Gaudreau's first Blue Jackets season couldn't be going much better or worse

brian hedger, the columbus dispatch

Tue, Nov 15, 2022, 12:13 PM·4 min read

In a number of ways, Johnny Gaudreau’s life couldn’t be much better.

He signed a seven-year contract with the Blue Jackets in July worth $68.25 million, leaving the Calgary Flames to be closer to family and friends in New Jersey. During the preseason, his wife, Meredith, gave birth to their first child – a daughter.

There’s a new house to break in, a new town to explore, new teammates, new friends, an easy drive to work and the sight of familiar faces who've already made the trek from New Jersey to Columbus. It would almost be perfect if not for one glaring issue.

The Blue Jackets are 4-9-1 and ranked 31st in the league's standings. Clearly, the hockey side of things could be going a lot better.

“It definitely gets frustrating times, especially when your team’s losing,” said Gaudreau, who has clanked several pucks off goal posts and crossbars while trying to lift the Blue Jackets out of their funk. “You’re trying to help your team win games, and you’re right there, but they’re not dropping in.”

Gaudreau leads the team with six goals, six assists and 12 points, including a beautiful goal Thursday against the team he grew up rooting for, the Philadelphia Flyers. But he's a long way off his scoring pace from last season when he registered 40 goals, 85 assists and 115 points for the Flames. Gaudreau wasn't expected to match those numbers in his first season with Columbus, but he definitely wanted a better start to his Blue Jackets career.

Developing chemistry with his linemates remains a work in progress, and Gaudreau has tried so hard to create offense, he’s become his own worst enemy at times. It’s not surprising given all that’s transpired over the past six months.

Gaudreau has, after all, heard the critics who feel that picking Columbus was a mistake. He was booed by fans of the New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders, even though the latter was never a serious contender to sign him. Gaudreau has been stymied by the fact that Patrik Laine, who it was hoped would jell with Gaudreau, missed the first two weeks of the season with an elbow sprain and will now miss three-to-four more weeks with a sprained ankle.

Being a new dad can bring its own challenges.

Blue Jackets winger Johnny Gaudreau leads the team with six goals, six assists and 12 points.

Above all else, “Johnny Hockey” just wants to start winning.

“If you’re losing games, it tends to weigh down on you a little bit, especially when you’re a guy who’s looked upon to score goals and give your team offense,” Gaudreau said. “When your team’s winning games, it’s easier to just relax a little bit more and stick with the program. Then it starts coming.”

The sooner it happens, the better for the Blue Jackets and their newest star, who’s digging everything about his new NHL home except the maddening losses.

“It’s weird playing against these (Eastern Conference) teams so much, but I love it,” Gaudreau said. “I have family at almost every away game. That’s been great and Columbus is close to home too. It’s only a six-hour drive, so a lot of people come out and see us. I’ve had a blast so far and hopefully, we’ll start winning some games so it’ll be even more fun.”

Columbus Blue Jackets one-timers

Laine and Cole Sillinger knocked each other down in the third period Saturday against the Islanders. Each finished the game, but Laine was later diagnosed with a sprained ankle and is expected to miss three to four weeks. … Despite their slew of injuries, the Blue Jackets are finally getting traction with their power play, which has produced goals in three of the past four games after going 0 for 26 in the first 11 games. … Jake Bean quarterbacked both power-play units against the Islanders, pulling double duty with Zach Werenski (shoulder) lost for the season. … Bean and forward Kent Johnson have split point duties for the second power-play group in practice, but Johnson didn’t play (coach's decision) in New York.

bhedger@dispatch.com

@BrianHedger