The Calgary Flames had one of the most significant summers in the NHL and it involved a beloved winger leaving in free agency.
Johnny Gaudreau put his own stamp on the game during his nine years in Calgary, but him leaving and signing with the Columbus Blue Jackets has left some Canadian hockey fans a little bit sour. One of them just so happens to be pop icon Michael Bublé.
During his Tuesday concert at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Bublé took the opportunity in between songs to make a dig at the former face of the franchise.
“I don’t want to play where it’s hard. I don’t want to win the Stanley Cup,” said Bublé, mocking Gaudreau.
The 47-year-old singer continued to appease the local fans, jokingly saying that all proceeds from the concert will be going towards new air conditioning at the Saddledome. The Flames’ arena has been the butt of many jokes in recent years as the building could benefit from a number of repairs.
In regards to Gaudreau, Bublé was simply echoing a sentiment a lot of Flames fans currently hold. Their homegrown star had a career season, scoring a career-high 40 goals and 115 points in 2021-22, and left a team that appeared to be slowly building up to being a stable Stanley Cup contender. Instead of powering through potential growing pains or postseason disappointment, the 29-year-old free agent signed in Columbus — a team that earned just 37 wins last season and has one single playoff series win in its 22-year existence. Talk about no pressure.
We can certainly take Bublé’s criticisms to heart. As someone who grew up in the Vancouver area, he should know plenty about disappointing hockey-related news.
Gaudreau will visit Calgary for the first time as a member of the Blue Jackets on Dec. 9 – a date many have circled on their calendars.
