Habs Daily: Tragedy Strikes, Laine & Vincent Remember Gaudreau

Here are the Montreal Canadiens news items, highlights, and stories you may have missed on Friday.

Montreal Canadiens News

I’d like to apologize to all the Montreal Hockey Now community members for the lack of content Friday, but it did not seem appropriate to discuss prospects and forward lines once the tragic news of Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew’s death was announced. Two families have been robbed of their loved ones because someone decided to risk other people’s lives and drive drunk, the ultimate selfish and destructive act. If a friend or loved one is considering driving drunk, please remind them there are families out there who do not deserve to be destroyed due to an idiotic decision. There’s always an option available to avoid such situations.

Columbus Blue Jackets statement on the passing of Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew. pic.twitter.com/V2aFykgKIs

— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) August 30, 2024

A GoFundMe has been put into place for Matthew’s family, with several players around the league contributing to the fundraiser, including Montreal Canadiens goaltender Cayden Primeau. You can donate by following this link.

Newcomer Patrik Laine played for two years alongside Gaudreau, and was among the many NHL players who expressed their shock and sadness on Friday.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Patrik Laine (@patriklaine)

Cole Caufield is one of many players of smaller stature that drew inspiration from Gaudreau’s elite hockey ability and his penchant for dominating as a 5’9″ forward in a league full of giants. As a reminder, Gaudreau was only picked in the fourth round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, 104th overall by the Calgary Flames. He would go on to score 743 points in 763 games, defying the odds and opening the door to other small snipers around the hockey landscape.

Cole Caufield posts another photo of fellow American 🇺🇸 Johnny Gaudreau writing “Always my hero 💔” pic.twitter.com/RS9GsZuedi

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) August 30, 2024

Laval Rocket head coach Pascal Vincent is quite familiar with Gaudreau, serving as his head coach last season in Columbus. Vincent put together a statement of condolence on behalf of the Montreal Canadiens organization.

Statement from Pascal Vincent on the passing of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau pic.twitter.com/kXoMUCYdPv

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) August 30, 2024