Frank Seravalli issues statement after disrespecting Johnny Gaudreau and the Columbus Blue Jackets
NHL insider Frank Seravalli is facing major backlash for his recent comments where he referenced Johnny Gaudreau's death in a tasteless way.
This last summer was marked by a major heartbreak for the NHL with Johnny Gaudreau's sudden passing which has left fans & players in complete shock. Johnny also known as Johnny Hockey was beloved by his peers & many have paid touching tributes to him in the months since. However, not everyone showed the same level of respect.
In a recent article predicting the upcoming NHL season Seravalli made a controversial remark suggesting that the Columbus Blue Jackets could land the number 1 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft with help from Gaudreau "looking down on them from heaven." This comment sparked outrage on social media with many criticizing Seravalli's poor judgment.
After facing intense backlash Seravalli addressed the situation & issued an apology on social media:
What I wrote and how my poor choice of words was received was not intended to create any hurt or anger. Especially as a member of the Philly hockey community, I've been absolutely gutted by John and Matty's passing - like so many around the hockey world. This tragedy is a difficult topic we're all grappling with and what I wrote was never intended to add to that. Simply put, I should not have tied the two together. I am sorry and I promise to be better.
Despite this apology fans are continuing to criticize Seravalli saying that he made a few edits to amend his original comments without fully addressing the insensitivity of his words.
Although there are unlikely to be any professional consequences for the reporter many hope this will serve as a learning lesson for him to show greater respect in the future.
