Despite Racking Up Shots On Goal And Opportunities, Johnny Gaudreau Is Mired In One Of His Longest Goalless Droughts

It's early.

The Blue Jackets are eight games into their season.

Wait...Gaudreau doesn't have a goal yet?

So far this season, the second-year Blue Jacket has four points (all assists). Two against the New York Rangers in the second game of the season, and one each against the Minnesota Wild and Montreal Canadiens.

Gaudreau has been held pointless in four games but never more than two games in a row. He's second on the club with 27 shots but he hasn't been able to bury one past the goalie yet.

Gaudreau has bounced between the first and second line this season as ever-changing team dynamics have played into that.

On opening night against the Philadelphia Flyers, he was on the top line with Cole Sillinger at wing and Patrik Laine as the center.

Against the Rangers, Marchenko joined Jenner and Gaudreau on the second line.

It was the same line against the Detroit Red Wings.

And the Calgary Flames, where Gaudreau led the team with five shots.

That trio was electric against the Wild as the Blue Jackets put up 92 shot attempts. Gaudreau had seven shots.

He was among the team leaders with four shots against the Anaheim Ducks.

The red-hot Jack Roslovic joined the line against the Canadiens and registered a goal as part of a three-point night as he extended a four-game points streak. Gaudreau had four more shots.

Against the New York Islanders, Gaudreau's line created chances but he didn't register a shot on goal.

Gaudreau is mired in his longest goalless drought since 2021-22 when he went the first six games of the season without a goal. He ended up with 40 that season for the Flames.

His longest stretch of games without a goal is 15 in 2014-15 per Stathead. He had a 12-game stretch in 2019-20.

"We're in a better spot as a team right now than last season so I'd say personally, I'd rather be in this position," Gaudreau said after Saturday's loss. "We're getting looks. We're getting chances. Just not going in right now. Matter of time. You go through these things at some point in the season. Just happens to be right now."

Has head coach Pascal Vincent noticed Gaudreau's game changing at all in the pursuit of a goal?

"I don't," Vincent said. "I think you look at tonight, just like the rest of the team, first period, we weren't skating enough, but by the end of the first period, he was moving his feet. He created so many chances tonight. He's a playmaker. We all know it. 

"I thought that he's not necessarily pushing and holding his stick too tight trying to score goals. He's still trying to make plays. He's a veteran player. He knows it's coming. He's going to have his chances."

Gaudreau's next opportunity for a goal comes on Monday, Oct. 30 when the Blue Jackets are in Dallas to face the Stars.