NHL grants Blue Jackets exemption due to passing of Johnny Gaudreau

The Blue Jackets were a rebuilding team, and Gaudreau's contract for $9.75M was a major piece of Columbus reaching the salary cap floor. Without Gaudreau, the Blue Jackets are $1.4M under the cap floor of $65M and a deadline of October 7th.

Now according to Aaron Portzline of The Athletic, Gary Bettman and the NHL have now made the decision to grant the Blue Jackets an exception. Portzline explained that the NHL believes Columbus will get back to the floor within a reasonable time. GM Don Waddell has since added James Van Riemsdyk, and has been vocal about adding more veteran forwards. Bettman and the NHL seem confident that Columbus intends to be competitive and spending more very soon.

The idea for the NHL granting Columbus an exception was floated a few weeks ago, and there has been some precedent in the NBA for similar situations. For all involved, it seems like the best policy. Thankfully, Johnny's wife will receive a portion of his salary to help the family through the rest of their lives.

Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Gaudreau were fatally struck by a drunk driver in late August, and their passing was a tragedy that is far more important than hockey. The entire hockey world came together in mourning of the two players who touched so many, and grieving with their families who spoke so beautifully about them. NHL teams will honour the Gaudreau brothers to begin this season with helmet patches.

The NHL undoubtedly made the right decision to show some compassion and understanding instead of penalizing Columbus for a tragedy out of their control.