Matthew Tkachuk estimated that he tells a narrative about Johnny Gaudreau’s exploits, each the on-ice and off-ice selection, to any individual a minimum of as soon as per week.
And he’s not going to cease, both.
Tkachuk spoke Wednesday concerning the loss of life of his longtime buddy and former teammate, calling Gaudreau “essentially the most offensively gifted participant I’ve ever seen.” Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, were killed on Aug. 29 when police said they were struck by a suspected drunken driver whereas they had been driving bicycles on a rural street in New Jersey.
“It was such an honor to play with him,” Tkachuk stated at Florida’s media day, the primary formal occasion of the brand new season for the Panthers as they put together to open protection of the Stanley Cup. “And also you guys all noticed what he did on the ice. I used to be the fortunate one out of everyone on this room to have an excellent relationship with him off. So these are the recollections I’ll take.”
Gaudreau and Tkachuk had been teammates in Calgary for six seasons. Tkachuk was traded to Florida in the summer of 2022, the offseason during which Gaudreau left the Flames to play for the Columbus Blue Jackets.
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Gaudreau and his youthful brother had been killed close to their childhood residence in South Jersey the night earlier than they had been set to function groomsmen at their sister Katie’s marriage ceremony. The motive force who police say struck them is charged with two counts of loss of life by auto, together with reckless driving, possession of an open container and consuming alcohol in a motorized vehicle.
“It’s been horrible,” Tkachuk stated. “It actually has.”
The tributes for Gaudreau and his brother have been fixed since their deaths and gained’t finish anytime quickly. Tkachuk and the Panthers would be the opponent in Columbus on Oct. 15 when the Blue Jackets play their first regular-season residence sport since Gaudreau was killed, a sport sure to be extremely emotional.
“Johnny is one among my favourite teammates that I’ve ever performed with. Such an excellent buddy,” Tkachuk stated. “It doesn’t matter in the event you knew them or performed towards them and even in the event you simply have a sibling, everyone can relate to this. And it’s been horrible. I’m at all times going to hold one thing round the place he’s at all times with me.”
Tkachuk was one among many within the hockey world who attended the providers for the Gaudreau brothers earlier this month. He stated he continuously has been interested by Johnny Gaudreau’s spouse, Meredith, their youngsters who misplaced their father and the dad and mom who misplaced their sons.
“I feel everyone has an incredible job of telling tales and protecting him current, as a result of that’s precisely what he would need is for us to smile about him and inform the enjoyable tales about what an excellent participant and teammate he was — and a greater man,” Tkachuk stated. “My reminiscence of him will go on without end.”
© 2024 The Canadian Press
