shortly before Johnny Gaudreau shockingly died after being hit by a suspected drunk driver in his New Jersey hometown Thursday night, his teammate Sean Monahan was talking him up during a podcast appearance.
Monahan, who had played with Gaudreau in Calgary, signed with the Blue Jackets this offseason in what was set to be a reunion with a player who had made the same Calgary to Columbus move two summers prior.
“Johnny’s one of my best friends,” Monahan said on an episode of the “What Chaos!” podcast that was released Wednesday. “And I think to go full circle, kinda start when I was 18, 19 [years old] with him and to come back and be able to play with him again is pretty cool. We both have sons that are two or three months apart so they get to grow up together.
“I think looking at the team, you got some real solid veteran guys who are gonna step up and be a big part of this team for now and the future. I think what I’ve been through in my career and the type of player and person I am, I think it’ll really help out those guys, the organization, move this team back to being competitive.”
When he signed with the Blue Jackets two years ago for seven years and $68.5 million, Gaudreau said it was in part to be closer to New Jersey, where he grew up.
He was in town for his sister Katie’s wedding, where he and his brother Matthew were set to be groomsmen.
The brothers were out biking when they were hit by a suspected drunk driver attempting to pass another vehicle.
Follow the NY Post’s coverage on NHL star Johnny Gaudreau’s tragic death at 31:
Monahan described Gaudreau as a “quiet guy” — in contrast to his nickname, Johnny Hockey, which was anything but.
“A lot of people think he’s some crazy guy, but no. He’s pretty simple,” Monahan said. “Just an awesome, all-around guy. Great dad, great friend. Obviously a special player.”
Gaudreau led the Blue Jackets in points last season and figured to play a key role in their rebuild, with the signing of Monahan further helping improve the team after a last-place finish in 2023-24.
“A lot of great defensemen, some veteran guys,” Monahan said of the Blue Jackets. “A mix of everything back there. There’s some really, really skilled young guys. Some young guys who are gonna be top players in the league real soon. It’s an exciting group. It’s gonna be good.”
