Johnny was not only good he was great. As a Calgary Flame during the 21-22 season he had one of the best seasons for a winger in recent memory with 115 points and was an astounding plus 62. He played alongside Matthew Tkachul and Elias Lindholm who also had career seasons. This death hits hard on so many levels for me because it is the first hockey player that I enjoyed watching that has passed away. I am used to seeing baseball players, basketball players and football players dying for whatever reason, but hockey players are built different and this is not supposed to happen.
The only players that I can think of are those that suffered from mental illness took their own lives. Wade Belak comes to mind which is also a tragic situation and something that should be taken care of by the NHL, but the senseless death that not only gutted the Gaudreau family, but the entire sports world, what can be done? Nothing.
There needs to be better laws against drunk driving. Whatever laws the U.S has against this mindless and selfish act, it is not good enough. Johnny hockey was an amazing player and better father and husband and that piece of shit driver who does not even deserve to be named here, did not give two fucks about what he did. Pardon my language, but I have been spending the past two days looking for something positive about this entire situation and there simply is not one. One of the best players of the current era is gone and so many people are effected and showing their sorrows all over social media.
Thinkg about that. The number of people that are showing what Johnny meant to them is magical.. Dozens of athletes across the sports world have reached out to share a thought about what Johnny meant to them. Hundreds of fans. in Calgary and Columbus have also reached out and created memorials for their fallen superstar. This is what life is about, remebering and I get that, but the bottom line is that Johnny Hockey is gone and we will never watch him play again.
As a sports card collector I also think about what his death means to the hobby. Johnny had fans that is for sure. My friend Brad is a Blue Jackets collector and I could tell from his mailday posts that whenever he received a Columbus card it was special and extra special if there was a Gaudreau involved. Gaudreau does not sign much in products and his autos are affordable. Personally, I do not have much in the way of Gaurdreau cards. Maybe a couple of rookie cards and a game used somewhere, but he is someone worth collecting that is for sure. I am just too focused on my personal collecting and busting wax that I never have the funds or wherewithal to purchase singles.
Johnny Hockey, best nickname in sports. Gone way too soon and he will be forever missed. Fly high and like Flames great Lanny McDonald said. Take it easy on the old guys up there in the hockey rink in the sky.
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