as a growing hockey market, and while it hasn't often been seen as a free-agent hotspot, Gaudreau noted that the conversations he had with former players did nothing but paint the town in a positive light.
On the ice, while the Blue Jackets have failed to make the playoffs each of the past two seasons, the team's 37-38-7 campaign a year ago put the squad well ahead of where the experts predicted at the start of the season.
A number of young players took massive steps forward, such standouts as Patrik Laine, Zach Werenski and captain Boone Jenner had big seasons, and the NHL's youngest team saw 18-year-old Cole Sillinger highlight a group of five first-round draft picks over two summers that should help the team grow into a force to be reckoned with. Add in
the Wednesday signing
of Calgary teammate Erik Gudbranson and Gaudreau saw a lot to like.
"I think there's a lot of potential," Gaudreau said. "I thought it was a good spot for me personally. I think we can have a lot of success here. It's somewhere that I had circled on my list for a while now from what I've heard about the city and where you live. They have good players on this team, too.
"I'm really looking forward to jumping into this group. I've heard a lot of great things. They are a close-knit group. That's who you want to play with -- guys who get along in the locker room and love coming to the rink and working together every single day. That's the environment you want to be around."
The addition of Gaudreau should bolster the Jackets even further, and it's not hard to seeing the young, talented squad pushing into contention soon after finishing sixth in the Metropolitan Division and 10th in the Eastern Conference a year ago.
Gaudreau helped Calgary to a Pacific Division title this past season, then led the Flames in playoff scoring with 14 points in 12 games. In all, he's made five playoff appearances with Calgary and hopes to bring what he's learned in that arena to Columbus.
"I think I always want to be a difference maker on the ice," he said. "That's been my game throughout my whole career. I want to find a way to push our team to be a little bit better and get that game-winning goal or make a nice play in the offensive zone or and make a big play in the defensive zone. Little things like that, that's what makes you a good hockey player, and I'm really looking forward to working hard, trying to show some of the younger guys or whoever that we're all committed to trying to win hockey games."
And if all goes well, Gaudreau will finally make friends with the famed Nationwide Arena cannon,