Blue Jackets begin season of reflection and change
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Minnesota Wild and Columbus Blue Jackets fans stood for a 13-second moment of silence before last week's season opener in tribute to Jackets player Johnny Gaudreau, who was killed in the offseason. Photos: Kyle Stokes/Axios
A season of reflection and change is underway as the Blue Jackets return to the ice at Nationwide Arena Tuesday night against Florida.
Why it matters: New pieces on the ice, among team leadership and in the broadcasting booth will join the Columbus faithful in navigating another season played under the cloud of tragedy.
State of play: The season opened on the road against the Minnesota Wild last Thursday, just six short weeks after the deaths of star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew in a car-bicycle crash.
- It's the team's second player death in recent years. Goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks was killed in a fireworks accident in 2021.
❤ Minnesota fans paid tribute to Gaudreau with friendship bracelets shared with Blue Jackets supporters who made the trip north.
- "When I saw that we were playing [Columbus] on opening night, I was like, 'We have to do something special,'" Wild fan Allie Cook told Axios Twin Cities.
- She made 320 bracelets and mobilized a Wild fan Facebook group whose members brought hundreds more. Cook plans to send the rest to Columbus, including some to Gaudreau's widow.
Zoom in: Sandusky native Heather Sullivan said her Blue Jackets-supporting family traveled from Chicago to the opener.
- The tragedy has been difficult to explain to her 6-year-old son Aedan, who put his hockey sticks out on the front porch after Gaudreau's death — a sign of mourning in the hockey community.
What they're saying: New Blue Jackets head coach Dean Evason was touched by Minnesota's gestures.
- "Every team is going to do something special for Johnny and Matthew, and we're going to embrace it," he told reporters.
- "We're honoring their lives and what they did, not only as hockey people, but as human beings."
What's next: Tuesday's home opener will feature a pregame ceremony honoring the Gaudreaus.
- The game is scheduled for 7:13pm — a reference to Gaudreau's jersey number 13 — and those in attendance will receive a "13" patch.
- Jackets players will wear the patch all season.
What's new for the Jackets
The franchise made other changes as it looks to turn around after missing the playoffs four seasons in a row.
The intrigue: Evason had an unusual path to leading the Blue Jackets.
- The former player and spirited coach guided Minnesota to multiple playoff appearances but was fired last year during a lengthy losing streak.
- In an unusual twist, the Minnesota general manager who fired Evason wound up pushing for his hiring in Columbus.
Also, Don Waddell was hired as the new president and general manager, while former star Rick Nash is now the director of hockey operations.
- The roster includes seven new players who will need to step up as captain Boone Jenner will be missing extensive time because of a shoulder injury.
🎙 Plus: Steve Mears, a Pittsburgh native and BGSU grad, is the new "Voice of the Blue Jackets" and replaces the retired announcer Jeff Rimer.
How to watch: Games are broadcast on Bally Sports and 97.1 FM The Fan.
- Snag tickets while you still can. The Jackets already have one of the highest increases in ticket sales compared to last season, per StubHub.