Tkachuk is not the only Panthers player with direct ties to Gaudreau. Forward Sam Bennett was also his teammate in Calgary from 2015-21, and defenseman Adam Boqvist played with him in Columbus the past two seasons before signing with Florida on July 9.

It’s been a tough few weeks, but he’ll always be with us and I think everyone has done an amazing job of telling stories and keeping him present because that is exactly what he would want.’

Matthew Tkachuk estimates that he tells a story about Johnny Gaudreau’s exploits, both the on-ice and off-ice variety, to somebody at least once a week.