[News] Confirmed: Johnny Gaudreau and brother Matt have passed away

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Cole436

After Meredith’s eulogy and how clear she made it that John wanted to be back home, if anyone ever insinuates again that she drove him out of this city they should be banned.

Has anyone outside TMZ Frank and Dissentowner insinuated that?

[albertGQ]

I had no ill will for Johnny (or Chucky) for leaving the Flames then and I (obviously) don't now. Family first. Always. It was obvious that he wanted to be closer to home and obvious he loved Calgary. Thats why he couldn't make a decision until the last moment

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Has anyone outside TMZ Frank and Dissentowner insinuated that?

This is no place to take cheap shots.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by TOfan

This is no place to take cheap shots.

Not a cheap shot, a question.

Outside of those 2, I have never heard anyone blame Meredith.

It's very clear how close the family is.

[Sylvanfan]

I don't like seeing people bring up the past decision in this thread. It's pretty clear that this is a very close knit family and that the pain of this loss will endure for a long time. You hope the family being as close as they are will help them get through this and find future joy in life for the sake of the two children plus the two yet to be born.

I'm not a big believer in faith, and it does seem like fate cruely chose the Gaudreau family to prove just how devastating the impacts of DUI can be.

I just hope that if fate chose for the Gaudreau's to suffer this tragedy because it determined that they would be the one family who could overcome something this devastating and somehow contribute toward less families suffering the needless loss that DUI causes. Sadly I'm sure tragedy like this occurs far too often every day. But man does this seem to hit on every single potential sad outcome. I do pray that the Gaudreau's and any family who incurs loss like this can persevere and continue on.

[Barnet Flame]

There were so many emotional and practical reasons for his decision to be closer to his family. Guy’s health scare must have greatly influenced the outcome.

That Johnny still struggled to make that decision, tells you he really valued Calgary and the Flames organisation.

We’ll forever treasure his memory and have nothing but love and respect for his family as well.

[Monahammer]

The eulogies given by the wives were very beautiful. I felt immense, unfathomable sadness watching them. Seeing Noa in the aisle, thinking of my own children... Seeing Guy being carried out, thinking of his parents... It is just so unbelievable and cruel that this has happened the way it did.

It isn't fair. It isn't right. The world isn't but this is an especially wicked example of the cruelty of life.

[FanIn80]

Meredith to Sean:

“As close as John was to being one of a kind, I think you are as close as it gets to being just like him. Whatever you did, he copied. If you got a new truck, we were in the truck lot the next day … If you were leaving the party, John was grabbing me to leave, also,” Gaudreau said. “I know John is cringing at me right now, but you made John the most excited for hockey that I’ve ever seen when you signed in Columbus … I’m rooting for you every night on the ice, and I know John is, too, as your special guardian angel.”

This whole thing pisses me off.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

I don't like seeing people bring up the past decision in this thread. It's pretty clear that this is a very close knit family and that the pain of this loss will endure for a long time. You hope the family being as close as they are will help them get through this and find future joy in life for the sake of the two children plus the two yet to be born.

I'm not a big believer in faith, and it does seem like fate cruely chose the Gaudreau family to prove just how devastating the impacts of DUI can be.

I just hope that if fate chose for the Gaudreau's to suffer this tragedy because it determined that they would be the one family who could overcome something this devastating and somehow contribute toward less families suffering the needless loss that DUI causes. Sadly I'm sure tragedy like this occurs far too often every day. But man does this seem to hit on every single potential sad outcome. I do pray that the Gaudreau's and any family who incurs loss like this can persevere and continue on.

It's just as simple as being in the wrong place at the wrong time as far as I'm concerned and that's why life is so precious and unfair at the same time.

If the idiot driver in this case chose not to get drunk and drive, took a different route, or even left 10 minutes earlier we likely aren't having this conversation. If Johnny and Matt left 10 minutes earlier or later on their ride, or decide to cancel the ride and drive home we aren't having this conversation either.

There's an infinite amount of what if's that can probably ruin you if you really sit down and dwell on them. It's a sickening dose of how quickly life can change and how you really need to value every minute of every day.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

Meredith to Sean:



This whole thing pisses me off.

Conroy was pulling for Sean to go to Columbus as well.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

I don't think that there is anyone here, especially now who is saying anything about his decision to leave and I think it can be left at that. I am sure that there are a lot of people here who regret their words and actions in retrospect, but that is just the nature of fandom. It doesn't do anyone any good to pull apart the words of yesterday to create wounds of today.

I feel awful for those who loved John and Matthew and I am glad that we all were able to watch Johnny play at the level he did. I really can't imagine the pain that Guy and the rest of the family was going through, what an absolutely preventable tragedy.

[All In Good Time]

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

I don't think that there is anyone here, especially now who is saying anything about his decision to leave and I think it can be left at that. I am sure that there are a lot of people here who regret their words and actions in retrospect, but that is just the nature of fandom. It doesn't do anyone any good to pull apart the words of yesterday to create wounds of today.

I feel awful for those who loved John and Matthew and I am glad that we all were able to watch Johnny play at the level he did. I really can't imagine the pain that Guy and the rest of the family was going through, what an absolutely preventable tragedy.

Very well said

[Icon]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

Meredith to Sean:

I obviously hope I never have to do it but I really don't think I'd have the strength to pull together a eulogy with anything that nice or heartfelt about/to lost friends and family. (Not just this piece but everything everyone said)

Ugh, gut wrenching.

RIP Johnny & Matty

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

I don't think that there is anyone here, especially now who is saying anything about his decision to leave and I think it can be left at that. I am sure that there are a lot of people here who regret their words and actions in retrospect, but that is just the nature of fandom. It doesn't do anyone any good to pull apart the words of yesterday to create wounds of today.

I feel awful for those who loved John and Matthew and I am glad that we all were able to watch Johnny play at the level he did. I really can't imagine the pain that Guy and the rest of the family was going through, what an absolutely preventable tragedy.

It was highly emotional for everyone, you don't get upset or happy about someone if you don't care about them.

It was very quiet around Johnny his entire time here, you saw how close he was with his family, but the last week has shown that I truly didn't understand how close they are.

It sucks that we see and hear more about John the person now after his death. He doesn't get to see what he truly meant to the city.

[smiggy77]

my god the eulogies are so heartbreaking.

[Flamesfan05]

Originally Posted by Cole436

After Meredith’s eulogy and how clear she made it that John wanted to be back home, if anyone ever insinuates again that she drove him out of this city they should be banned.

Nobody should care now.

That’s totally irrelevant at this point. I am glad he made the best decision for him and his family

[Manhattanboy]

I heard that the continued uncertainty of the Covid virus and travel restrictions at the time played a large part in their decision. Which of course made sense. In any event what a terrible terrible tragedy. Just a huge punch to the gut. So unfair.

The stages of grief are so real here. Shock. Sadness. Anger. Etc.

So very hard to deal with this.

[BigThief]

We all knew that Sean and Johnny were close, but I don't think any of us knew just how close of friends they were. Meredith's eulogy was beautiful

[activeStick]

I've mentioned it a few times here, but Monahan is a really good human and does work out here in Toronto for the charitable organization Big Brothers Big Sisters, so I'm not surprised his best friend Johnny is also a good human as we learned more about him today.

[The Yen Man]

It's just so so sad that Johnny was probably entering the happiest next phase of his life, starting a big family with his wife, reuniting with Mony and raising their kids together, being closer to home with his parents and siblings. All that gone in a blink of an eye. I still flip flop between sadness for the Gaudreau family and anger at the drunk driver for such a senseless tragedy.