JULY 13, 2022
COLUMBUS, OHIO – The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed All-Star left wing Johnny Gaudreau to a seven-year, $68.25 million contract ($9.75 million AAV) through the 2028-29 National Hockey League season, General Manager and Alternate Governor Jarmo Kekalainen announced on Wednesday.
Gaudreau, who turns 29 on August 13, has registered 210 goals and 399 assists for 609 points, including 46-125-171 on the power play, 41 game-winning goals and 1,622 shots on goal in 602 career NHL games with the Calgary Flames since being selected in the fourth round, 104th overall, at the 2011 NHL Draft. He ranks third in the NHL in assists and sixth in the NHL in points since playing in his first full NHL campaign in 2014-15 with 209-399-608 in 601 contests.
“Johnny Gaudreau is a superstar in the National Hockey League, and we couldn’t be happier to welcome him to the Columbus Blue Jackets family,” said Kekalainen. “He is an elite player with great character that makes the players around him better. We are thrilled to add a player of his caliber to our group. This is an exciting day for our franchise, our fans and the city of Columbus.”
Gaudreau is a six-time All-Star (2015-19, 2022) and captured the Lady Byng Trophy as the NHL’s most gentlemanly player in 2016-17. Last season, he was named to the NHL’s First All-Star Team after leading the NHL in plus/minus rating and finishing tied for second in points, third in assists and 15th-T in goals with a career-high 40-75-115 and was +64 in 82 games with the Flames. He has scored 30-plus goals in three of his eight NHL campaigns, while topping 40-plus assists seven times and 60-plus points on six occasions.
The 5-9, 165-pound winger was a finalist for the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s Rookie of the Year and was named to the All-Rookie Team in 2014-15 after leading League rookies in assists with 24-40-64 and 14 PIM in 80 outings with Calgary. He posted the first of his three 30-plus goal campaigns the next season, finishing with 30-48-78 in 79 appearances. Gaudreau posted back-to-back 60-assist and 80-point campaigns in 2017-18 and 2018-19. He collected 24-60-84 in 80 games in 2017-18 before totaling 36-63-99 in 82 contests the following season.
Gaudreau finished a prolific college career with 78-97-175, 53 penalty minutes and a cumulative +81 plus/minus rating in 119 games over three seasons at Boston College from 2011-14. He helped the team capture the NCAA championship during his freshman campaign, was named a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award as the best collegiate player in the country as a sophomore and then captured the award in his final campaign after leading the nation in goals, assists and points with 36-44-80 in 40 outings.
The Salem, New Jersey native has played for the United States at numerous international tournaments. He represented Team USA at the 2014, 2017, 2018 (bronze) and 2019 IIHF World Championships and was named to the tournament all-star team at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championships after leading the U.S. squad to a gold medal.
Full and partial season tickets for the Blue Jackets’ 2022-23 campaign are currently available for purchase. Information on all ticketing options can be obtained by calling (614) 246-3350 or visiting BlueJackets.com/ticketplans.
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