So even though some things are a bit new for Johnny Hockey, a lot of things will be familiar. It helps that he's a veteran of the All-Star Game process, as his seven appearances at this year's contest tie for the second most with San Jose's Erik Karlsson, one behind Washington's Alex Ovechkin.
Gaudreau has a career mark of five goals and 14 points in his previous six appearances, and he knows what it takes to navigate a successful weekend, including two previous titles in the current 3-on-3 format. He went to South Florida with dinner plans made with such friends as Matthew Tkachuk and Kevin Hayes, and he has the rhythm of the weekend down pat.
It started with media availability Thursday, with the NHL All-Star Skills presented by DraftKings Sportsbook taking place Friday evening at 7 p.m. Gaudreau will be taking part in a newly created event that takes advantage of the Florida scenery as the Chipotle NHL Pitch 'n Puck will combine hockey and golf shots, with Gaudreau, Arizona's Clayton Keller, Dallas' Jason Robertson and Montreal's Nick Suzuki playing a par 4 featuring an island green.
Finally, the 2023 Honda NHL All-Star Game itself will take place at 3 p.m. Saturday, with the Metropolitan skating in the second of the two semifinal contests.
If Gaudreau continues his play from the opening half of this season, the East will be in luck. A career point-per-game player, Gaudreau has continued to be one of the most consistent producers in the league, notching 14 goals and 35 assists for 49 points in 51 games for the banged-up Blue Jackets. His 31 assists since Nov. 10 place sixth in the NHL, and his speed, vision and creativity have been key parts of the CBJ attack this year.
Gaudreau is the kind of player that the more you watch him, the more you can appreciate his talents, and that's how Blue Jackets head coach Brad Larsen has approached things.
"I love that he's on our team, I can tell you that," Larsen said. "Just coaching against him -- it wasn't a lot because he was in the West and we were in the East -- but you know how electric he can be. He can turn things on a dime, forehand, backhand, his pace of play, he can dish the puck, he can score. There's a lot of things that he can do that probably 98 percent of the league can't do. To have a guy like that in your lineup constantly, it's been awesome."
Gaudreau is in the first year of a seven-year contract that will keep him in Columbus through 2028-29, and he has spoken throughout what has been a disappointing season record-wise about the excitement of playing with such young CBJ talent as Kent Johnson, Kirill Marchenko, Cole Sillinger and others.
When he returned to Calgary a week ago for his first game against his former team, Gaudreau told reporters he's enjoyed his time in Columbus to this point.
"It was a great opportunity for me and my family," Gaudreau said. "I have a growing family now, so we have that distance where we can do our own thing, but it's close enough where our families can just walk through the door. I don't know how many times I've seen my dad just walk in the door not knowing that he was going to show up. He'll just show up out of the blue. He's been loving that. That was important to me. I spoke to my family and my wife and that was really important to me."
He's also been a good addition to the CBJ locker room. Gaudreau has worn an alternate captain's "A" multiple times this year because of injuries, and his laidback nature belies someone who is serious about the game of hockey.
"You talk to his teammates, they love him," Larsen said. "He's a quiet guy. We know that. He's not a boisterous guy, but I think you watch him, he loves to practice, he loves to play, he loves to compete. He loves hockey. He does. It's the first thing out of his mouth all the time, 'I just love playing.' That's infectious. That goes through your room."
And that love of being on the ice extends to the All-Star Game, where Gaudreau will suit up yet again this weekend.
"It's gonna be awesome," Gaudreau said. "I'm very fortunate this is my seventh one. I'm excited to rep the Blue Jackets and have a great weekend down there."
