Tonight the Columbus Blue Jackets have their first home game of the season which will be their first opportunity to tribute Johnny Gaudreau with their fans in the building. This summer has been unimaginably difficult for the Columbus Blue Jackets and their fans. Star forward Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew <a href='https://www.hockeylatest.com/nhl-team/columbus-blue-jackets/columbus-blue-jackets-sean-monahan-shares-emotional-tribute-and-new-tradition-to-honor-johnny-gaudreau' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'> Blue Jackets unveiled a new tradition in honor of Gaudreau.</a> The tragedy shook the hockey world and brought the entire community together in support of the Gaudreau family. Since the Gaudreau's passing Johnny's former team the Columbus Blue Jackets have made several tributes and homages to him during their season. After their first win, the <a href='https://www.hockeylatest.com/nhl-team/columbus-blue-jackets/columbus-blue-jackets-sean-monahan-shares-emotional-tribute-and-new-tradition-to-honor-johnny-gaudreau' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'> Blue Jackets unveiled a new tradition in honor of Gaudreau.</a> Now tonight was their first opportunity to be welcomed back by their home fans and mourn the loss of the Gaudreau brothers together. The night began with a video celebrating Johnny Gaudreau and the impact he had on the Columbus Blue Jackets and the world of hockey as a whole. <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/BlueJacketsNHL/status/1846326348349899162'> </a></blockquote></div> For tonight's ceremony honoring Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, their family was seen in attendance. This included Johnny's wife Meredith Gaudreau and their children. A beautiful moment was shared between the family and Sean Monahan who was Johnny's best friend and signed with the Blue Jackets this offseason. <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/BR_OpenIce/status/1846327834672832816'> </a></blockquote></div> It was also revealed that the Columbus Blue Jackets would be retiring Johnny Gaudreau's number 13 which means no player will wear the number going forward. Gaudreau becomes the second player in the history of the Columbus Blue Jackets to have his number retired after Rick Nash. <a href='https://www.nhl.com/news/rick-nash-has-number-retired-by-columbus-blue-jackets-331493242' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Nash had his number retired in 2022</a> and now Johnny's number will join his forever in the rafters of Nationwide Arena. <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/AdamReid_/status/1846327914591068395'> </a></blockquote></div> Finally, as the game began the Columbus Blue Jackets paid one final tribute to Johnny Gaudreau as they lined up without a left winger on the ice. This was to symbolize Johnny's place in the organization and the impact he left on those who knew him. We wish the Columbus Blue Jackets organization, the Gaudreau family, and all those impacted by the Gaudreau brothers passing all the best as they continue to heal from an unimaginable loss.