“I still haven’t, obviously, got over it. I don’t think I ever will. At some point, I think it will feel real. But as of today, it still doesn’t for me.” These were Sean Monahan’s words, reflecting on the loss of his best friend, Johnny Gaudreau, and Johnny’s brother Matthew, who tragically passed last August. The entire hockey world still feels the void, and for Sean Monahan, who has Johnny on his mind every time he makes the drive to the rink, his loss stings a whole lot more. After all, it was Johnny who had convinced Monahan to come play with him for the Columbus Blue Jackets, in an attempt to rekindle the on-ice chemistry that used to be on display when they played for the Calgary Flames.

You rarely heard one name without the other during their time with the Flames from 2014-2022. Johnny, the puck-whiz left-winger, setting up Monahan, the sharpshooting centre, for almost half of Monahan’s 212 goals in Calgary, with many of those being clutch overtime winners.

Off the ice, their bond was just as tight, and it was only strengthened when they became fathers. “The hard thing for me is being around his kids, because it’s something that we were really looking forward to, being dads together in the next step of life,” Monahan once confessed. But the toddler playdates continue, and Johnny and Meredith’s daughter Noa loves cheering for her uncle Sean. So when #23 got the nod for a huge NHL honor, Meredith, who is all too familiar with the bond her husband shared with Monahan, made sure she celebrated it.

She shared an Instagram story captioning “👏Uncle Sean👏👏👏”. The accompanying clip announced Sean Monahan as one of the finalists for the 2025 Masterton Trophy—an honor that is bestowed upon “the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.” His fellow nominees? Minnesota Wild’s veteran goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, who chose to hang up his skates after a staggering 21 NHL seasons, and the Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog, who made a comeback to the ice after being sidelined for almost three years. So, yes. Monahan finds himself amidst elite company. But he stacks up pretty well, too.

Despite reeling from an insurmountable loss, Monahan has been more than consistent on the ice, scoring 1.06 points per game—the highest by any first-year Columbus player. Moreover, the 57 points that he scored in his first season with the Blue Jackets are the fifth-most by any first-season player in the team’s history. Among those ahead of him is none other than Johnny Gaudreau, who had 74 points to his name by the end of the 2022-23 season. So, Meredith Gaudreau’s Instagram story is more than a shoutout—it’s a testament to a legacy that continues to be honored in varied ways, over and over again.

Meredith Gaudreau remembers Johnny Gaudreau on the anniversary of his special achievement with a heartfelt post

On March 27, the Instagram page In The Dome shared a nostalgic post originally shared by Torie Peterson on X in 2021, commemorating Johnny Gaudreau’s 500th NHL game with the Calgary Flames. The post included a striking photo from Gaudreau’s first development camp in 2011, capturing a youthful, clean-shaven Johnny working out in the gym—a stark contrast to the bearded veteran the hockey world came to know. The image resonated deeply with Meredith Gaudreau, who reposted it on her Instagram story with a heartfelt caption: “My baby daddy right here.”

Peterson’s original post highlighted Gaudreau’s remarkable stats at the 500-game mark. Since the 2013-14 season, he led the Flames with 470 points, including 139 power-play points, and ranked second in goals (164) and game-winning goals (30). These numbers underscored why Gaudreau, who tragically passed away at 31, was a beloved figure in the NHL. By his 500th game, he had already cemented his legacy as a USHL and NCAA champion, Hobey Baker Award winner, and Lady Byng Memorial Trophy recipient. His 470 points placed him sixth in Flames history for points within 500 games, alongside legends like Theo Fleury (531) and Hall of Famer Kent Nilsson (562).

Meredith’s emotional tribute reflected the enduring love and pride she holds for her late husband, whose career was defined by skill, tenacity, and charisma. Her regular social media posts keep Johnny’s memory alive, celebrating milestones that continue to inspire fans. The 2011 throwback photo not only highlighted Gaudreau’s evolution from a promising rookie to a hockey icon but also served as a poignant reminder of his veteran status despite his young age. Beyond Meredith, the broader NHL community continues to honor Gaudreau’s contributions, ensuring his legacy as a fan favorite and a Flames legend endures.