For Johnny and Matthew: Blue Jackets play their home opener with Gaudreaus in mind

Johnny Gaudreau’s Columbus teammates were given a few options for how to handle their emotions during the Blue Jackets’ home opener. If you want to cry, cry. If you want to laugh, laugh. The only rules — play the game the way “Johnny Hockey”...

Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau's father takes the ice with Blue Jackets on eve of home opener

The Columbus Blue Jackets now have what they call a “Johnny skate” at the end of practice. It's a shot someone takes from the far end of the ice toward the opposite goal. Make it, players skate one lap. Miss it, players skate three laps. That's as in 1 and 3. 13. Johnny...

Wild hang on to beat Blue Jackets 3-2 in opener behind Boldy, Eriksson Ek and Gustavsson

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Matt Boldy and Joel Eriksson Ek scored on a strong night for the second line, Mats Zuccarello added a power-play goal and the Minnesota Wild opened the season by beating former coach Dean Evason and the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2 on Thursday night. Filip...

The Wild are running it back after missing the playoffs, banking on better health and defense

Minnesota Wild Last season: 39-34-9, missed playoffs. COACH: John Hynes (318-279-68 over nine seasons with three teams, including 34-24-5 last season after replacing Dean Evason on Nov. 27). SEASON OPENER: Oct. 10 vs. Columbus. DEPARTURES:...

After the death of Johnny Gaudreau, the Blue Jackets look for better days and better hockey

Columbus Blue Jackets Last season: 25-48-9, last in the Metropolitan Division. COACH: Dean Evason (147-77-27 in four-plus seasons with the Minnesota Wild), hired July 23. SEASON OPENER: Oct. 15 at Florida. DEPARTURES: F Alexandre Texier, F...

Blue Jackets open camp amid lingering grief over death of Johnny Gaudreau

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The Columbus Blue Jackets convened for training camp Wednesday weighed down by the grief of losing star forward Johnny Gaudreau three weeks ago. One of the worst teams in the NHL last season, the Blue Jackets must find a way to move forward with a new general...

Columbus Blue Jackets hire Dean Evason as their next coach

The Columbus Blue Jackets hired Dean Evason as coach on Monday, filling the NHL's final vacancy two months before training camps open. Evason, 59, will be Columbus’ third coach in as many seasons — not counting Mike Babcock being hired and resigning on the eve of training camp...

Columbus Blue Jackets hire Dean Evason as coach, filling NHL's final vacancy