Swarmed by lights, cameras, microphones, voice recorders and reporters hastily scribbling into notepads in the Calgary Flames’ locker room, South Jersey’s own Johnny Gaudreau discussed a number of topics with the Philadelphia media Monday afternoon as teammate Kris Russell walked past.
About an hour or so later, Russell, a top-four defenseman and veteran leader, was traded from the struggling Flames to the contending Dallas Stars just prior to the NHL’s trade deadline
It was typical of something the Carneys Point native has had to get used to this year as his Flames, 13 points out of a playoff spot as of Tuesday morning, limp to finish line of a disappointing campaign.
It’s been a season of hard lessons and the reality that the NHL can be a harsh business.
“It’s been a tough season so far here,” the 22-year-old star said, before recording an assist in front of, as his father, Guy, estimated 4,000 family and friends in the Flames’ 5-3 loss to the Flyers Monday night at the Wells Fargo Center.
“It’s something we’ve got to get better at here. This is new to me — a losing season here and not trying to fight for a playoff spot. It’s something to learn from.”
Calgary’s struggles this season have been no fault of the shifty 5-foot-7 Gaudreau, a fourth-round pick in 2011.
NHL
The pride of Sewell's Hollydell Ice Arena, where Guy is the hockey director, has put together a marvelous sophomore season for the Flames.
The reigning Calder Trophy runner-up leads the team with 24 goals, 39 assists and 63 points. Those 63 points place him sixth in the entire league, behind only bonafide superstars like Patrick Kane, Tyler Seguin, Jamie Benn and Erik Karlsson.
The losing he’s had to endure this season is not something the 2014 Hobey Baker Award winner as the NCAA's best player is familiar with.
His Boston College teams made the NCAA Tournament during each of his three seasons as a Golden Eagle. BC won the national title in 2012 and reached the Frozen Four in 2014 before losing to Shayne Gostisbehere’s Union College squad.
In his rookie year with Calgary last season, Gaudreau burst on the scene, when he scored 24 goals and added 40 assists as the Flames came out of nowhere to reach the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
But Calgary has fallen off so much this season that Gaudreau’s longtime veteran linemate Jiri Hudler was recently traded to Florida in a move that really opened the second-year player's eyes.
“It’s tough to lose a guy on your team, especially a guy who helped me become an NHL player,” Gaudreau said. “My first few months here, he kind of took me under his wing and helped me. He helped me throughout my first season here.
“It’s unfortunate, but that’s the way the game is.”
Another new experience is looming large on the horizon for Gaudreau — contract talks.
“Johnny Hockey” is on the final year of his entry-level contract that pays him $925,000 and will be a restricted free agent at season’s end. With the way he’s performed — especially this season — he’s due a massive raise. It'll be a raise that will have a few more zeroes on the end of it.
Gaudreau, a typically cool customer, isn’t worried about that just yet.
“I try not to think about it,” the Gloucester Catholic High School alum said. “I’m sure I’ll be playing in Calgary for a lot more years to come. It doesn’t really matter to me. I’m just happy that they want to sign me again and hopefully the fans in Calgary and the city, they like me being there.”
But first things first for Gaudreau — finishing out the season strong and then getting the four credits he needs to earn his communications degree from Boston College.
And, of course, some valuable time back at Hollydell.