NHL writer Frank Seravalli slammed after ‘disgusting’ comment about Johnny Gaudreau’s death

Hockey writer Frank Seravalli has been forced to apologize for a ‘disgusting’ comment he made about late NHL star Johnny Gaudreau.

Back in August, Gaudreau and his younger brother Matt were killed on the eve of their sister’s wedding when they were hit by a suspected drunken driver while riding bicycles in New Jersey. The former Columbus star was just 31.

The world of hockey was rocked by the death, with Johnny’s wife, Meredith Gaudreau, later revealing that she is pregnant with their third child.

Now Seravalli has came under fire after mentioning the late player in his 32 ‘bold’ predictions for the upcoming NHL season.

‘With a lilttle help Gaudreau, the Columbus Blue Jackets will win the 2025 Draft Lottery. It’s the only consolation prize on a brutal year,’ he wrote, according to a screenshot posted online.

‘I am sorry and I promise to be better,’ hockey writer Frank Seravalli said after his comments

One user branded it ‘disgusting at best,’ while another called for the writer to ‘step away from his position’. 

Other images on social media claim to show the story was edited to say ‘with a little help from above’ and then ‘with a little help from Gaudreau in heaven’.

At the time of writing, the prediction now reads: ‘The Columbus Blue Jackets will win the 2025 Draft Lottery.’

In the wake of the backlash, the Daily Faceoff writer apologized on social media. ‘What I wrote and how my poor choice of words was received was not intended to create any hurt or anger,’ he said.

‘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,’ he said. 

‘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.’

The Blue Jackets kick off their season on Thursday, with Columbus set to honor the late NHL star following his death.