“He will be in there, and he will be a presence, and he will help us win hockey games, and he’ll hopefully get us to where we want to be … and that’s to win a Stanley Cup,” Dean Evason summed it up in the best way. This season was an emotional one for the Blue Jackets with the passing of Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew. But, to the surprise of many, the team rallied together in the memory of their star forward and pushed hard all season, coming frustratingly close to a wildcard spot. The playoffs proved a little too elusive this time around, but the team nonetheless fought till the end. And the Blue Jackets capped off their season in the most fitting way possible: with tributes to Johnny Hockey.

They had nothing to play for, but the Blue Jackets still secured an emphatic 6-1 victory over the New York Islanders, ending their highest-scoring season in franchise history. With the game in its dying minutes, an overcapacity, 18,874-strong crowd at the Nationwide Arena burst into chants of “Johnny Hockey! Johnny Hockey!” And as the players skated laps around the ice post-game, waving goodbye to the fans, the song ‘Johnny B. Goode’ by Chuck Berry provided the soundtrack.

And just before the chants rang through the arena, the Blue Jackets played a heartfelt video montage of their season during the final TV timeout to a standing ovation. The whole of Nationwide Arena was filled with blue and red streamers flying. From No. 13 helmet stickers to keeping Gaudreau’s dressing room stall as it was to hanging his jersey up in the locker room for every game, the spirit of Gaudreau was an omnipresent force all season.

And the Gaudreau family? They too joined in on the celebration of the Blue Jackets and Johnny Hockey, with Meredith Gaudreau, the wife of Johnny Gaudreau resharing the video montage onto her Instagram story, writing, “So much love,” while Madeline Gaudreau, wife of Matthew Gaudreau brought to light a tribute post where both brothers were honored in the arena!

It was a heartfelt video shared by the Blue Jackets’ official Instagram handle that showcased the team’s spirit while remembering the one they lost and how it has shaped their journey so far. When it came to putting it into words, it wasn’t easy, as it left Evason almost in tears when he said, “Yeah. It’s a lot of stuff. Right? A lot of stuff. So, yeah … It’s just a lot of stuff that we’ll go over here, but we’re very proud of how this team played,” in the post-match conference.

And it highlighted not just the team’s playing style or the Blue Jackets’ overall position in the league but reflected how every shift on the ice carried the weight of their beloved player’s memory. To say that it was just a tribute would be an understatement, because it was more than that. Perhaps a reminder of the bond between the team and the Gaudreau family, who stood with them throughout an unforgettable season. And for the fans? Well, they have been emotionally expressive too!

Be it the Blue Jackets fans in the arena or at home, emotions were riding high for everyone after the Johnny Gaudreau tributes

Despite the Blue Jackets missing the playoffs, fans called the season something special. No one would have blamed the team for a poor season, but they instead rose to the occasion and honored the spirit of No. 13 in the way he would’ve liked best: by playing good hockey. “They definitely had JG #13 on their Shoulders this Season!!!❤️🙌🔥” one fan expressed, capturing the emotions the team embraced throughout their journey this season.

And it went on and on, with many fans filling up the comment sections with heartfelt messages. At the same time, one fan was already looking to build on this momentum for the next season. The fan boldly declared, “NEXT SEASON WE GO TO THE PLAY OFFS.” Because this was by no means the end. With a renewed sense of hope and pride buzzing around, another fan chimed in with, “Hellvua season you know Johnny would be so damn proud of this group,” giving a nod to the heart and hustle the CBJ players demonstrated.

Well, it didn’t just stop there. Even fans from the rival teams joined in on the celebratory reactions. “As a Rangers fan. I’m proud of their hardwork and dedication this year !” proving that respect even crosses city limits! Lastly, one fan captured the overwhelming sentiment of “even though they fell short of the playoffs, this was a hell of a season from them. respect to cbj.” Well, a final note that sounded loud and clear—the Blue Jackets have been remarkably amazing this season! What do you think?