On September 4, 2024, fans and employees of the Columbus Blue Jackets gathered together outside Nationwide Arena to pay a formal tribute to CBJ forward Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew, killed by a drunk driver less than a week before. Earlier that day, general manager and president of hockey operations Don Waddell addressed the media for the first time, followed by the leadership group of the Blue Jackets roster: captain Boone Jenner and alternate captains Zach Werenski, Erik Gudbranson, and Sean Kuraly. At the vigil in the evening, Waddell, Jenner, and Gudbranson addressed the crowd again, echoing many of their sentiments from earlier in the day.
2024-25 Player Review: Cole Sillinger is a glue guy
