The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed All-Star left wing Johnny Gaudreau to a seven-year, $68.25 million ($9.75 million AAV) contract through the 2028-29 National Hockey League season, general manager and vice governor Jarmo Kekalainen announced today.
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Gaudreau, who turns 29 on Aug. 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 NHL games with the Calgary Flames in his career since selected in the fourth round, 104th overall, of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. He is 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 races.
“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,” Kekalainen said. “He is an elite player with a great character who makes the players around him better. We are excited 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 won the Lady Byng Trophy as the NHL’s most gentlemanly player in 2016-17. Last season, he was named to the NHL First Team after leading the NHL in plus/minus rating and finishing tied for second in points, third in assists and 15th 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 surpassing 40-plus assists seven times and 60-plus points on six occasions.
The 5-9, 165-pound wing was a Calder Trophy finalist as the NHL’s Rookie of the Year and was named to the 2014-15 All-Rookie Team after leading the Rookie League in assists with 24-40-64 and 14 PIM in 80 games with Calgary. He posted the first of his three 30-plus goal campaigns the following season, finishing with 30-48-78 in 79 appearances. Gaudreau posted back-to-back 60-assist, 80-point campaigns in 2017-18 and 2018-19. He compiled 24-60-84 in 80 games in 2017-18 before posting 36-63-99 totals 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 win the NCAA Championship during his freshman campaign, was named a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award as the nation’s top college player as a sophomore and then won 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 in numerous international tournaments. He represented Team USA at the 2014, 2017, 2018 (Bronze) and 2019 IIHF World Championships and was named to the All-Star Team at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship after leading Team USA to a gold medal.
FULL STATISTICS OF JOHNNY GAUDREAU
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