All the Blue Jackets had to do was come up with a contract that worked for both parties and he would sign it.
Seven years and $68.25 million ($9.75 million annual average) did the trick.
Gaudreau put pen to paper Wednesday night and was introduced to the Columbus community at a press conference at Nationwide Arena Thursday afternoon.
“I wanted to come here,” Gaudreau said. “This place has always been ring-fenced on my bucket list.”
The 28-year-old forward led the Calgary Flames and was second in the NHL last season with 115 points (40 goals, 75 assists) in 82 regular season games. He led the NHL with a plus-64 rating and set career NHL highs in goals, assists, points, game-winning goals (nine) and shots on goal (262).
Gaudreau also led the Flames in the Stanley Cup playoffs with 14 points (three goals, 11 assists) in 12 games.
The Flames made Gaudreau an eight-year contract offer, reportedly worth more per year than he received from the Blue Jackets. But he told Flames general manager Brad Treliving Tuesday night that he would not sign with them.
After making that decision, Gaudreau and his wife, Meredith, headed to the Eastern Conference so he could play closer to where he grew up in South Jersey. He said he always dreamed of playing for an East Coast team.
They decided that Columbus, although not close to the coast, was close enough.
“I only get to play here once a year and it was from the hotel back to the rink and then back to the hotel and I had never been to Columbus before,” Gaudreau said. “But all summer I did my homework on places that I thought were good for me, spoke to some ex-players. After each time I talked to a different person about this city, it seemed like the person was more excited than the previous person I talked to. It sounded like the perfect place for us.”
The Blue Jackets’ young core was also part of his decision.
“I think it has a lot of potential,” Gaudreau said. “They have good players in this team. I’ve heard a lot of great things. They are a tight-knit group. That’s who you want to play with, guys who get along in the locker room and love to come to the rink and work every single day. It’s just a healthy environment to be in.”
The Blue Jackets have not made the Stanley Cup playoffs the last two seasons, missing by 19 points last season and 16 in 2020-21.
But that didn’t matter to Gaudreau.
“I’m so excited, I think we’ve got a good group here,” he said. “I didn’t come to Columbus to check out the sights. I came here to win hockey games.”
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Gaudreau said the decision to leave Calgary was difficult, but he felt it was the right thing to do for him and Meredith, who is pregnant and expecting the couple’s first child in September.
“It got right down to probably 11 o’clock at night before free agency when I decided I wasn’t coming back,” Gaudreau said. “It was difficult, but it was the best for us. We were super excited to sign here in Columbus. They were one of the teams we were really interested in and when they called we were all smiles.”
General manager Jarmo Kekalainen said there was a consensus in the Blue Jackets’ front office that they should work with Gaudreau because of the interest he has expressed in them.
“We all agreed that we just couldn’t pass up an opportunity like this with a player of his caliber wanting to come here,” Kekalainen said. “Obviously he was wanted by a number of teams. We had watched him—I don’t know how many times—with our scouting team and continued the conversations with his agent, and it happened pretty quickly once we knew that’s what he both wanted. There was a deal to be made and we signed it.”
Gaudreau could find himself playing on the same line as Patrik Laine, who is a restricted free agent. Kekalainen said they expect to sign Laine.
Options at center include Boone Jenner, Cole Sillinger, Jack Roslovic and potentially Kent Johnson, the No. 5 pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft who played nine games and had three assists last season.
Johnson gave Gaudreau No. 13, the number he wore during his eight seasons in Calgary.
Johnson wore number 13 because Gaudreau was his idol growing up.
“Talking to everyone right after I signed and I was like, ‘I don’t need 13, he can have 13.’ I feel bad. I don’t want to take his number. I’m going to start over,” Gaudreau said. “I’ll have to take him out for a few nights. It was very nice of him to do so. It was not necessary. It shows what you’re surrounded by here, guys who are willing to do these little things and not expect anything in return.”
Blue Jackets coach Brad Larsen said he hasn’t talked to Gaudreau yet about where he might fit in the lineup, players he might play with, the systems Columbus plays or anything like that.
Those conversations will happen, but for now the coach is just happy that Gaudreau wanted to be a part of what they’re doing in Columbus.
“He chose to come here,” Larsen said. “He chose us, this organization, this city to expand his family, coming really into the prime of his career. That’s a big statement.”
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