Johnny Gaudreau helps out former Blue Jackets winger after being partially responsible for his trade out of Columbus
Oliver Bjorkstrand was traded for a pair of mid-round picks to free up cap space in Columbus. That cap space was then used by the Blue Jackets to land the biggest free agent on the market in Johnny Gaudreau.
The 100+ point winger signed a 7-year deal worth $9.75M per season earlier this summer with Columbus. In moving to Columbus, Gaudreau obviously needed a place to live, which he eventually found in Bjorkstrand's home. Gaudreau purchased the home from Bjorkstrand as he was selling it to continue his career in Seattle where he was traded. Talk about awkward - the guy you were shipped out of town for buys your house.
I don't think Bjorkstrand or Gaudreau would see it that way though, as he likely wanted to sell it as fast as possible and Gaudreau obviously needed to be settled in before training camp began. It's a bit surprising we don't hear about more of these transactions between players when they're traded, but it probably happens more often than not.
