The legacy of the Gaudreau brothers is about far more than hockey

It's been one year to the day since tragedy struck, forever changing the Blue Jackets and the rest of the hockey world. Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were taken from us far too early. Their legacy is a heartwarming one that gives us inspiration and strength.

When Johnny Hockey chose to sign in Columbus, I simply could not believe it. He was easily the most notable free agent to ever take his talents to Central Ohio, coming off of a season where he finished second in the entire NHL in scoring.

I will be honest when I say this: it did not make sense to me. Even as a Columbus native, who loves the city I was born and raised in; I could not wrap my head all the way around this. The Blue Jackets were in shambles at the time, deep in a rebuild, with a patchwork lineup and no clear direction. Why would this guy, in the prime of his career, choose to step into that environment?

Three years later, it makes perfect sense to me.

We didn't know Johnny Gaudreau before he signed in Columbus. We thought we did, but we did not. We knew the quality of hockey player we were getting: an elite playmaker who could generate offense seemingly at will. But, we did not know the quality of the person - not to the extent that we have since learned.

Johnny the person was greater than Johnny the hockey player.

When the Gaudreau family chose to make Columbus their home for 7 years, they did so for reasons that can apply to any of us. They wanted to be closer to family, so that they could spend more time with their loved ones.

To Johnny, it didn't matter that the team he was coming to wasn't going to be anywhere near contention until the last half of his contract. What mattered to him was being able to see his brother Matthew, his parents Guy and Jane, and all of his and his wife Meredith's extended families back in New Jersey. How cool is that?

Here you had an elite hockey player at the absolute pinnacle of his career, with complete freedom to dictate everything ... and he chose to be closer to his family. Above a chance to sign with a team ready to compete for a Cup. Above a chance to live by the beach, or in a high end condo in a big city. He chose Columbus for entirely unselfish reasons.

So, it should come as no surprise that after tragedy, we don't appreciate Johnny as much for being the guy who brought us out of our seats with dazzling puck skills. Instead, we remember Johnny for being the absolute best of all of us. We remember him and Matthew together, because that's the way he would have wanted it to be.

These two valued family above all else. The fame didn't matter. By all accounts, when the two were together, they were just brothers who enjoyed having a good time with their loved ones. Those loved ones have shown amazing strength and resilience throughout the last year, encouraging us all to get back to doing the things we love.

That is, after all, what the brothers would have wanted. We've learned that.

The legacy that Johnny and Matthew leave behind is incredibly inspiring. It's not just about hockey. The life lessons they taught us can be used on a daily basis. For that, I am forever grateful that Johnny Hockey, Meredith, and the rest of the Gaudreau family chose Columbus. We are extremely fortunate to have gotten to know the man more than just the player he was.