EA postpones NHL 25 deep dive as the league mourns Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau

The hockey community is mourning the loss of Columbus Blue Jackets star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew, who died Aug. 29 in an accident involving a drunk driver. The pair were out riding bikes when a 43-year-old man in a SUV who police believe was intoxicated struck them.

The brothers were preparing to serve as groomsmen in their sister's wedding on Aug. 30. EA Sports had scheduled a deep dive for its upcoming NHL 25 on Friday morning. On X, EA announced it was postponing until a later date out of respect for the family and friends mourning the pair.

We will be postponing the release of the Gameplay Deep Dive until a later date. Our thoughts are with the Gaudreau family at this difficult time.https://t.co/wWsdxsow9y
— EA SPORTS NHL (@EASPORTSNHL) August 30, 2024

Just two short years ago, someone asked the man affectionately called "Johnny Hockey" what he wanted his legacy to be.

"When my time does end here, I hope people remember me as a good person off the ice, a good teammate, and just a good person," Gaudreau said.

Everything we're hearing says that applied to both brothers. While Johnny displayed his athletic gifts in the NHL, Matthew returned to the brothers' alma mater, Gloucester High School, where he served as hockey coach until this summer.

"Johnny and Matt were incredible hockey players and students, but even more amazing human beings," Gloucester Principal Thomas Iacovene Jr. said in a statement the school released Friday.

My title at GameSided is Site Expert, but tragedies such as this remind me of all the answers I don't have. Even the best words seem inadequate when these tragedies happen. All of our thoughts are with Johnny and Matthew's family and friends. They were so much more than their athletic achievements.

EA made the right call to postpone its deep dive because the hockey community understandably doesn't feel much like celebrating.

This holiday weekend, spend as much time as you can with your loved ones. Hug everybody at the barbecue, you never know when it will be the last time you see them. And if you drink, please for the love of God, don't drive. Please enjoy your Labor Day weekend, stay safe, and I'll see you soon.