Johnny Gaudreau

John Michael Gaudreau (born August 13, 1993) is an American professional ice hockey winger for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Gaudreau's decision to remain was fortunate for Boston College, as he dominated the NCAA in every major scoring category, scoring 36 goals and 44 assists for 80 points in 40 games, a 2.00 point per game pace, the highest production by any player in the country since 2003.

After a 5–4 Eagles loss to Holy Cross in November, Gaudreau was paired up with Bill Arnold and Kevin Hayes on a line, which quickly became collegiate hockey's most offensively-potent line, producing 46 goals and 68 assists for 114 points as a trio.

In addition, Gaudreau tied Paul Kariya's record for the Hockey East single season scoring streak at 31 games, scoring 29 goals and 61 points during the span.

For his tremendous season, he was named the league's Player of the Year for the second straight season, as well as the league's scoring champion with 36 points in 20 games, and was named a unanimous First-Team All-Star.

He was also named a Hobey Baker top ten finalist on March 20 and a top three "Hobey Hat Trick" finalist for the second-straight year on April 2.

As a youth, Gaudreau played for Penns Grove little league baseball, and played in the 2006 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from Hartford, Connecticut.

He attended Gloucester Catholic High School in Gloucester City, New Jersey, across the Delaware River from Philadelphia.

He graduated from Dubuque Senior High School in Dubuque, Iowa.

Gaudreau played the 2010–11 season with the Dubuque Fighting Saints in the United States Hockey League (USHL), where he played in the 2011 USHL All-Star Game and helped his team win the Clark Cup as the USHL champions.

Gaudreau's outstanding play during the season was rewarded with him being selected to the USHL All-Rookie Team and to the All-USHL Second Team.

He was also recognized as the USHL Rookie of the Year.

He played for the NCAA Division I's Boston College Eagles from 2011 to 2014.

Gaudreau was selected by the Calgary Flames in the fourth round, 104th overall, of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

Gaudreau was selected in the 4th round, 104th overall, in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft by the Calgary Flames.

Listed at 5'6", Gaudreau was one of the shortest players taken at the Draft.

After attending the Calgary Flames’ training camp ahead of the 2011–12 season, Gaudreau started his career in the NCAA with the Division I Boston College Eagles team in the Hockey East conference.

He originally signed a Letter of Intent to play with Hockey East rival Northeastern University, but opted for Boston College when Northeastern Hockey head coach Greg Cronin resigned in June 2011 to take a position with the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs.

As a freshman at Boston College, Gaudreau scored 21 goals and 23 assists (44 points) in 44 games, leading all freshmen in scoring.

He played an integral part in Boston College's win in the team's National Championship, scoring a highlight-reel goal late in the third period in their 4–1 win in the final over Ferris State University.

Gaudreau was awarded the Bill Flynn Trophy as the Most Valuable Player of the Hockey East Championship Tournament.

He also helped the Eagles win the traditional Beanpot Tournament for the third year in a row and was named Beanpot MVP after the tournament.

In his sophomore campaign, Gaudreau emerged as the star of the team and improved upon his already impressive stats, achieving a 21–30–51 scoring line in 35 games, leading the nation in points per game, at 1.46.

He then led the Eagles to a fourth consecutive Beanpot championship after helping to win a gold medal for the United States at the 2013 World Juniors.

Despite losing to archrival Boston University in the Hockey East tournament semi-finals and bowing out of the NCAA tournament in the first round against Union College, he was awarded Hockey East Player of the Year and was named an ACHA First Team All-American for his tremendous offensive output.

On April 3, 2013, Gaudreau was named one of the three finalists for the 2013 Hobey Baker Award, along with Eric Hartzell and Drew LeBlanc.

St. Cloud State's Drew LeBlanc eventually won the award.

Gaudreau opted to remain at Boston College for his junior year, despite rumors of him turning professional and joining the Calgary Flames.

One of the main reasons he stayed, he claimed, was to play with his younger brother Matthew, who joined the team in the fall.

Both made their NHL debut in the Flames' final game of the 2013–14 season, against the Vancouver Canucks.

Gaudreau scored the Flames' only goal on his first shot of his first professional game.

Nicknamed "Johnny Hockey," he was the 2014 winner of the Hobey Baker Award as the best player in the NCAA, and, during his first full NHL season in 2014–15, he was selected to play in the 2015 NHL All-Star Game and was a Calder Memorial Trophy finalist for the NHL's best rookie.

Although the team lost to Union College in the Frozen Four on April 11, Gaudreau was named the 2014 recipient of the Hobey Baker Award, awarded to the NCAA's top ice hockey player.

Gaudreau entered the NHL on the same day of his receiving of the Hobey Baker award.

On April 11, 2014, shortly after the ceremony, Gaudreau and Eagles' teammate Bill Arnold signed entry-level contracts with the Calgary Flames, Arnold having been drafted by Calgary in 2010.

To begin the 2014–15 season, Gaudreau earned a spot on the Flames' roster to continue his NHL career.

Starting off slowly, Gaudreau did not record a point until the sixth game of the year.

However, he then heated up quickly, amassing 12 goals and 30 points through 37 games.

He won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy as the NHL's most gentlemanly player for the 2016–17 season.

Gaudreau was born in Salem, New Jersey, and grew up in Carneys Point Township, New Jersey.