Connor McDavid comments on passing of Johnny Gaudreau

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Liam McCormick
September 11, 2024 (6:54 PM)

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The passing of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau completely shocked the entire hockey world.

While at the NHL media tour, the Oilers superstar Connor McDavid publicly gave his thoughts on the tragedy for the first time. They were bitter rivals during the Battle of Alberta, but McDavid had nothing but respect for Johnny Gaudreau.

»The whole hockey world will miss him. I will miss him. I'm grateful I had the chance to play against him, played playoff series against him, played many heated battles in the Battle of Alberta against him, and got to know him a little bit. I'll miss him a lot. He was a great player and great person, and obviously was taken away way too soon.»
- Connor McDavid

Connor McDavid and Johnny Gaudreau were briefly teammates in the Young Stars team for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. They were competitors on the ice, but respect between NHL players extend beyond rivalries in moments like these. Johnny Gaudreau was a great husband, father, teammate and friend first and foremost. But millions will remember him as an inspirational smaller player that dazzled them with his skill and speed - getting the nickname Johnny Hockey.

Young Blackhawks superstar Connor Bedard had a particularly poignant answer at media day in response to Gaudreau's passing. Bedard mentioned Gaudreau as one of his biggest inspirations as a smaller player, proving to him at a young age that any size player can be elite in the NHL.

«I'm not a big guy. I'm one of the smaller players in the League. Getting to watch someone like him and see him, I guess, dominate the Canucks especially when I was watching at home, he's up there. He's got no excuses. Why can't I do it?

«A lot of people will tell you that same story, but he motivated a lot of people. He was an inspiration.»
- Connor Bedard

A suspected drunk driver fatally struck Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau on the night of August 29th, and since then there's been an outpouring of grief from the hockey world. The Gaudreau's funeral was held just a few days ago, but the hockey world will continue to remember them throughout this season, and forever more.