Johnny Gaudreau gives insight to free agency decision

Johnny Gaudreau gave the hockey world – and more importantly, Flames fans – a deeper look into his move to the Columbus Blue Jackets in free agency in a Players’ Tribune article on Wednesday.

Gaudreau took the opportunity to sympathize with Flames fans over their heartbreak of him leaving, and wanted to share his side of the story.

“Before I was a hockey player, I was a hockey fan. I totally get it. It’s hard not to see any free agency decision as a betrayal.”

While most of the hockey world knew that family was a large motivation behind the move, Gaudreau gave us more insight into just how important it is to him.

“But as much as I love hockey … family is everything to me. It’s the most important connection I have. And a few years ago, I think I started to realize how much you sacrifice when you give 100% to your career. I felt like I needed to do more to center my family in my life after we experienced some hard times.

“My dad’s heart attack in 2018 was a big moment for that. It was really so bad and he’s lucky to be here today. A very scary situation. And seeing him in that hospital bed … it hit me extremely hard. I thought about how little I’d seen my parents since I’d been in the league. These moments and experiences change you as a person.”

Gaudreau also mentioned how close he was to re-signing with the Flames even as free agency began, and how tough it was to move on.

“For what it’s worth, I didn’t know for sure what I wanted to do up until the last hours of the last day. Man, even after I turned down the eight-year deal from Calgary, I still thought about going back and trying to work on a seven-year deal to stay. It was all on the table for the entire process. Maybe that seems messy … but life is messy, you know?”

It will always be a tough moment for Flames fans, but it’s hard not to feel love for Gaudreau and his family as he moves on to the next chapter of his career.

“I hope the people of Calgary can remember me not only as a hockey player, but also as a good person with good values. Thank you for supporting me over these years, and for making my family a part of yours.”