Meredith Gaudreau steps to the mic and gives Blue Jackets a moment to remember

The Columbus Blue Jackets were on the clock to pick at #15 in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft.

So, what could be more fitting than having Meredith Gaudreau, wife of late Johnny Hockey, Johnny Gaudreau.

But as Meredith stepped to the microphone to announce the pick, she was interrupted as the audience in attendance erupted in a thunderous ovation.

As the ovation calmed down, Meredith Gaudreau prefaced the pick announcement by thanking the entire NHL for paying their respects to her late husband.

Here’s a look at the moment:

Following Meredith’s words, the crowd launched into another ovation. When the applause eventually quieted, Meredith Gaudreau, voice breaking, announced Jackson Smith as the Columbus Blue Jackets’ first-round selection.

The occasion provided the NHL as a means of finding some closure following the tragic loss of Johnny Hockey last summer. The Blue Jackets’ selection gives the team a new glimmer of hope amid a season clouded by mourning.

Jackson Smith, fitting choice for the Columbus Blue Jackets

Jackson Smith, a Calgary native, grew up watching Johnny Gaudreau during his playing days with the Calgary Flames.

The 18-year-old Smith idolized Gaudreau while Johnny Hockey made history in Calgary, leading the Flames to multiple playoff appearances.

Perhaps it was merely a confluence of circumstances, but the best available player for the Blue Jackets at #15 had to be a Calgary native.

Smith, a towering blue liner, is considered an offensive defenseman who can provide solid defensive play, size, and grit. Selecting Smith wasn’t about making a sentimental pick. It was about drafting a player who could represent everything that Johnny Gaudreau meant for the organization.

Of course, it also helps that Smith is a great hockey player with a fantastic upside. Smith and the Blue Jackets were fortunate to land on each other’s laps.