The first season for star winger Johnny Gaudreau in Columbus didn’t go quite as planned after he signed a seven-year, $68.25M deal with the club in 2022. While he still managed some strong offensive production with 21 goals, 53 assists and 74 points in 80 games, injuries completely derailed what looked like a promising rebound season for Columbus, and the Blue Jackets once again finished near the bottom of the league.
After yet another busy offseason for Columbus with the intention of inching toward playoff contention, Gaudreau told NHL.com’s Adam Kimelman he’s “more comfortable” with his new environment in Columbus ahead of 2023-24 and is looking forward to getting the Blue Jackets back on track.
Of note, Gaudreau mentioned he’s already met with incoming head coach Mike Babcock and said they “got off to the right footstep there” in regard to their view for the team, believing Columbus “[needs] that hard-nosed coach that’s going to push us in practices and in games.”
Some questions were raised about their potential relationship in the public discourse after the Babcock hiring was reported, given the latter’s affinity for a more physical, checking game that doesn’t quite align with Gaudreau’s individual skillset. Gaudreau addressed those concerns directly with Kimelman
"I played for Bob Hartley, another guy who is very demanding and Sutter the same way. So I’ve had success under those coaches. They want their teams to win."
Success is a conservative word for Gaudreau’s final season with the Calgary Flames, spent under Sutter. While the now ex-Flames coach certainly butted heads with Gaudreau publicaly at times, the diminutive winger exploded for 40 goals and 115 points in Calgary in 2021-22.
That monster scoring year certainly didn’t come alone — he had a pair of stellar line mates in Elias Lindholm and Matthew Tkachuk to help him out. But if Gaudreau feels he’s better suited to recapture that form under Babcock, it could certainly cause a domino effect for a pair of potential line mates in 2023 third-overall pick Adam Fantilli and winger (maybe turned center) Patrik Laine.
Babcock will be looking for a healthy Laine to provide an elite goal-scoring complement to Gaudreau, something that’s certainly a possibility after he’s produced near a point-per-game pace in Columbus over the past two years despite battling injuries.
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