On the ice, the Blue Jackets are excited to have Monahan, who is coming off a season in which he led the NHL with 83 games played and finished with 26 goals and 59 points. Those numbers are right in line with his career averages per 82 games, giving the Blue Jackets a center who can skate in the top six and contribute offensively.

Sean Monahan signed with the Blue Jackets to play with his best friend in hockey. Now, starting camp, he and his new team are grieving together.

Hockey season isn’t the same for Meredith Gaudreau after the tragic death of late husband Johnny Gaudreau. “It’s been really hard watching hockey start up and seeing how different my life is now,” Meredith wrote via Instagram on Friday,

Captain Boone Jenner said Monahan will help the Blue Jackets in many ways. The 29-year-old had 59 points (26 goals, 33 assists) in 83 games with the Montreal Canadiens and Winnipeg Jets last season. Instead of complementing Johnny, he will have to help fill the void.

The Blue Jackets will reserve a locker stall for Johnny Gaudreau all season, and will hang his No. 13 jersey in it, both at home and on the road.

The death of Columbus Blue Jackets veteran forward Johnny Gaudreau has made the start of training camp difficult on his teammates, but they have a way of honoring him this year.

As NHL training camps opened this week, emotions were still raw after the deaths of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, especially in Columbus. The Blue Jackets say they will learn and lean on each other as they navigate the season.

The Columbus Blue Jackets announced plans to honor Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau this season. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] As previously reported by News Center 7, the brothers died in late August when they were hit by a driver while riding bikes in New Jersey.