Both teams lined up at their respective blue lines and watched a video tribute highlighting Gaudreau’s time in Calgary to a rendition of “Johnny B. Goode” by Flames anthem singer George Canyon.
The Gaudreau family members were special guests at the game.
Johnny’s father Guy, mother Jane, wife Meredith and two children, along with sisters Kristen and Katie, stepped out to center-ice for a ceremonial face-off. Blue Jackets forward Sean Monahan, a good friend of Gaudreau, and Backlund, lined up for the draw with both teams surrounding the family.
“It speaks to our leadership group, [Monahan] obviously being on top of that,” Columbus coach Dean Evason said. “Just conducting himself in a professional manner and not shying away from showing his emotion and using it to move us forward. To see the family here and the outpouring of love and support of this organization, this city and this country, Canada, has been fantastic.”
Monahan played nine seasons in Calgary and eight with Gaudreau. He signed a five-year contract with the Blue Jackets on July 1, expecting to be reunited with his former Flames teammate. The Blue Jackets forward has been playing the entire season with a heavy heart.
“That meant a lot. I think a lot about him,” Backlund said of Monahan. “For him to move to Columbus to be reunited with Johnny, they were so excited to get to play with each other. For [Monahan] to have to go through that every day, it’s just heartbreaking and I think a lot about him. It was great to share that moment with him and show the support and love for the family.”