Mikael Backlund’s tough time after the death of his friend Johnny Gaudreau

At the end of August, NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother died after being hit by a car in New Jersey.
His former teammate Mikael Backlund was close friends with Gaudreau and misses him every day.
– It was very stressful and tough, he tells Expressen.

The news hit like a bomb in the entire hockey world. Columbus Blue Jackets star Johnny Gaudreau31, and his little brother Matthew had been hit from behind by a drunk driver while out cycling on a road back home in New Jersey. Both died in the road accident, which took place the night before their sister’s wedding.

Backlund: “Still unreal”

Johnny Gaudreau moved to Columbus in 2022, before that he had spent nine years in the Calgary Flames along with Swedish Mikael Backlund35. Since Backlund had been team captain in Calgary for several years, he was tasked with gathering the team for a televised memorial service a few days after the fatal accident.

Together with the countryman Rasmus Andersson he also attended “Johnny Hockey’s” funeral a week later. Now he tells Expressen how the last few weeks have been.

READ MORE: Johnny Gaudreau’s widow’s heart-wrenching words at funeral – reveals the unexpected in emotional speech: ‘A blessing’

– It has of course been very tough and it still feels surreal that the Gaudreau brothers are no longer with us. I suffer with the family, says Backlund.

– It was very stressful and tough, but life still goes on. You get to take with you the good memories from the nine seasons I had with Johnny here in the Flames. And now that the season is about to start, the distractions will decrease, but it will take a while. We played together for a long time, nine years in the same team and dressing room is a long time. Of course you get close then, he says of his close friend.

Close to the whole family

It is not only Mikael Backlund who had a good relationship with Johnny. His wife Frida also had a close bond with Gaudreau and his wife Meredith and their two children (Meredith is pregnant with the couple’s third child). In addition, Backlund’s father usually January have good contact with Johnny’s father Guy after all the father trips they did together with the Calgary gang.

– We will of course keep in touch with Meredith and his entire family. We have a special relationship with the whole family. We have special ties to Johnny’s family. And Rasmus and Johnny were very tight, so it has been a tough autumn for all of us.

READ MORE: Mikael Backlund is moved to tears by his daughter’s heartwarming coup – which the entire NHL is talking about: “So incredibly beautiful”

This is so incredibly sad. Such a tragedy that must not happen to any human being.

Rest in peace Johnny and Matthew. We miss you and think of you.

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