The hockey world was in mourning on Friday with the sudden and tragic passing of Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew Gaudreau. The two were cycling in New Jersey on Thursday evening when they were struck by an impaired driver. This is devastating news on so many levels.

Johnny Gaudreau was 31 years old, while Matthew Gaudreau was 29 years old. Johnny leaves behind his wife and two young children. Matthew leaves behind his wife, who is also expecting a child.

Johnny Gaudreau was a bona fide NHL star and was a giant in the game of fantasy hockey. Prior to his NHL career, he was the 2014 Hobey Baker Award winner as the NCAA's top college hockey player. He also participated in seven NHL All-Star Games, made the NHL All-Rookie Team in 2015, won the Lady Byng Trophy in 2017, and was a First NHL All-Star in 2022 following a career-high 40 goals and 115 points with Calgary (tied for 2nd in points). During the summer of 2022, Gaudreau signed a seven-year, $68.25 million contract with Columbus, where he played for the past two seasons.

Since his first full season in 2014-15, only eight players have registered more points than Gaudreau. He finished with 743 points (including exactly 500 assists) in 763 games, which is very close to a point-per-game average.

Instead of me describing in words what kind of player Gaudreau was, I think it's better just to watch what Johnny Hockey was capable of on the ice. At just 5-9 and 160 pounds, he possessed elite-level talent and was one of the game's most exciting players.

Matthew Gaudreau was a hockey player himself, having played 21 career AHL games as well as playing several seasons in the ECHL. Like Johnny, Matthew also played for Boston College and played in the USHL prior to that.

Obviously, this leaves a big hole in the Blue Jackets' lineup. However, I don't believe this is a day to discuss the particulars of how this impacts the Blue Jackets in terms of who jumps onto the top line and first power-play and so on. If you would like to determine that yourself right away, go to Frozen Tools or the Offseason Fantasy Grades article for Columbus. Or better yet, download the latest copy of the Fantasy Guide (purchase a copy here if you haven't already).

This news is too raw and far surpasses fantasy hockey. We can break down what the Columbus lineup will look like on another day. This is an already struggling team that will have to come to grips with the loss of their leading point-getter from last season, and a player who by many accounts was an outstanding teammate and person who touched the lives of many.

Instead, there's a few other topics that affect society as a whole that I'd like to touch on today. These topics will steer away from hockey, but I'll return to this week's hockey news tomorrow. Many of us are still trying to process this news on a non-hockey level.

First off, don't drink and drive. Statistics show (at least where I live) that deaths and injuries caused by driving under the influence of alcohol have decreased through the years due to increased education about the dangers, tougher punishments for the guilty, and even reduced alcohol consumption per individual. However, DUI is still a problem in our society. Other options are readily available if you shouldn't be driving. Walk (if it isn't too far), call someone you know for a ride, take public transit, or contact a taxi or rideshare. I scheduled an Uber ride for the first time recently and it was great! Or simply stick to having a drink or two at home.

Next, I'd like to mention something that I think should be getting more attention, which is looking out for cyclists and pedestrians. In British Columbia (where I live), a recent law was put into place where drivers passing cyclists must leave a certain distance between themselves and the pedestrian or cyclist. I know leaving that amount of space isn't possible all the time, but it should be done whenever possible. I'll quote a paragraph from Aaron Portzline of The Athletic explaining how this crash occurred:

Police said the Gaudreau brothers were riding bicycles on County Route 551 when they were hit by a Jeep Grand Cherokee that was trying to pass an SUV on a two-lane road. The SUV had moved to the center of the road to pass the brothers on their bicycles, who were on the SUV's right side. The Jeep then attempted to pass the SUV on the right and struck the Gaudreau brothers in the rear, causing them to sustain fatal injuries, according to police.

Those who know me beyond this website might know that I like to ride my bike. Fortunately, I've never been hit by a car while on a bike, and the vast majority of drivers seem considerate. However, I have experienced a few run-ins with dangerous drivers and other knuckleheads who have made it known that they think I shouldn’t be riding beside them. You may not like seeing a bike when you're driving, and not all bicycle riders ride safely. But by law they have a place on the road, whether you agree with it or not.

As a driver, when you see traffic slowing down, maybe it's a good idea to slow down yourself and figure out why instead of simply trying to race past. What you don't see could be something dangerous for yourself and others. Saving a few seconds or even a minute just isn't worth it. Common sense ensures we all get home safely at the end of the day. Honestly, if there's one area of the law that I'd like to see stiffer penalties for, it's aggressive and dangerous driving, whether impaired, distracted, or otherwise. A lot of people seem to take this for granted, yet the consequences can be fatal or life-changing.

Finally, life is precious and wondrous, but it is also unfair and can even be downright cruel. Hug your loved ones. Let them know you care. Remember what's most important here. Johnny and Matthew's sister Katie had her wedding scheduled for Friday, and I believe it was postponed. What happened on Thursday night is an awful turn from what was supposed to be a joyous day. My sincerest thoughts and condolences are with the Gaudreau family.

I’ll finish with some tributes from social media.

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