Sun Sep 15 10:55:18 UTC 2024: ## Blue Jackets Lean on Hockey to Move Forward After Gaudreau Tragedy

**BUFFALO, NY** – Columbus Blue Jackets General Manager Don Waddell acknowledged the grief surrounding the team following the tragic deaths of star player Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew, but emphasized the importance of finding a way to move forward. The team is using hockey as a tool for healing, with players returning to the rink and leaning on each other for support.

“We’re not going to forget about Johnny and his family,” Waddell stated. “Everybody knows that Johnny wants them to play hockey, and everybody’s rallying around that.”

The team’s return to the ice comes just three weeks after the Gaudreaus were killed in a suspected drunk-driving accident. Waddell acknowledged the emotional toll of the tragedy but stressed the need to focus on the upcoming season.

“Tragic. Senseless. But now we got to focus on trying to get our team ready to play hockey this year,” he said. “We all mourn and heal differently, but I think as a team being together like that is going to be critical for them to get moving forward.”

The NHL and NHLPA are offering support to the Blue Jackets, including grief counseling, enhanced security at vigils, and potential changes to the salary cap to help the team cope with the loss of Gaudreau’s contract.

Waddell also highlighted the support provided by the team’s players, emphasizing the team’s dedication to honoring Johnny Gaudreau’s legacy. He stressed that despite the emotional challenges, the team is determined to make the best of the season.

“The guys are in really good shape. We’ve done a lot of testing already and they’re eager to get going,” Waddell said. “We have a reason to play for. And we’ll make the best of it.”

In a separate development, the Blue Jackets signed veteran winger James van Riemsdyk to a one-year contract, adding depth and leadership to the team’s forward lines.

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