On Thursday, the Columbus Blue Jackets unveiled their latest big signing: former Calgary Flames star Johnny Gaudreau, who left the organization in free agency on Wednesday and signed a seven-year contract with the Blue Jackets.
The focus of the press conference was on Gaudreau’s bright future in Columbus, and the wing’s explanations for his reasons for leaving the Flames were relatively sparse.
At the beginning of the press, Gaudreau was asked “Why Columbus?”:
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
My wife and I decided it was a really good fit for us. We looked at some other options, but we felt this was the best for us, where we were in our lives, and it just made the most sense.
Gaudreau was later asked what he would say to the people of Calgary. He began by noting that he was trying to focus on his excitement to be in Columbus, but expressed affection for Calgary.
Calgary was a special place for me. I was a part of their organization for 12 years and loved every second I was there. But for me, I think it was just time to make a little change, I think. I’ll leave it at that. But, you know, it was a special place for me. I liked it there. The fans have been great to me.
(Editor’s note: Gaudreau was in the Flames organization for 11 years, from 2011-22.)
Gaudreau was later asked to explain his reasons for leaving and why it took him so long to make the decision:
It was a difficult decision. I mean, it got to probably 11 o’clock the night before free agency where I decided I wasn’t going back. It was a really hard decision, but something Meredith and I talked about for a long time there. It was tough, but it was the best for us and we were super excited to be able to sign here in Columbus.
(Editor’s note: Frank Serravalli’s tweet indicating that Gaudreau had made the decision to leave was posted at 6:18 PM MT or 8:18 PM ET, but that’s obviously nitpicking on our part.)
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Gaudreau was asked again why it was time for a change:
Like I said, it was a tough decision. Calgary has been a great place for me and my wife. But in talking to my family, talking to Meredith, like I said, it was the right move for us. And that’s all I can really tell you guys.
Gaudreau was also asked about his perception of wanting to play closer to home, and the idea that Columbus isn’t particularly close to home for him, and generally moving further east from where he was:
Like I said, I’ve always wanted to play relatively a little bit closer… I grew up here. Not in Columbus, but on the East Coast, and that’s somewhere I’ve always wanted to play. I was in Calgary for 8-12 years there, from the time they drafted me to the time I started playing, and I’ve always dreamed of playing a little closer to home. it didn’t matter where I signed. our decision was that it was best for us not to return to calgary and then we decided to find out what was the best option for us.
Gaudreau provided some answers, but (as is his right) he declined to dive into specifics about his departure from Calgary.
Want to watch the next generation of hockey stars before they make the show? The World Junior Championships are coming to Edmonton and you need to get tickets! Get your tickets here.
Add Comment