After dealing with the death of his best friend all season long, Columbus Blue Jackets forward Sean Monahan received an award from Meredith Gaudreau – the widow of the late Johnny Gaudreau – in an emotional moment.
On Thursday, the NHL named Monahan the winner of the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy – given to the player that ‘best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey.’
But before then, Meredith was invited by the league to present Monahan with the award.
‘When I was asked to be part of this surprise, I was so honored, so excited,’ Meredith said in the video. ‘Sean stood by my side for every tribute, every walkout and I dragged him out there to cry with me on national television so many times but I’m excited about this one because this one celebrates Sean.’
Meredith presented the award to Monahan at his home outside of Toronto – revealing that she tipped off Sean’s wife, Brittany, about what was being planned.
So when Monahan opened the door, believing he was about to get ready for some family photos, he instead found Meredith with the Masterton Trophy.
Meredith Gaudreau, the widow of the late Johnny Gaudreau, helped to surprise Columbus Blue Jackets star Sean Monahan with the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy
In the video of the surprise, Monahan was seen wiping away tears in an emotional moment
Monahan (23) was best friends and teammates with Gaudreau (13) with the Calgary Flames
Monahan was confused, but gave Meredith a hug, before letting her and the award inside the house.
It was then that NHL cameras caught a very emotional exchange between the two – with tears being shed by both.
‘Sean, you mean everything to John … this one’s about you,’ Meredith said, choking up, while Monahan wiped tears from his eyes.
‘You persevered through one of the hardest things and you just lead by example and this one’s just celebrating your character and how good of a person you are. I know John is so proud of you.’
The award was named after Bill Masterton, a player on the Minnesota North Stars who is the only player in NHL history to die as a direct result from injuries sustained in a game.
Monahan won the award over 40-year-old Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, who put up impressive numbers in the final season of his career, and Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog, who returned to the ice in the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in nearly three full seasons after suffering injuries en route to the 2022 title.
‘Winning that Bill Masterton Trophy means a lot to me. It’s a real big honor. It’s a lot of special names on that trophy and the meaning behind it — it’s something I take great pride in in day-to-day life being on a team, being a father, a husband,’ Monahan said.
‘It’s a special thing and obviously fresh right now and something I’m definitely going to be reflecting on a lot.’
The friends had their on-ice partnership split when Johnny left Calgary for Columbus in 2022
Monahan signed a contract with Columbus in July 2024 to re-unite with Gaudreau on the ice
Monahan was picked sixth overall in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft by the Calgary Flames two years after the franchise took Johnny Gaudreau 104th overall.
They developed a strong friendship there and continued that after the 2022 season – when Johnny departed for Columbus in free agency and when Monahan was traded to the Montreal Canadiens.
Last summer, Monahan signed a five-year, $27.5million contract with Columbus so that he could be re-united with Gaudreau.
The friends never played an NHL game together again. Almost two months after Monahan signed that deal – and a month-and-a-half before the start of the season – Johnny and his brother Matthew Gaudreau were struck and killed by a drunk driver in their native New Jersey.
In documents seen by DailyMail.com, Sean Higgins – who has been indicted on six charges related to the brothers’ deaths – admitted to cops that he drank ‘5-6 beers’ before getting behind the wheel of his Jeep Grand Cherokee and crashing into the back of Johnny and Matthew.
Monahan played roles in both the Blue Jackets’ and the Flames’ tributes to Johnny Gaudreau in the regular season.
When Gaudreau’s number was raised to the rafters of Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Monahan was part of a ceremonial puck drop across from another former Flames teammate of Johnny’s, Sam Bennett of the Florida Panthers.
Nearly two months after that contract was signed, Johnny and his brother Matthew (seen here holding the Beanpot Trophy at Boston College) were killed by a drunk driver in New Jersey
Sean Monahan, alongside Meredith, as Johnny’s number was raised in Columbus last October
The Blue Jackets then visited Calgary later in the season, where Monahan was seen weeping in a similar ceremony.
In spite of dealing with the loss of his best friend throughout the campaign, Monahan finished tied for third on the team in points and a Blue Jackets team that no one expected to be competitive fell just two points short of a playoff spot.
All along the way he’s received praise for his ability to keep playing, with Columbus captain Boone Jenner quoted as saying,
‘Just the way Monny has persevered through really, really hard times. It’s been inspiring to me and to the whole group.
‘The way he’s handled himself, just stepping in here under those circumstances. He’s been a leader in the room and a leader on the ice. He’s a true pro. Everyone can learn from him.’
