Gaudreau discusses Babcock, Blue Jackets changes in Q&A with NHL.com

In NHL.com's Q&A feature called "Sitting Down with …" we talk to key figures in the game, gaining insight into their lives on and off the ice. In this special offseason edition, we feature forward Johnny Gaudreau, who is entering his second season with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

VOORHEES, N.J. -- A year ago, everything was new for Johnny Gaudreau.

New team, new city, new house, new baby.

Now heading into his second season with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Gaudreau said he feels calmer and better adjusted to life in Ohio on and off the ice.

"I definitely feel a lot more comfortable," he said prior to his annual appearance at the Checking For Charity tournament, held not far from his hometown of Salem, New Jersey. "I know all the guys, the whole organization. Getting to know the city really well. Getting to know some restaurants here and there. Just starting to feel more like home. That's what we wanted. We get to see a lot of our family throughout the year, too, because it's so close. It's exactly what we wanted."

He's hoping that comfort level off the ice can lead to more success on it. Gaudreau led the Blue Jackets with 74 points (21 goals, 53 assists) in 80 games, down from the 115 points (40 goals, 75 assists) he had with the Calgary Flames in 2021-22, and Columbus finished last in the Metropolitan Division.

NHL.com caught up with Gaudreau before his first game since last season ended and discussed several topics, including what worked and what didn't in his first season with the Blue Jackets, meeting new coach Mike Babcock, the addition of center Adam Fantilli and more.

What are your biggest takeaways from last season?

"It was a great year obviously off the ice; new baby (daughter Noa), new house, new organization. It all went really smoothly. We loved their time out there for our first year. Obviously hockey-wise we had a tough year, but we've got a lot of our guys back from injury this summer and we're excited for the season coming up."

Mike Babcock was hired as coach July 1. How much have you gotten to know him yet?

"Talked to 'Babs' a little bit. Seems like a really good dude. Got to chat with him for about 45 minutes to an hour when I was in Columbus for Boone Jenner's wedding. We picked each other's brains for a little bit and got off to the right footstep there. And we're both really looking forward to (training) camp coming up here. He's expecting a lot out of our team and that's what we want out of a coach.

Every coach has their standards and non-negotiables. Do you have an idea of what Babcock is going to demand from the team?

"He's been in this league for a long time. He's going to come straightforward with what he wants and how he wants his team ran. It's what we need. We need that hard-nosed coach that's going to push us in practices and in games. I'm excited to get out there and start the season off with him, and I think we're going to have a good year this year."

Does a more demanding coach work better for you? You had your best season playing under Darryl Sutter with the Flames; do you see any similarities between them?

"I guess a little bit. I don't know Babs too well. I played for Bob Hartley, another guy who is very demanding and Sutter the same way, so I've had success under those coaches. They want their teams to win. They push their guys every single day and they don't let things slide. That's what you need out of a coach. It's going to be fun."

How much have you gotten to see of Adam Fantilli, the No. 3 pick of the 2023 NHL Draft?

"I've chatted with him, just a quick text congratulating him, welcome to the team. Watched him a little bit in college throughout the year last year, playing in Michigan, so close to Columbus. Got to watch him a little bit. He's a great player. I've heard so many great things and hopefully he can come into our team, help push our team to be better each day and make our team better."

Have you thought about how your game and his could help each other on the ice?

"Not really. I try not to look at it that way. Whoever I'm matched up with, I try to stay with them and create chemistry and that's how things build as a line. When you're losing games, you're with different players each game, it's harder. Me and Boone got to play a lot last year together, build some chemistry there. I'm not sure who I'm going to play with next year, obviously with a new coach and a lot of new guys. But whoever I'm playing with, I'll try to create that chemistry in training camp right away and get off to a good start in the season."

What would progress for the Blue Jackets look like this season?

"We picked up two really good defensemen (Ivan Provorov and Damon Severson). Obviously, our back end was a little smaller there towards the end of the season. That's really going to help us. The amount of skill we have on our team with some of the young guys, it's pretty fun to watch every day in practice and in games. Hopefully a few teams keep sleeping on us. I know we have the talent in our locker room and the right guys, and hopefully we can build together as a team and come together as a team and do something special."