Blue Jackets Accomplished Something Much Bigger Than Hockey in 2024-25

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As Game 82 was winding down for the Columbus Blue Jackets, a moment was about to hit that would put everything into perspective. Sure enough with just over three minutes left in a standings meaningless 5-1 game, the moment hit everyone hard. It proved that Game 82 in fact was not a meaningless game.

A “Johnny Hockey” chant started to resonate all throughout Nationwide Arena and the sellout crowd. The fans had one last chance to express themselves to their beloved team before everyone would go their separate ways for the summer.

Those few minutes inside Nationwide Arena was much more than a game. It was an emotional celebration of everything the team and their fans have endured in a season no one will soon forget.

Soon after those “Johnny Hockey” chants rose up, Adam Fantilli put the exclamation mark on a 6-1 win over the Islanders to give the fans one more cannon blast to celebrate. The goal was Fantilli’s 31st of the season tying him with Kirill Marchenko for the team lead.

The goal itself was symbolic in a way. Fantilli, viewed by many as the Blue Jackets’ number-one center of the future, scored the last goal of the 2024-25 season. It was a reminder of just how bright the team’s future is with him leading the way.

Showing how bright the future is would normally be the biggest takeaway in a Game 82 situation. But on this night, that was only part of the story.

Yes, the Blue Jackets didn’t make the playoffs in 2024-25. By any reasonable measure, that’s a difficult pill to swallow especially considering how close the team came to making postseason.

Once the frustration of not making the playoffs subsided, the biggest takeaway of the season would come into focus. The 2024-25 Blue Jackets accomplished something much bigger than the sport of hockey.

What did these Blue Jackets accomplish? They were there for everyone when needed the most. Not only were they there, they were a symbol of hope and reassurance.

Importance of Blue Jackets’ Availability

We will have plenty of time to talk about hockey and all of the business that is forthcoming over the next few months. As important as that is, it pales in comparison to what the 2024-25 Blue Jackets were.

These Blue Jackets were a symbol of hope and reassurance. Why? That’s because they ultimately carried on in a way that would have made Johnny Gaudreau and his family proud. The impact of this would be felt at many different levels.

Johnny Gaudreau Columbus Blue Jackets
The Blue Jackets honored the Gaudreau brothers all season long in 2024-25. (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Let’s time warp back to the end of August for a second. It was then that everything transformed from business as usual to unfathomable in the blink of an eye.

As soon as news of the tragedy reached the Blue Jackets, they jumped into immediate action. They did everything possible to make themselves available and help in any way they could given the circumstances.

Then it was time to announce the heartbreaking news. On the morning of Aug 30, 2024, the Blue Jackets made the news of the Gaudreau’s passing official. As you could imagine, the news hit the world hard.

For Blue Jackets’ fans, it was the second such situation within three years of a player being taken as a result of an accident. It’s hard to think about going through something like that once. But this was now twice.

As dark as everything was, this is where the 2024-25 Blue Jackets became a bright, shining light. It started with the candlelight vigil held at Nationwide Arena. The team along with thousands of fans gathered outside to mourn together and remember the light that the Gaudreau brothers were. Cole Sillinger and Erik Gudbranson were among those that spoke to the crowd that night.

The Blue Jackets’ availability in that moment provided much-needed comfort to the fans. That togetherness would prove to be a symbol for the upcoming hockey season.

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Then as soon as Meredith Gaudreau said that John would want the team to play hockey, it gave them the comfort and reassurance needed to try to move forward. The 2024-25 hockey season would be spent with John at their side always.

It’s here where the symbolism was on full display. Having John’s jersey in his stall and traveling everywhere gave them the ultimate motivation and strength to endure a tough season. Then the team would be a symbol of strength and hope to the fans.

This dynamic ultimately helped everyone endure through the ups and downs of this hockey season. Not only were the Blue Jackets a symbol of hope and strength to the fans, they were that and much more for the Gaudreau family.

Honoring the Gaudreau’s

The strength of Meredith and the family cannot be understated. What they have had to endure throughout this process is unimaginable.

This is where the light of the Blue Jackets again shines the brightest. At every possible opportunity, the team’s availability to the family was a much-needed comfort. Whether it was the team making it a special birthday for daughter Noa or just being there for anything life presented, the Blue Jackets made sure to take care of anything the family needed.

The morning skate in Detroit before the Stadium Series game was emotional. It was the mother’s trip. They all took a picture at center ice before the skate began. The lasting image was when Dean Evason escorted Jane Gaudreau to the ice to be part of the picture.

Then at the Stadium Series, it was Meredith who led the Blue Jackets out to the ice at Ohio Stadium. Earlier in the day, the family led the team from St. John Arena to the stadium. This will go down as one of most lasting images in recent memory.

Whether it was having Guy Gaudreau on the ice with the team or the family being part of team picture day, there are countless examples of how the Blue Jackets’ availability provided reassurance to them.

Evason on Thursday then declared that as long as he’s there, John will always be with them. The team’s availability made all this possible.

How the 2024-25 Blue Jackets Should Be Remembered

On the ice, the Blue Jackets exceeded most every expectation those on the outside levied on them. They worked hard and competed on most nights. They fell just short of the playoffs but still have a lot to be proud of knowing how much improvement they realized.

It’s off the ice where these Blue Jackets should be remembered the most. Their shining light was an inspiration to many.

The Blue Jackets got to that level by simply being available. As Fantilli said on Friday, availability is a great attribute to have. He referenced this when speaking on playing in all 82 games. But this extends to the team too.

The availability of the 2024-25 Blue Jackets helped a lot of people in many different ways. It continues to help the Gaudreau family to this day. It gave the fans a level of comfort they needed. This team should always be looked back on as a sign of strength and hope given what they had to overcome. They will be forever linked.

All of that is what made Game 82 a meaningful game. It was the culmination of an unforgettable season. It was one last chance for the Blue Jackets and their fans to celebrate together in one place.

In the end, the Blue Jackets made the Gaudreau’s proud. They made the fans proud. That’s a memory everyone involved with the team can always be proud of no matter where life takes them next.

That is why the 2024-25 season for the Blue Jackets was a success. What they accomplished together as a team was bigger than the sport of hockey.