Johnny's been good: Gaudreau producing at elite level for Columbus Blue Jackets
Those concerned that Johnny Gaudreau’s scoring would plummet with the Blue Jackets can rest assured.
Turns out, he’s still good at hockey.
Despite dealing with multiple fill-ins for Patrik Laine during two injury setbacks, Gaudreau had eight goals, 17 assists and 25 points before facing the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday, and is on pace for 30 goals, 63 assists and 93 points over a full season (82 games). That would be 10 goals, 12 assists and 22 points shy of what he had last season for the Calgary Flames, but there are 60 games left and Gaudreau is tracking to set single-season Blue Jackets records for assists and points.
“He’s very consistent in what he gives you,” Blue Jackets coach Brad Larsen said. “He hasn’t been feeling his best (recently) … but he’s come as advertised.”
Fittingly, the Blue Jackets’ single-season records for assists (59) and points (87) were set in 2018-19 by Artemi Panarin, who rejected an eight-year, $96 million offer to stay in Columbus and bolted for the New York Rangers as a free agent. Blue Jackets fans who felt jilted by the jovial Russian now have a new superstar forward to cheer — and this one chose Columbus by signing a seven-year deal worth $68.25 million.
Gaudreau is here for the long haul, has said repeatedly that he’s happy with his decision and is a veteran leader for one of the NHL’s youngest teams. He’s also providing a stable, consistent presence during the Jackets' injury-riddled start.
Gaudreau hadn’t missed a shift before playing the Red Wings on Sunday and gutted through his own illness the previous two games — adding five points on a goal and four assists. He’s providing what the Blue Jackets wanted and it's starting to look like he's just getting warmed up.
Imagine what Gaudreau can do if he, Laine and Boone Jenner stay healthy. They’ve already shown signs of chemistry developing despite Laine missing nearly five weeks.
Gaudreau has a lot to do with it.
“He plays at a pace that a lot of guys can’t,” Larsen said. “He can execute a lot of plays that a lot of guys can’t do, either. So, I think as he starts to produce more and he builds more confidence he could be lethal for us.”
Gaudreau is also getting used to a new spot on the power play.
Skating on the right side to account for Laine’s booming one-timer from the left, his elite playmaking skill has been challenged. It’s probably a matter of time, however, before Gaudreau feels more comfortable there and he’s also starting to interchange sides with Laine occasionally.
Should better chemistry develop with Laine on power plays, Gaudreau's numbers could skyrocket. He's already scorching hot, as shown with a 3-13-16 tear over a 10-game span prior to facing Detroit. Extrapolating those numbers over a full season results in a sizzling 24-107-131 and Gaudreau just got Laine back for another spin.
“He has no panic point in him,” Larsen said. “And the good players? Under pressure, they execute. They pass it by your toe cap, underneath your stick. They frustrate guys. You think you have them, but you don’t. … I mean, he had 115 points. You don’t do that by fluke. He’s been producing for a long time.”
Columbus Blue Jackets game against Nashville Predators rescheduled
The NHL has released makeup dates for two Nashville Predators games postponed in November by a broken water main that flooded Bridgestone Arena’s event level. One of those games is against the Blue Jackets, who were supposed to conclude a back-to-back there Nov. 26 against the Predators.
That makeup date for that game is Jan. 17 in Nashville to conclude a back-to-back that’s scheduled to start against the Rangers on Jan. 16 at Nationwide Arena.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Johnny Gaudreau off to great start with Columbus Blue Jackets
