CALGARY – Standing in the Winsport arena in which it all began, Johnny Gaudreau is talking about the good ol’ days with a lone scribe.
Absent are the hordes of media-types who greeted his initial return to Calgary last season, asking how he thought the crowd would greet him.
This time the reception is clear in his mind.
“I’m sure I’ll get booed again,” laughs the former Flame, who was jeered by the Saddledome faithful every time he touched the puck in the Blue Jackets’ lone visit last season.
“They’re passionate fans, that’s why I loved playing here.
“I wouldn’t expect anything else.”
Plenty of water has passed under the bridge since Gaudreau left the Flames on the eve of free agency in the summer of 2022.
His departure was part of a shocking overhaul for the club that traded Matthew Tkachuk days later, ushering in a new era of sorts for the club.
Fans were furious, as they let both players know in their respective returns to town.
This time, instead of vitriol, there’s reflection – a peek back at Gaudreau’s unique path to superstardom, riches and the starting of a family, which all played a role in his decision to leave.
How appropriate that the Jackets skated Wednesday at Winsport, where the fourth-rounder’s first appearance at a 2011 Flames development camp gave coaches, management, media and the fans their first up-close glimpse of the future star.
He was even smaller then than the five-foot-nine, 163-pound frame he carries now, but his size stuck out as much as his shiftiness and sublime skill.
“That was a long time ago, but I remember it like it was yesterday,” says the 30-year-old of his first day in camp, mere months before the future Hobey Baker winner would make his Boston College debut.
“There were a bunch of fans watching.
“I remember I was out there with Mony (Sean Monahan). I was excited to get out there with him – he’d just had his first full season and I came in and got to play with him.
“First time I met him, right there.”
Although Gaudreau went on to spend three seasons dominating college hockey before joining the Flames, Johnny and Mony quickly became besties, pairing up as linemates to reinvigorate a rebuilding franchise much quicker than anyone envisioned.
After years of wondering if Johnny Hockey could overcome his size, who knew he’d play over 600 games and record over 600 points in Flames silks?
After all, the third-most intriguing player at that camp was another college hotshot named Ben Hanowski, who was acquired in the Jarome Iginla trade.
He went on to play 16 NHL games.
“I didn’t know what was ahead – I was just excited to be here, playing hockey and getting an opportunity to kind of make a name for myself in a small development camp,” smiles Gaudreau, whose 29th-ranked club visits the Flames Thursday.
“Went back to college and had a few good seasons there and just kept coming back and getting opportunities, which led to my first seasons with all the boys.
“A lot has changed in my life, but I just have great memories of this rink and that whole experience.”
Following a vigorous practice Wednesday afternoon, Gaudreau was endeavouring to meet up with Rasmus Andersson and Andrew Mangiapane, who were by his side as he capped his ninth and final season in Calgary with a 115-point season, Hart Trophy consideration and a series-clinching overtime goal that ranks as one of the organization’s most memorable.
At homecomings like these, the Jersey kid is thankful for guys like Craig Conroy, who championed Gaudreau’s cause from start to finish. When Conroy was named Flames GM, one of the first people to send congratulations was Gaudreau.
As much as he loves Gaudreau, Conroy wasn’t quite as excited for the winger when he left Calgary at the 11th hour to sign his $68 million contract in Columbus.
It’s there where the next chapter of his hockey-playing life hasn’t been as smooth.
“It’s been rough – up and down,” says Gaudreau, when asked about this season, which has seen him score seven goals and 29 points in 46 games.
“Had some struggles in the beginning, personally, and my team. We have a young team with a lot of talent and we’re starting to pick it up a little bit. Third periods have been the story of our season, we’ve found a way to give up a lot of leads and lose.”
Jackets coach Pascal Vincent says Gaudreau is adapting to a new system and Gaudreau admits the adjustments go far beyond that.
“I’m super happy with my career so far, hopefully I can keep pushing and playing well like I have in the past,” says the former 40-goal scorer, whose wife is expecting their second child next month.
“Hopefully we’ll do some special things in Columbus. Obviously that’s super important to me.
“I had so many opportunities to start my career in Calgary, elevate my game here, and succeed and put myself in a great spot.
“Now I’m in Columbus in a little different situation, playing with younger guys, as opposed to being one of the younger guys.
“I learned a lot from the guys I played with here in Calgary and hopefully I can use that and become a little bit more of a leader and help these young kids where I was in their shoes just a short while ago.”
He sees himself in their faces, and never more so than in the west-end rink in Calgary where his storied journey began.
