Insider makes tone deaf comment in season predictions
Photo credit: USA Today
A well known NHL insider is backpedaling after making an incredibly tone deaf comment regarding Johnny Gaudreau and the Columbus Blue Jackets.
On Monday morning, Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli shared his "32 Bold Predictions" article, setting off the season with some hot takes about the upcoming NHL season, including the Sabres ending the league's longest playoff drought, and the Oilers ending the 20+ year Stanley Cup drought in Canada.
Among Seravalli's predictions, the insider said he guesses the Columbus Blue Jackets will win the NHL draft lottery for the first time in franchise history.
While Columbus fans would be thrilled to see that happening, many were disgusted by the way Seravalli framed the prediction.
With a little help from Gaudreau, the Columbus Blue Jackets will win the 2025 Draft Lottery. It's the only consolation prize on a brutal year, but hope and help is on the way. Bananas that the Blue Jackets have never won the Lottery.
Seravalli later edited the statement to read "with a little help from Gaudreau in heaven", but fans still felt the editor's comment was unnecessary and insensitive.
While Seravalli may have been trying to say that Gaudreau would spiritually help the team win the draft lottery, it's easy to misinterpret the statement.
Seravalli eventually edited the line entirely out of the article, posting an amendment apologizing for what he called poor wording.
A prediction about the Columbus Blue Jackets winning the draft lottery, has been amended to remove a comment about the late Johnny Gaudreau looking down on the team from heaven. The intent was to honor Gaudreau and not offend. The wording was chosen poorly.
Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were tragically killed on August 29 after being struck by a drunk driver.
| POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 7 | 97 ANSWERS Insider makes tone deaf comment in season predictions Does Seravalli need to do more to make amends for this comment? | ||
| No, it was a mistake and the apology is enough | 33 | 34 % |
| Yes, it was a very offensive comment | 64 | 66 % |
| List of polls | ||
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