With grief lingering, Blue Jackets GM Waddell places focus on hockey in wake of Gaudreau’s death

By JOHN WAWROW The Associated Press

Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell speaks during the candlelight vigil to honor Blue Jackets hockey player Johnny Gaudreau, Thursday, Sept. 4, 2024, outside of Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were killed by a motor vehicle last week while riding bicycles. (AP Photo/Joe Maiorana)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Joe Maiorana]

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell places the focus on returning to hockey while acknowledging how challenging that will be in the aftermath of Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew’s deaths. Waddell said this is what Johnny wanted in reflecting on the speech Gaudreau’s wife, Meredith, made at the brothers’ funeral last week by urging the Blue Jackets back on the ice. Waddell spoke while watching his team of prospects compete in a tournament in Buffalo, and with the Blue Jackets set to open training camp on Thursday. The Gaudreaus were killed when struck by a suspected drunken driver while riding bicycles on Aug 29.